Matthew Wren

Matthew Wren (23 December 1585 – 24 April 1667) was an influential English clergyman, bishop and scholar.

Life Wren was the eldest son of Francis Wren, citizen and mercer of London. Matthew Wren's mother was Susan, daughter of John Wiggington. His parents lived in the parish of St Peter, Westcheap in the City of London, and had three children: a daughter Anna, and two sons; Matthew, born 1585, and Christopher, born 1589.

Wren was the brother of Christopher Wren, who also took holy orders, and the uncle of the architect Christopher Wren. He accompanied Charles I to Holyrood Palace for his Scottish coronation in 1633, and was appointed chaplain and Clerk of the Closet. He became Bishop of Hereford in 1634, Norwich in 1635, and Ely in 1638. Upon the Restoration, he was released on 15 March 1660.

While in the Tower, Wren vowed to devote a sum of money to "some holy and pious employment" should he be released. To fulfill this vow, he chose to pay for a new Chapel for Pembroke College, and had it built by his nephew Christopher Wren – one of his first buildings, consecrated in 1665. Wren also led the movement to rebuild St Paul's Cathedral after it had been damaged by the Puritans, and again his nephew accomplished the task.

Wren married Elizabeth Cutler on 17 August 1628. She was the daughter of Thomas Cutler of Ipswich and Sproughton, Suffolk.

Of the twelve children whose birth Wren records in his diary, six died while very young. Charles Wren Susan, who married Robert Wright Anne Mary Frances Elizabeth

Wren died at Ely House, Holborn, on 24 April 1667. His body was transported from London to Cambridge and was buried in the chapel he had built at Pembroke College, Cambridge on 11 May.

Theology Wren was well acquainted with the Dutch Arminian literature. He was himself firmly attached to the Arminian views.

List of appointments President of Pembroke College Prebendary of Winchester Master of Peterhouse, 1625–1634 Chaplain to the then Prince Charles (later Charles I) Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, 1628–1629 Dean of Windsor and Wolverhampton Register of the Order of the Garter Clerk of the Closet 1633–36 Governor of Charterhouse, London Bishop of Hereford Prebendary of Westminster Bishop of Norwich Dean of the Chapel Royal, London Bishop of Ely (elected 4 April, confirmed 24 April 1638)

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