Richard Fletcher (bishop)
Richard Fletcher (1544/5, Watford – 15 June 1596) was a Church of England priest and bishop. He was successively Dean of Peterborough (1583–89), bishop of Bristol (1589–93), Bishop of Worcester (1593–95) and Bishop of London (1595–96).
Richard Fletcher | |
---|---|
Bishop of London | |
Church | Church of England |
Province | Canterbury |
Diocese | London |
Elected | 30 December 1594 |
In office | 10 January 1595 – 15 June 1596 |
Predecessor | John Aylmer |
Successor | Richard Bancroft |
Orders | |
Consecration | 14 December 1589 |
Personal details | |
Born | c. 1544/5 Watford |
Died | 15 June 1596 (aged approximately 51–52) |
Nationality | English |
Denomination | Anglican |
Children | John Fletcher |
Previous post | Bishop of Worcester Bishop of Bristol Dean of Peterborough |
Fletcher was educated at Norwich School[1] and at Trinity College, Cambridge, matriculating in 1562, graduating B.A. 1566. Moving to Corpus Christi College, where he gained a fellowship in 1569, he graduated M.A. 1569, B.D. 1576, D.D. 1580.[2] He was the father of playwright John Fletcher.
During Fletcher's time as Dean of Peterborough Cathedral he was present at the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots on 8 February 1587,[2] described by Fraser as "pray(ing) out loud and at length, in a prolonged and rhetorical style as though determined to force his way into the pages of history" (1969:584), and presided over her initial funeral and burial at Peterborough Cathedral.[3]
Fletcher was elected Bishop of Bristol on 13 November 1589 and consecrated on 14 December 1589.[4] He was translated to the bishopric of Worcester on 10 February 1593,[5] and to the bishopric of London on 10 January 1595.[6]
Fletcher died in office on 15 June 1596.[6]
References
- Harries, Cattermole & Mackintosh 1991, p. 170
- "Fletcher, Richard (FLTR562R)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
- Fraser, A. (1969). Mary Queen of Scots. London: World Books. pp. 583–586, 594.
- Horn, Bishops of Bristol, vol. 8, pp. 9–15
- Horn, Bishops of Worcester, vol. 7, pp. 105–109
- Horn, Bishops of London, vol. 1, pp. 1–4
Sources
- Harries, R.; Cattermole, P.; Mackintosh, P. (1991). A History of Norwich School: King Edward VI's Grammar School at Norwich. Norwich: Friends of Norwich School. ISBN 978-0-9518561-1-6.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Horn, J. M. Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1541–1857. Institute of Historical Research.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
External links
- Usher, Brett, ‘Fletcher, Richard (1544/5–1596)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edn, Jan 2008, accessed 3 Jan 2008
- Hutchinson, John (1892). ed.). Canterbury: Cross & Jackman. p. 49. . Men of Kent and Kentishmen (Subscription
Church of England titles | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by William Latymer |
Dean of Peterborough 1583–1589 |
Succeeded by Thomas Nevile |
Preceded by John Bullingham |
Bishop of Bristol 1589–1593 |
Vacant Title next held by John Thornborough |
Preceded by Edmund Freke |
Bishop of Worcester 1593–1595 |
Succeeded by Thomas Bilson |
Preceded by John Aylmer |
Bishop of London 1595–1596 |
Succeeded by Richard Bancroft |