Richard Baxter

Timeline

1. 1615–1642Kidderminster · WorcestershireBorn in Shropshire, he began pastoring in Kidderminster in 1638, renowned for diligent preaching and pastoral care, establishing notable local religious influence before the outbreak of the Civil War.
2. 1642–1647England · EnglandFrom 1642 he served as chaplain to the parliamentary army, preaching and exhorting in camps at Worcester and elsewhere, advocating moderation and reconciliation, significantly influencing religious life and morale in the army while maintaining a critical stance toward radicals.
3. 1648–1650Kidderminster · WorcestershireAfter 1647 he returned to pastoral work, publishing his masterpiece The Saints' Everlasting Rest in 1650, setting out the Christian hope of eternal life in accessible prose; it became a classic of Puritan devotional literature, while he continued to take part in debates over church governance.