Bryan (Brian), John ( - 1676-03-05)

Clergyman and ejected minister. Date of birth unknown, but he was the son of Susanna Bryan, later Hopkins (d. 1673).Matriculated from Emmanuel College, Cambridge in 1620; BA, 1626/7; MA, 1632; BD, 1645; DD, 1651. Ordained priest in December 1623 and was then rector Barford, Warwickshire where he was part of a group of moderate puritans under the patronage of Lord Brooke of Warwick Castle. Chaplain and treasurer to the parliamentary garrison during the Civil War until 1644 when he was made vicar of Holy Trinity, Coventry. Along with other fellow Presbyterian ministers he established the Kenilworth classis in 1654. A series of sermons on presbyterian church order provoked a disputation with the Baptist John Onley, published in 1655. Ejected in 1662 but continued preaching throughout Warwickshire. Licensed as Presbyterian in 1672 and founded a congregation in Coventry. Died there 4 March 1675/6. His first wife's name is unknown, but they had three sons together. He later married Susanna Bathars in Coventry in 1658.