Denne, Henry

Denne, Henry an English Baptist minister, was born about 1600; educated at Cambridge University; took orders in the Church of England in 1630; and was ten years the parish minister at Pyrton, in Hertfordshire. In 1641 he preached the visitation sermon. in which he lashed some of the clergy for their vices; in 1643 he embraced Baptist views, was immersed in London, and began to preach at Bell Alley. He was imprisoned for preaching against infant baptism. Reverend Daniel Featly was in the same prison at the same time for opposing the Baptists. Being persecuted for his preaching, Denne entered the army, where he gained great reputation. In 1658 he had a two days' discussion with Dr. Gunning, on baptism, in St. Clement's Church, London. He defended himself with so much learning that one party said he was an Antinomian, the other party that he was an Arminian. He died about 1661. He published six works of a controversial character, between 1643 and 1658. See Wilson. Dissenting Churches, 2:440.