Stephen Taylor

Professor Stephen Taylor is a leading historian specializing in early modern British history, particularly the religious and political history of seventeenth- and eighteenth-century England. He is affiliated with the Department of History at Durham University, where he holds the rank of Professor in Early Modern British History. His scholarly work spans topics such as Anglicanism, court culture, party politics, and the relationship between church and state.

• Professor (Early Modern British History), Department of History, Durham University
• Co-Director, The Clergy of the Church of England Database 1540–1835
• Co-Founder, Durham University IMEMS Press

His research interests include the identity of Anglicanism, religious conformity during the English Revolution, the Hanoverian monarchy and court culture (especially Queen Caroline of Ansbach), the Church of England from the 16th to 19th centuries, the Revolution of 1688, and news culture in the later seventeenth century. He has also studied figures such as John, Lord Hervey, and Edmund Gibson.

Professor Taylor’s recent publications reflect a consistent focus on ecclesiastical history, political theology, and archival scholarship. His work often analyzes religious identity, state formation, and the interplay between monarchy and church. He has contributed to major scholarly editions and databases, demonstrating a commitment to both interpretive and infrastructural academic work. His editorial roles in volumes like The Nature of the English Revolution Revisited and National Prayers underscore his leadership in the field.

His scholarly recognition includes multiple visiting fellowships at prestigious institutions such as the Huntington Library, Folger Shakespeare Library, and the Harry Ransom Center. These awards reflect the high esteem in which his work is held internationally.

• 2024: Visiting Fellow, The Huntington Library, California
• 2012: Woodward and Bernstein Endowment Fellow, Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
• 2011: Visiting Fellow, Peterhouse, Cambridge
• 2009: Visiting Fellow, Folger Shakespeare Library
• 2007: Pforzheimer Fellow, Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
• 2007: Visiting Fellow, Folger Shakespeare Library

Professor Taylor actively supervises postgraduate research, with students working on topics such as the Earl of Danby, the transmission of taste, John Pearson, obedience and subversion under the late Stuarts, and William Laud’s economic thought. He has been involved in significant grant-funded projects, including the AHRC-supported Cultural Heritage 360 report and the long-term Clergy of the Church of England Database. His editorial and collaborative work indicates strong leadership in shaping future directions in arts and humanities research.

He is a key figure in the Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies (IMEMS) and has helped establish Durham University IMEMS Press, further cementing his role in advancing scholarship in medieval and early modern studies.