William Lyford


William Lyford was an English nonconformist clergyman, elected to the Westminster Assembly though not sitting in it.

Life

Lyford was born at Peasemore, near Newbury in Berkshire, the son of the rector, an elder William Lyford and his wife, Mary Smith. He entered Magdalen Hall, Oxford, as a commoner on 26 April 1615, became a demy of Magdalen College in 1617, and graduated B.A. on 16 December 1618. He proceeded M.A. on 14 June 1621, and B.D. 12 May 1631. On the presentation of John Digby, 1st Earl of Bristol, he became vicar of Sherborne, Dorset, in 1631.
His Calvinistic views left him undisturbed during the civil war; he was chosen member of the Westminster Assembly, but did not sit. In 1653 he was allowed an annuity out of Lord Digby's estate. Lyford died at Sherborne on 3 October 1653, and was buried under the communion table in the chancel of the church. By his wife Elizabeth he left children.

Works

Lyford published:
Posthumous were:
Lyford edited in 1634 the second edition of William Pinke's Tryall of a Christians syncere Love unto Christ.