Christopher Wren (priest)

Christopher Wren B.D. (17 September 1589 – 29 May 1658) was an Anglican cleric who was Dean of Windsor from 1635 until his death, and the father of the prominent architect Christopher Wren.

Family
Christopher Wren Senior was the son of Francis Wren, a citizen and mercer of London, who served steward to Mary Queen of Scots during her captivity in England.

His mother was Suzanna Wiggington. His father was the only son of Cuthbert Wren, of Monk's-Kirby, in the county of Warwick, second son of William Wren, of Sherborne-House and of Billy-Hall in the bishopric of Durham. He was descended from an ancient family which came originally from Denmark. His parents lived in the parish of St Peter, Westcheap in the City of London, and had three children: a daughter Anna, and two sons; Matthew, born 1585, and Christopher, born 1589. His brother Matthew preceded him as Dean of Windsor.

Christopher Wren married Mary Cox. Their son was the famed architect Sir Christopher Wren.

Career
He was educated at Merchant Taylors School, London, and St John's College, Oxford and graduated BA in 1609, MA in 1613, BD in 1620. In 1630 he was created Doctor of Divinity at Peterhouse, Cambridge, where his brother Matthew was president.

He was appointed:
 * Chaplain to Bishop Lancelot Andrewes
 * Chaplain to King Charles I, 1628
 * Rector of Fonthill Bishop, Wiltshire, 1620
 * Rector of East Knoyle, Wiltshire, 1623
 * Registrar of the Order of the Garter, 1634
 * Dean of Wolverhampton, 1639
 * Rector of Great Haseley, Oxfordshire, 1639

He was appointed Dean of Windsor in 1635. When Parliamentary forces occupied Windsor Castle, he refused to give to Captain Fogg the keys of St George's Chapel. On 23 October 1642 Fogg broke open the treasury and plundered it. Wren managed to preserve the records of the Order of the Garter, and King Edward III's sword.

Death
Christopher Wren died at Bletchingdon, Oxfordshire on 29 May 1658.