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
ChurchChurch of England
ProvinceCanterbury
DioceseLondon
Elected30 December 1594
In office10 January 1595 – 15 June 1596
PredecessorJohn Aylmer
SuccessorRichard Bancroft
Previous post(s)Bishop of Worcester
Bishop of Bristol
Dean of Peterborough
Orders
Consecration14 December 1589
Personal details
Bornc. 1544/5
Died15 June 1596 (aged approximately 51–52)
NationalityEnglish
DenominationAnglican
ChildrenJohn Fletcher

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

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  1. ^ Harries, Cattermole & Mackintosh 1991, p. 170
  2. ^ a b "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. ^ a b Horn, Bishops of London, vol. 1, pp. 1–4

Sources

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  • 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.
  • Horn, J. M. Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1541–1857. Institute of Historical Research.
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Church of England titles
Preceded by Dean of Peterborough
1583–1589
Succeeded by
Preceded by Bishop of Bristol
1589–1593
Vacant
Title next held by
John Thornborough
Preceded by Bishop of Worcester
1593–1595
Succeeded by
Preceded by Bishop of London
1595–1596
Succeeded by