Stephen Charnock was born in London in 1628, studied at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he was converted, and preached for a time in Southwark. He undertook further study at Oxford, becoming a Fellow of New College, and later Senior Proctor.
He served in Ireland as chaplain to the Governor, Henry Cromwell, and became a popular preacher, being lecturer at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin between 1655 and 1660, and minister of St Werburgh’s Church.
On the Restoration of the monarchy (1660) he returned to London, studying and ministering privately till 1675, when he began a shared Presbyterian pastorate with Thomas Watson at Crosby Hall, Bishopsgate. He died aged 52 in July 1680.
[See also ‘His Life’ in Volume 1 of The Works of Stephen Charnock (Banner of Truth reprint of Nichol Edition).]