We first hear of Katherine Chidley in Shrewsbury, Shropshire in 1616; she is the wife of Daniel Chidley and gave birth to their first son that year. She was already then involved in an illegal underground congregation (at the time only Church of England congregations were legal). She was brought to court at least twice in the 1620s, once for non-attendance...
Read MoreKatherine Chidley: Background
Chidley’s three published writings are available in a modern edition: Katharine Gillespie (ed.), Katherine Chidley Early Modern Englishwomen: A Facsimilie of Essential Works Series 2, Printed Writings, 1641-1700; Part 4, vol. 4 (Ashgate, 2009) There is not, as far as I am aware, a book length treatment of Chidley’s life or thought. One article...
Read MoreSt Catherine of Siena: advisor to popes and princes; doctor of the Church
Catherine Benincasa was born to a noble family in the Italian town of Siena in 1347; she died just 33 years later in Rome; despite her youth, it is arguable that she was the most influential person in Italy – perhaps in Western Europe – in the years before her death. She gave advice to two popes and expected it to be followed; she instructed...
Read MoreSt Catherine of Siena: background
The basic sources for Catherine’s life and ministry remain the biographies written soon after her death by her followers, including Raymond of Capua’s Life and Thomas of Siena’s Supplement. There is an adequate English translation of Raymond’s life: The Life of St. Catherine of Siena (tr. George Lamb) TAN Books,...
Read MoreMarie Dentière: Background
A short online account of Marie’s life can be found here. Her defence of female preaching, and a preface she wrote for a published sermon of Calvin’s have been translated and published: M. Dentière (tr. M.B. McKinley), Epistle to Marguerite de Navarre; and, Preface to a sermon by John Calvin University of Chicago Press, 2004. More extensive...
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