BRAY, Dr Thomas, an eminent, learned, and pious divine, was born at Marton, in Shropshire, in the year 1656, and educated at Oxford. He was at length presented to the vicarage of Over-Whitacre, in Warwickshire: and in 1690, to the rectory of Sheldon, where he composed his Catechetical Lectures; which procured
him such reputation, that Dr Compton, bishop of London, pitched upon him as a proper person to model the infant church of Maryland, and establish it upon a solid foundation, and for that purpose he was invested with the office of commissary. He now engaged in several noble undertakings. He procured sums to be raised for purchasing small libraries for the use of the poor ministers in the several parts of our plantations: and the better to promote this design, he published two books; one entitled Bibliotheca parochialis, or a scheme of such theological and other heads as seem requisite to be perused or occasionally consulted by the clergy, together with a catalogue of books which may be profitably read on each of those points; the other, Apostolical charity, its nature and excellency considered. He endeavoured to get a fund established for the propagation of the gospel, especially among the uncultivated Indians; and by his means a patent was obtained for erecting the corporation called The society for the propagation of the gospel. He, by his industry, procured relief for prisoners; and formed the plan for the society for the reformation of manners, charity-schools, &c. He wrote, 1. his Martyrology, or papal usurpation in one volume folio; 2. Directorium missionarium; and other works. This excellent man died in 1730, aged 73.