degree a Mr. Allington offered him a presentation to a living in Suffolk, but not being of age to receive priest's orders he declined it, and preferred to pursue his theological studies with Richard Blackerby, then resident at Ashen, Essex, whose eldest daughter he afterwards married.
‘His popularity,’ relates Edmund Calamy, ‘excited the envy of the other ministers, and he was openly opposed by the publicans, whose business declined from the decrease of drunkenness.’ Samuel Harsnet, bishop of Norwich, cited him into his court for neglecting to use the sign of the cross in baptism, and the result was that Fairclough retired.
For this articles were exhibited against him in the Star Chamber as a factious man; he was convened before the Court of High Commission, and made to attend at different times for more than two years.
Barnardiston then presented Fairclough to the rectory of Kedington, near Haverhill, and obtained his institution 10 February 1629, ‘without his personal attendance upon the bishop, taking the oath of canonical obedience, or subscribing the three articles.’ In this living he continued for nearly thirty-five years, preaching four times a week.
His Thursday lectures were admired, by the local ministers, and scholars and fellows of colleges from Cambridge.’ When the Book of Sports was republished, Fairclough was often cited to appear before the archdeacon and commissary at Bury St Edmunds, but managed to evade attendance on the plea of a weakness which disabled him from riding.
When they were dispersed Fairclough went to live with his youngest son, a conforming minister at Kennett, Cambridgeshire, and then with his daughters at Heveningham, Suffolk, and Stowmarket in the same county successively.