William Byngham

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William Byngham was the founder of the first secondary school training college in Britain[1]. He became vicar of St John Zachary in the City of London on May 25, 1424 where along with other prominent clergy such as Worthyngton St Andrew, Holborn , Lychefield (St Mary Magdalene, Old Fish Street]]and Cote (St Peter-upon-Cornhill]] he petitioned wealthy aldermen, and indeed the King himself[2], to restore the grammar schools. The foundation of Godshouse[3] in Cambridge in 1437 (with financial backing from a former Lord Mayor of London John Brokley) should have been a triumphant conclusion to his long campaign, but it took a further decade before his foundation was finally given the royal seal of approval[4]. He died on 17 November 1451.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Article to commemorate the 500th anniversary of his death William Byngham: A Medieval Protagonist of the Training of Teachers W. H. G. Armytage in “History of Education Journal”, Vol. 2, No. 4 (Summer, 1951), pp. 107-110
  2. ^ Biographical article in "Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Brown- Catley" Davenport, R.B: Oxford, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004 ISBN 019861411X
  3. ^ Later incorporated into Christ’s College
  4. ^ "Social history of Education in England" Lawson, J:London, Methuen,1973 ISBN 0416086705