Christopher Wren (priest)

Christopher Wren B.D. was an Anglican cleric who was Dean of Windsor from 1635 until his death, and the father of the prominent architect Christopher Wren.

Career

Wren was educated at Merchant Taylors School, London, and St John's College, Oxford and graduated BA in 1609, MA in 1613, BD in 1620. In 1630 he was created Doctor of Divinity at Peterhouse, Cambridge, where his brother Matthew was president.
Wren was appointed:

Chaplain to Bishop Lancelot Andrewes
Chaplain to King Charles I, 1628
Rector of Fonthill Bishop, Wiltshire, 1620
Rector of East Knoyle, Wiltshire, 1623
Registrar of the Order of the Garter, 1634
Dean of Wolverhampton, 1639
Rector of Great Haseley, Oxfordshire, 1639

Wren was appointed Dean of Windsor in 1635. When Parliamentary forces occupied Windsor Castle, he refused to give to Captain Fogg the keys of St George's Chapel. On 23 October 1642 Fogg broke open the treasury and plundered it. Wren managed to preserve the records of the Order of the Garter, and King Edward III's sword.
Wren was the brother of the preceding Dean of Windsor, Matthew Wren. Christopher married Mary Cox. Their son was the famed architect Christopher Wren.