Clement Ellis

Rev. Clement Ellis (1633–1700) was an English clergyman and poet.

Life

He was born on February 2, 1633 at Rose Castle in Cumberland, England. His father, Captain Philip Ellis (1606–1663), was the steward for Barnaby Potter (1577–1643) Bishop of Carlisle who resided in Rose Castle and who was also Ellis' godfather. He was educated as a child along with the bishop's children. During the English Civil War Captain Ellis defended the castle for four years for the king with his own private funds after the death of the Bishop.

Clement Ellis was educated at The Queen's College, Oxford. While in college he received several anonymous donations for his father's suffering during the Civil War and to fund Ellis' education. Ellis would later become a fellow of the college as well. In 1656 he was ordained at Oxford where he preached for several years. Afterwards he became the private chaplain for William then Marquis of Newcastle (later Duke of Newcastle) for a few years. Around the time his book "The Gentle Sinner; or England's Brave Gentlemen" in 1660 he became the rector of the parish of Kirkby-in-Ashfield. At the time that he became the rector the parish was in disorder from the Civil War. Through his charitable work and his church sermons he was able to help bring about unity to the parish that had been lost during the Civil War. While in Kirkby he was offered several opportunities to sever as rector to larger parishes all of which he turned down in favor for his smaller congregation of Kirkby. In 1693 he was appointed to be a prebendary in the collegiate parish church in Southwell. The appointment was indented to be a reward for all of Ellis' work in Kirkby. However, again not wanting to leave his congregation in Kirkby and also because of his ailing health prevented him from fulfilling all of his duties he decided to resign his preferment.