Greenhill, William (1597-03-25 - 1671-09-27)

William Greenhill, born in 1597/8, was likely the son of John Greenhill of Harrow on the Hill, Middlesex. He was educated at Harlington School before matriculating from Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge in 1615; he graduated B.A. in 1619 and proceeded M.A. in 1622. He was ordained in 1628 and was made rector of Oakley, Suffolk the following year, although he was deprived by the bishop of Norwich in 1636 for refusing to read the “Book of Sports”. Greenhill spent time in Rotterdam, where he worshipped at an Independent church, before settling in London in 1641. He was employed as a preacher at St Pancras, Soper Lane in 1642. Greenhill supported parliament during the civil war, preaching fast sermons to the Commons and the Lords in the late 1640s. He accepted a pastorate of a gathered congregation drawn from inside and outside Stepney. He continued to cooperate with other Independent divines in the city and participated in the Westminster assembly. Greenhill published a five volume commentary on Ezekiel between 1645 and 1662. Although he supported Charles II’s execution, he served as chaplain for the royal children in its aftermath. He supported missionary work with Native Americans and collaborated with parliamentary committees on ecclesiastical affairs. He was made vicar of Stepney in 1652 and served as governor of Harrow school from 1653 to 1657. He was part of the committee of the approbation of public preachers (1654) and assistant to the Middlesex commission that ejected unfit clergy (1657). He was ejected from his own vicarage upon the Restoration in 1660, although he continued to minister to his gathered congregation in Stepney. He also preached to a conventicle of 300 in Meetinghouse Alley, Wapping. Greenhill died on 27 September and was buried on 2 October; it is not known if he ever married.