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).

The Right Reverend

Richard Fletcher
Bishop of London
ChurchChurch of England
ProvinceCanterbury
DioceseLondon
Elected30 December 1594
In office10 January 1595 – 15 June 1596
PredecessorJohn Aylmer
SuccessorRichard Bancroft
Orders
Consecration14 December 1589
Personal details
Bornc.1544/5
Watford
Died15 June 1596 (aged c.51–52)
NationalityEnglish
DenominationAnglican
ChildrenJohn Fletcher
Previous postBishop 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

  1. Harries, Cattermole & Mackintosh 1991, p. 170
  2. "Fletcher, Richard (FLTR562R)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  3. Fraser, A. (1969). Mary Queen of Scots. London: World Books. pp. 583–586, 594.
  4. Horn, Bishops of Bristol, vol. 8, pp. 9–15
  5. Horn, Bishops of Worcester, vol. 7, pp. 105–109
  6. 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)
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


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.