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Correspondence (1716–1725)
Eastern Patriarchs and the Nonjurors, ed. Williams, 1868
A Short Account of the Whole Affair by Dr Brett
In the month of July 1716, the Bishops called Nonjurors, meeting together about some affairs relating to their little Church, Mr Campbell took occasion to speak of the Archbishop of Thebais then in London; and proposed that we should endeavour an Union with the Greek Church, and draw up some propositions in order thereto, and deliver them to that Archbishop, with whom he intimated, as if he had already had some discourse upon that subject. I was then a perfect stranger to the doctrines and forms of worship of that Church, but as I wished most heartily for a general union of all Christians in one Communion, I was ready to have joined with Mr Campbell on this occasion: But Mr Lawrence being in the room, drew me aside, and told me, that the Greeks were more corrupt and more bigoted than the Romanists, and therefore vehemently pressed me not to be concerned in this affair. Therefore I then declined it. But Mr Collier, Mr Campbell, and Mr Spinkes joined in it, and drew up proposals, which Mr Spinkes (as Mr Campbell informed me) put into Greek, and they went together and delivered them to the Archbishop of Thebais, who carried them to Moscovy, and engaged the Czar in the affair, and they were encouraged to write to his Majesty on that occasion, who heartily espoused the matter, and sent the proposals by James, Proto-Cyncellus to the Patriarch of Alexandria, to be communicated to the four Eastern Patriarchs. Before the return of the Patriarchs’ answer to the proposals, a breach of communion happened among the Nonjurors here, Mr Hawes, Mr Spinkes, and Mr Gandy on the one side, and Mr Collier, Mr Campbell, Mr Gadderar, and myself on the other. So that when the Patriarchs’ answer came to London, in the year 1722, Mr Spinkes refused to be any further concerned in the affair, and Mr Gadderar and I joined in it. After Mr Gadderar went to Scotland, Mr Griffin, being consecrated, joined with us. The rest of the story relating to this matter may be gathered from the Letters and the Subscriptions to them. Mr Collier subscribes Jeremias, Mr Campbell Archibaldus, Mr Gadderar Jacobus, Mr Griffin Johannes, and I, Thomas.
THOMAS BRETT.
March 30th, 1728.