Anne James; Hannah Wood
ODNB (Article: 3327)
Roger Brereley, son of Thomas Brereley, was born in Marland and baptized on 7 August 1586. A puritan in his youth, Brereley did not receive any formal university training but became known as a charismatic and sometimes unorthodox preacher with mystical tendencies. He ran afoul of authorities in the West Riding village of Gisburn in 1615 for preaching without a license, and was accused of failing at his duty to read the book of Common Prayer in the church of Grindleton where he served as curate (a place that would give its name to the Grindletonians, a nebulous dissenting antinomian sect of which Brereley was at the centre). Although he conformed, he was accused before the York high commission of doctrinal errors in 1616. After a brief imprisonment, he made a declaration of conformity in 1617. By 1623 he had become curate of St Andrew, Kildwick in Craven. In 1627 he was again summoned before the high commission and was censured until 1628. He was made rector of Burnley, Lancashire in 1631. He died in 1637, survived by his wife Anne (m.c. 1615-18). He and Anne had at least six children: Ales, Thomas, Maria, Roger, Anne, and Abel.