Thomas Godwin (bishop)
| Thomas Godwin | |
|---|---|
| Religion | Church of England |
| Personal | |
| Born |
1517 Wokingham, Berkshire |
| Died |
1590 (aged 73) Wokingham, Berkshire |
| Resting place | All Saints' Church, Wokingham |
| Senior posting | |
| Based in | England |
| Title | Bishop of Bath and Wells |
| Period in office | 1584- 1590 |
| Predecessor | Gilbert Berkeley |
| Successor | John Still |
| Religious career | |
| Previous post | Dean of Canterbury Cathedral (1567- 1584) |
Thomas Godwin (1517–1590) was an English bishop, who presided over the Diocese of Bath and Wells.
Life
Thomas Godwin was both born and died in Wokingham in Berkshire. From 1567 to 1584 he was Dean of Canterbury. He was appointed Bishop of Bath and Wells on 10 August 1584.[1] He was much in favour with Queen Elizabeth I as a preacher.
Family
Godwin was married twice and had eight children:
- Thomas Godwin (Wells, Somerset politician)
- Francis Godwin, Bishop of Llandaff and of Hereford[2]
- Robert Godwin (Parson)
- Matthew Godwin (Master of Music at Exeter Cathedral)
- Paul Godwin (Canon of Wells Cathedral)
- Blandia Purfey (nee Godwin), wife of Thomas Purfrey, MP for Wells
- Jocye Godwin
- Anne Godwin
While at Wells Godwin lived a semi- invalid life which his family and extended family took full advantage of, many of them receiving several benefices and amercing themselves in local politics.[3] Thomas Godwin returned home to Berkshire in 1590 and on 19 November 1590 he died. He was buried under the chancel of the parish church of All Saints' Church, Wokingham.[4] On his death his children fought over his personal effects and Blandia was seen smuggling the best linen away. The See of Bath and Wells was also left in a bad situation with mistrust and corruption among its canons.[5]
References
- ↑ Cassan, Stephen Hyde (1829). Lives of the Bishops of Bath. pp. 480–490.
- ↑ "Godwin, Thomas (1517–1590)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
- ↑ Hembry, Phyllis (1967). The Bishops of Bath and Wells. London: The Athlone Press. p. 156.
- ↑ "Thomas Godwin (1517-1590)". Royal Berkshire History. Nash Ford Publishing.
- ↑ Hembry, Phyllis (1967). The Bishops of Bath and Wells. London: The Athlone Press. p. 182.
External links
| Church of England titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Nicholas Wotton |
Dean of Canterbury 1567–1584 |
Succeeded by Richard Rogers |
| Preceded by Gilbert Berkeley |
Bishop of Bath and Wells 1584–1590 |
Succeeded by John Still |