William Burkitt
William Burkitt (25 July 1650 in Hitcham, Suffolk, England – 24 October 1703 in Essex) was a biblical expositor, educational pioneer, rector of Milden, Suffolk, and vicar and lecturer of Dedham, Essex, in England. Life His father was Michael, usually called Miles, Burkitt (otherwise Birkhead), of St. Edmund Hall, Oxford, a clergyman who began his career as a zealous high-churchman, and ended his days in nonconformity. At the Restoration, Miles Burkitt lost the well-endowed rectory of Hitcham. Some time afterwards he was presented to the rectories of Irstead and Neatishead, Norfolk, but was ejected within three months by the Act of Uniformity (1662). He also lost the manor of Monks Eleigh, Suffolk, belonging to the dean and chapter of Canterbury, which he had purchased from the Commonwealth Commissioners, and which cost him, with improvements, £2500, he continued to live at Monks Eleigh, and ultimately prospered; ‘Though,' he said, ‘I have lost many scores of pounds by my nonconformity, yet, blessed be God, I never wanted.' His wife was a Sparrow, of Rede (Reade), Suffolk. He was buried in Monks Eleigh on 24 Sep. 1669. William Burkitt’s tradition was that of a reformed Anglican churchman. His early training was under John