In July 1708 he was awarded a Doctorate of Divinity, possibly due to his abilities as a preacher as well as for his teaching. In March 1709 a local brewer named John Lade suggested to Sacheverell that he put himself forward for the vacant office of chaplain at St Saviour's, Southwark. He campaigned for the post with such vigour that a fellow clergyman wrote "None is so much talked of as he all over the Town. I suppose we shall have him very speedily the subject of de Foe's "Review", in which he has formerly had the honour of being substantially abused". His most notable backers were Lord Weymouth and Sir William Trumbull. News of his candidacy alarmed the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Tenison, and aroused opposition from the Dissenters, as Trumbull's nephew wrote: " give out that if they can keep him out this time, they shall for ever keep him from coming into the City". However Sacheverell was appointed by 28 votes to 19 on 24 May. Tenison was "much troubled" by this.