"As Shee Preachers Hold Forth Christ" Writing and speaking in Sara Jones's challenge to episcopacy, The Relation of a Gentlewoman (1642)

• Published in: Prose studies Vol. 33; no. 1; pp. 1 - 18
• Main Author: Adcock, Rachel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 01.04.2011
• Subjects: Court of High Commission; gathered churches; Sara Jones; separatist congregations; women and the Bible; women preachers

When Sara Jones spoke in front of her separatist congregation in 1632, she was opening herself up to criticism for going against scriptural precedents: it was not divinely sanctioned that women should speak in church. Perhaps deriving confidence from having defended herself in front of the High Comm...