William Payne (priest)
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William Payne (1650–1696) was an English academic and cleric of the Church of England, known as a controversialist.
Payne was born at Hutton, Essex, was educated at Brentwood free school, and went on to Magdalene College, Cambridge, in May 1665, graduating B.A. in 1669, and M.A. in 1672.[1] He obtained a fellowship there on 6 July 1671, and retained it until 1675, when he married. He was in the same year presented to the livings of Frinstead and Wormshill (where he resided) in Kent.[2]
In June 1681, Payne received the rectory of Whitechapel, and speedily won a reputation among the London clergy as a preacher. On 29 June 1682 he was chosen to preach before the first annual feast instituted at Brentwood school. After the accession of William III and Mary II in 1689, Payne, who in that year took the degree of D.D. at Cambridge, was appointed to the lectureship of the Poultry Church in the City of London, and received the post of royal chaplain in ordinary.[2]
In 1693, Payne was appointed, by a commission under the great seal, "visitor-royal" over certain London churches sometimes called '"lawless churches", because they were exempt from visitation by the bishop, and were subject solely to the King. The appointment, however, caused resentment at Doctors' Commons, and in 1694 he resigned it. He died, on 20 February 1696.[2]
