Woodhead, Abraham

Woodhead, Abraham all English clergyman, and subsequently a Roman Catholic controversial writer, was born at Meltham, Yorkshire, in 1608. He was educated in University College, Oxford, of which he became fellow in 1633, and soon after entered into holy orders. In 1641 he was proctor at Oxford, and about this time travelled on the Continent as tutor to some, young gentlemen of distinction. While at Rome he became a secret convert to the Catholic religion. In 1648 he was deprived of his fellowship for absence, but was reinstated at the Restoration in 1660. Finding it impossible to conform, however, he obtained leave to travel with an allowance of £20, on which he lived in concealment, teaching Roman Catholic pupils and writing controversial books, at Hoxton, near London, until his death, May 4, 1678. He was considered one of the ablest controversial writers, on the popish side, of his time, and his abilities and candor have been commended by some Protestant writers. Among his publications we note, Brief Account of Ancient Church Government (1662): — Guide in Controversies, in IV Discourses (1666): — Dr. Stillingfleet's Principles (1671): — Life of St. Tereza, from the Spanish (eod.): — Paraphrase of the Apocalypse (1682): — Two Discourses Concerning the Adoration of our Blessed Savior in the Eucharist (1687): — Of Faith Necessary to Salvation, etc. (1688): — A Compendious Discourse on the Eucharist, etc. (eod.): — Motives to Holy Living (eod.): — Cattholick Theses (1689): — and Concerning Images and Idolatry (eod.).