Stephen Nye

Son of John Nye, he graduated B.A. at Magdalene College, Cambridge in 1665.^[1] He became rector of Little Hormead, Hertfordshire in 1679. Thomas Firmin was a close associate.^[2]

• A brief history of the Unitarians, called also Socinians: in four letters, written to a friend (published anonymously at London in 1687, expanded 1691).
• A letter of resolution concerning the doctrines of the Trinity and the Incarnation, London, 1691.
• Considerations on the explications of the doctrine of the Trinity by Dr. Wallis, Dr. Sherlock, Dr. S-th, Dr. Cudworth, and Mr. Hooker [electronic resource] : as also on the account given by those that say the Trinity is an unconceivable and inexplicable mystery / written to a person of quality, London, 1693.

Although the term “Unitarian” was already known in England from the Latin Library of the Polish Brethren called Unitarians published in Amsterdam (1665-1668), and had been used in print before by Henry Hedworth (1673), Nye's book gave the term wider currency in English among antitrinitarian believers, and set off the Unitarian controversy.^[3] Nye distinguished Unitarian views from those of Arius (Arian views) and Fausto Sozzini (Socinian views).^[4] He called William Sherlockatritheist, Robert SouthaSocinian, and John WallisaSabellian.^[5] He faced much opposition from orthodox Anglicans, but had an ally in William Freke.^[6] Thomas Tenison, Archbishop of Canterbury from 1695, discouraged those who wanted to continue the debate.^[7]

Nye wrote also on natural religion; he corresponded with Henry Hedworth and published some of those letters.^[8]

• The Trinitarian Controversy, 1690-1750