Background
He was born at South Somercote, Lincolnshire.
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Thomas Sparke
Edit ProfileEducation
He graduated Bachelor of Arts in October 1570, Master of Arts
Career
He was elected to a demyship at Magdalen College, Oxford, in 1567, and was fellow there from 1569 to 1572. in June 1574, Bachelor of Divinity in July 1575, and Doctor of Divinity on 1 July 1581. Having taken holy orders, he became chaplain to Thomas Cooper, Bishop of Lincoln, by whom he was made archdeacon of Stow on 1 March 1575. By the favour of Arthur Grey, 14th Baron Grey de Wilton, he was presented also to the rectory of Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, where he was instituted on 2 September 1578.
The rectory and archdeaconry being at some distance from each other, Sparke resigned the latter "out of conscience" in 1582.
On 26 September of the same year he was installed prebendary of Lincoln. Neither party was satisfied.
On 14 September 1585 Sparke preached at Chenies, Buckinghamshire, a funeral sermon on Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford. He also preached at the funeral of his patron, Lord Grey de Wilton, on 22 November 1593, at Whaddon, Buckinghamshire.
He was summoned by James I to the Hampton Court conference in 1603 as a nonconformist.
Anthony à Wood says that he appeared there in 1604 unconventionally dressed, and he reportedly said little. The king, however, was gracious. He was attacked in An Antidote against the Pestiferous Writings of all English Sectaries.. in particular against Doctor Sparke, (1615) by Sylvester Norris.
Sparke died at Bletchley on 8 October 1616.
Sparke married Rose, youngest daughter of John Inkforbye, merchant, of Ipswich. Of the sons, William Sparke (1587–1641) became chaplain to George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham, and succeeded his father as incumbent of Bletchley, but fell into debt and was forced to quit.
