Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Gurnall, William
GURNALL, WILLIAM (1617–1679), English divine, was born in 1617 in the parish of Walpole St. Peter, near Lynn, Norfolk, and received his early education at Lynn grammar school, from which he went in 1631 to Emmanuel College, Cambridge. He graduated B.A. in 1635 and M.A. in 1639. In 1644 he obtained the living of Lavenham, Suffolk. In the 'Journals of the House of Commons' (iii. 725) it is ordered, 16 Dec. 1644, 'that the living of Lavenham in Suffolk, having been conferred by Sir Symonds D'Ewes, patron, upon William Gurnall, the said learned divine shall be rector for his life, and enjoy the rectory and tithes as other rectors before him.' It would appear from one of his letters that when he obtained the appointment he was officiating, possibly as a curate, at Sudbury. In February 1644-5 he married Sarah Mott, daughter of a minister at Stoke-by-Nayland. He is chiefly known by his work 'The Christian in Complete Armour,' in three volumes dated successively 1655, 1658, and 1662. A reissue was edited by Bishop Ryle in 1864-5. At the Restoration he conformed and continued at Lavenham till his death on 12 Oct. 1679.
[Inquiry into the life of the Rev. William Gurnall, by H. McKeon, 1830; Biographical Introduction to his works by Bishop Ryle, 1865.]