Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Parr, Richard (1592?-1644)
PARR or PARRE, RICHARD (1592?–1644), bishop of Sodor and Man, was born about 1592 in Lancashire, probably at Wood, in the parish of Eccleston, near Chorley, a seat of the Parr family. On 2 Sept. 1609 he entered Brasenose College, Oxford, being then aged 17. He commenced B.A. 17 June 1613, was elected fellow in 1614, and proceeded M.A. 19 April 1616, B.D. 10 June 1624, D.D. 1 July 1634. In 1616 he took orders, and was a frequent preacher, as well as a diligent tutor. On 25 Aug. 1626 he was instituted rector of Ladbroke, Warwickshire. In 1629 he resigned that living, and was instituted (6 Feb.) to the rich rectory of Eccleston. On 10 June 1635 he was consecrated bishop of Sodor and Man, retaining Eccleston in commendam. He wintered in England. Wood says he was very industrious in the ministry, ‘especially after he was bishop.’ In 1641 he rebuilt St. Catherine's, Ramsey. His chaplain and curate at Eccleston was Edward Gee (1613–1660) [q. v.] In October 1643 the living was sequestered and given to Gee. Parr remained in his diocese, where he was not disturbed, as the Isle of Man was held by the royalists till 1651. He died at Bishop's Court, Peel, on 23 March 1644, and was buried on 26 March in the grave of Bishop John Phillips [q. v.] in St. Germans Cathedral, Peel. The see was not filled up till 1661, by the appointment of Samuel Rutter (d. 30 May 1663). His son, Robert Parr, was rector of Ballaugh (1640–70). The bishop spelled his name originally Parre, and afterwards Parr. He published a few sermons.
[Fuller's Worthies of England, 1662, ii. 113; Wood's Athenæ Oxon. (Bliss), iii. 344, iv. 808 sq., and Fasti (Bliss), i. 352, 366, 415, 475; Walker's Sufferings of the Clergy, 1714, ii. 54; Colvile's Worthies of Warwickshire [1870], pp. 570 sq.; Oliver Heywood's Diaries (Turner), 1882, i. 108; Antiquary, March 1884, pp. 118 sq. (memoir by J. E. Bailey); Hist. MSS. Comm. 3rd Rep. p. 271; extract from burial register of St. Mary de Ballaugh, per the Rev. E. W. Kissack.]