- Richard Kidder
Richard Kidder (1633- 1703) was an English Anglican churchman,
Bishop of Bath and Wells from 1691 to his death. He was a noted theologian.He was educated at
Emmanuel College, Cambridge , where he was asizar , from 1649, graduating 1652. He became a Fellow there in 1655, and vicar ofStranground ,Huntingdonshire , in 1659. ["Concise Dictionary of National Biography".] He was deprived in 1662 [ [http://theologian.org.uk/gatissnet/TheTragedyof1662.html] , CNDB.] .He was rector of
Rayne Parva ,Essex , from 1664 to 1674, having conformed to the Act of 1662. He was later vicar of St. Martin Outwich, London, and in 1689 a royal chaplain [CNDB] , and dean ofPeterborough .His "A Demonstration of the Messias" ["A Demonstration of the Messias. In which the Truth of the Christian Religion is proved, against all the Enemies thereof; but especially against the Jews". In three volumes, published 1684, 1699, 1700.] has been identified as a significant influence on the librettist
Charles Jennens , in writing the words for the Messiah ofHandel [ [http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/04/24/news/web-0425handelB.php] ; Michael Marissen, "Rejoicing against Judaism in Handel's Messiah", Journal of Musicology, Spring 2007, Vol. 24, No. 2, Pages 167-194.] . This book also took up suggestions ofJoseph Mede on multiple authorship of the "Book of Zechariah " [ [http://www.theology.edu/biblesurvey/zecharia.htm Bible Survey: The Book of Zechariah ] ] .He was killed in the major storm of 26/7 November 1703 [ [http://www.uab.edu/english/hone/etexts/edb/day-pages/331-nov27.html November 27, Every-Day Book ] ] ; he was in bed with his wife in the episcopal palace at Wells when the chimney fell on both of them [ [http://www.humnet.ucla.edu/humnet/c1718cs/Nltr35.html Newsletter 35 ] ] .
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