Timothy Cutler was one of the leading Episcopal clergymen of New England, full of polemic spirit, venerated for his learning, but too haughty in manner to be popular. He was a militant defender of the rights of his fellow believers.
Background
Timothy Cutler was born on May 31, 1684 in Charlestown, Boston, Massachusetts, United States. He was a descendant of Robert Cutler who settled in that town prior to October 28, 1636. His father was Major John Cutler, an anchorsmith, and his mother, Martha Wiswall.
The fact that both his father and grandfather opposed the government formed after the overthrow of Andros in 1689, and although severely penalized, refused to subscribe to it until it had received royal sanction, suggests a family tendency to conform to the established order at home, which may have had something to do with Timothy’s subsequent conversion to the Church of England.
Education
When seventeen years old Cutler graduated from Harvard College.
Career
On January 11, 1709/10, having come from Massachusetts to Connecticut with the recommendation of being “one of the best preachers both colonies afforded, ” he was ordained pastor of the Congregational church in Stratford.
He served his parish acceptably until March 1718/19 when, conditions at Yale calling imperatively for a resident rector, he undertook that office at the request of the trustees, his appointment being formally approved in September.
Although his father-inlaw was doubtless instrumental in securing his appointment, Cutler was in general well fitted for the position, being “an excellent Linguist, ” a “good Logician, Geographer, and Rhetorician, ” while “in the Philosophy & Metaphysics & Ethics of his Day or juvenile Education he was great. He was of an high, lofty, & despotic mien. He made a grand Figure as the Head of a College”.
The new rectorship opened auspiciously and an era of prosperity seemed at hand when, on September 13, 1722, the rector, with Tutor Daniel Browne and several Congregational clergymen, met with the trustees, declared themselves doubtful of the validity of their ordination, and asked advice with regard to entering the Church of England.
Upon request they made a written statement of their position, and the meeting was adjourned for a month.
In the meantime Governor Saltonstall arranged a public debate on the matter, held October 16, as a result of which, on the following day, at a special meeting of the trustees, it was voted to “excuse the Reverend Mr. Cutler from all further services as Rector of Yale College, ” and it was provided that all future rectors and tutors should declare to the trustees their assent to the Saybrook Confession of Faith, and give satisfaction as to their opposition to “Arminian and prelatical corruptions. ”
Contemporary evidence indicates that Cutler was never whole-heartedly a Dissenter, that he had been converted to Episcopalianism when at Stratford by John Checkley, and that in spite of this fact had accepted the rectorship of a Congregational college, publicly declaring what lie had privately believed only when a desirable place in the Established Church was assured him.
After a visit to London where he was ordained by the Bishop of Norwich in March 1723. Cutler became rector of the newly formed Christ Church, Boston.
With Reverend Samuel Myles of King’s Chapel he laid claim to a seat on the Board of Overseers of Harvard, as a minister of the Episcopal church in Boston, maintaining that he was a “teaching elder” as required by the college charter.
Both the Overseers and General Court decided against him.
He never ceased to urge the appointment of a bishop for the American colonies. With the exception of four sermons, two preached before the Connecticut General Assembly, May 9, 1717, and October 18, 1719, he left no published works.