John Barnard

John Barnard (born c. 1661–2; floruit 1685–93) was an English cleric and academic, a supporter of James II of England. A Catholic convert from the Church of England, he later returned.

Early life Barnard was the son of Dr. John Barnard, fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford, and sometime rector of Waddington, near Lincoln, by Lettice, daughter of Dr. Peter Heylyn. He became a student of Lincoln College (matriculating 17 November 1676 at age 15, so 1661–2 for date of his birth), and was elected fellow of Brasenose College (by then B.A.) in 1682. He took holy orders in the Church of England, ordained by Thomas Barlow in 1681, and became rector of North Thoresby.

Under James II 1685–1689 According to Wood, in December 1685, after James II's accession, Barnard "took all occasions to talk at Bal. coffee house on behalf of popery." (The "Balliol"coffee house may have been on the south side of the High Street, Oxford. ) Later he declared himself a Catholic, and took the name of Johannes Augustine Barnard (or Bernard). Robert Beddard calls Barnard a "devotee" of Walker.

In January 1687 James II mandated that Barnard should become White Reader in Moral Philosophy. Barnard succeeded John Halton of Queen's College, who had become proctor in 1681. Beddard says Halton's retirement was statutory; it was after the usual tenure of five years.

James Gardiner, who was Barnard's godfather, was from 1695 Bishop of Lincoln. He presented Barnard to the rectory of Ludford Parva in 1701, and to the vicarage of Kelstern in 1702. In financial difficulties, he appealed for help to William Wake, Gardiner's successor in 1708. A pamphlet attack on Protestant views saw him excommunicated, and the details of the end of his life are opaque.