| Thomas Beckington | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Bath and Wells | |
| Church | Roman Catholic |
| See | Diocese of Bath and Wells |
| Appointed | before 13 October 1443 |
| Reign ended | 14 January 1465 |
| Predecessor | John Stafford |
| Successor | Robert Stillington |
| Orders | |
| Consecration | 13 October 1443 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | circa 1390 |
| Died | 14 January 1465 Wells |
| Previous post | Dean of Arches |
Thomas Beckington (also spelt Beckynton; c. 1390 – 14 January 1465) was the Bishop of Bath and Wells and King's Secretary in medieval England.
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Beckington was born at Beckington in Somerset, and was educated at Winchester and New College, Oxford. Having entered the Church he held many ecclesiastical appointments, and became dean of the Arches in 1423;[1] then devoting his time to secular affairs he was sent on an embassy to Calais in 1439, and to John IV, count of Armagnac, in 1442.
At this time Beckington was acting as secretary to Henry VI, and soon after his return in 1443 he was appointed Lord Privy Seal until 1444.[2] He was consecrated bishop of Bath and Wells on 13 October 1443.[3] The bishop erected many buildings in Wells and elsewhere, probably altering the rectory at Sutton Courtenay in Berkshire (now Oxfordshire), an early preferment. The most important results of Beckington's missions to France were one Latin journal, written by himself, referring to the embassy to Calais; and another, written by one of his attendants, relating to the journey to Armagnac. He died at Wells on 14 January 1465.[3]
Beckington is buried at Wells Cathedral and has an unusual monument there, his effigy is depicted twice; one above the other in a two tier arrangement, the bottom effigy depicting his decaying corpse whilst unwrapped from its shroud, and the effigy above depicting him wearing his attire that one can assume would have been worn in his duties as bishop. When his tomb was opened during Victorian times he was found to be buried very simply (as depicted on his tomb) and the only ornament that he was buried with was his Bishop's ring – this was removed and is now in a museum.
Beckington played a leading role as architect of the legal aspects of Henry VI's foundation of Eton College in 1440; he is commemorated in the name of the school's central refectory, 'Bekynton'.
Beckington's own journal is published in the Proceedings of the Privy Council, vol. v., edited by Nicholas Harris Nicolas (1835); and the other journal in the Official Correspondence of Thomas Bekynton, edited by G. Williams for the Rolls Series (1872), which contains many interesting letters. This latter journal has been translated into English by N. H. Nicolas (1828). See G. G. Perry, Bishop Beckington and Henry VI., in the English Historical Review (1894).
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by William Lyndwood |
Lord Privy Seal 1443–1444 |
Succeeded by Adam Moleyns |
| Catholic Church titles | ||
| Preceded by John Stafford |
Bishop of Bath and Wells 1434–1465 |
Succeeded by Robert Stillington |