Westfield, Thomas (1573-01-01 - 1644-06-28)

Thomas Westfield, son of William Westfield, was born in Ely in 1573. He matriculated at Jesus College, Cambridge in 1589, graduating B.A. in 1593, proceeding M.A. in 1596, becoming a fellow in 1599, and proceeding B.D. in 1604. He served as rector of South Somercote, Lincolnshire and as vicar of Barton, Cambridgeshire between 1600 and 1605 before shifting his career to London; he became rector of St Bartholomew-the-Great, Smithfield in 1605 and of Hornsey in 1615. He was made prebendary of St Paul’s Cathedral in 1614. Westfield was president of Sion College from 1631 to 1632 and archdeacon of St Albans from 1631. Although he participated in several protests and petitions against Parliament, he was ultimately a conformist. He was installed as bishop of Bristol in 1642, but spent most of his time in London as a member of the assembly of divines. Westfield died in 1644 and was buried in Bristol Cathedral. He was predeceased by his first wife Ann (d.1619) and survived by his second wife Elisabeth (d.1653) and this children Edward and Elizabeth.