Nicholas Ferrar

Who was Nicholas Ferrar?

Nicholas Ferrar was an English scholar, courtier, businessman and man of religion. Ordained as a deacon in the Church of England, he retreated with his extended family to the manor of Little Gidding in Huntingdonshire, where he lived the rest of his life. One of the "metaphysical poets", the Revd George Herbert, on his deathbed sent Ferrar the manuscript of The Temple, telling him to publish the poems if he thought they might "turn to the advantage of any dejected poor soul" and, if not, to burn them. Ferrar decided to publish them and Herbert's poetry has remained in print ever since.