John Fountayne
Encyclopedia
John Fountayne, M.A. DD
, (1714–1802) was a Church of England
clergyman and the longest serving Dean of York
.
, the family seat
which he inherited upon the death of his elder brother in 1739 and which he immediately set about substantially rebuilding.
He graduated M.A. from St Catharine's College, Cambridge
in 1739 and was later awarded a Doctorship of Divinity from the same college in 1751.
Having served as prebendary
of Salisbury Cathedral
from his graduation, he was first appointed a Canon
at St. George's Chapel, Windsor
in 1741, and was later preferred as Dean of York
, a position which he held from 1747 to his death in February 1802.
Noted as quite a politically astute Dean, he held on to office by moving with the political wind, as recounted by his friend, the author
, Laurence Sterne
.
in 1744 and by whom he had no issue. Following Ann's death in 1746, he married Frances Maria Whichcote, of Harpswell, Lincolnshire
, by whom he had one daughter, also named Frances Maria.
Upon Frances' death in 1750, he thirdly married Ann Montagu, in 1754, the only daughter of Charles Montagu of Papplewick
, Nottinghamshire
. This marriage produced two sons and three daughters, all of whom the except the middle daughter died unmarried. There are memorials to all these family members in Melton Church
.
The second daughter from this third marriage married Richard Wilson, second son of Dr. Christopher Wilson, sometime Bishop of Bristol
. As a result of this marriage, the family name was changed to Fountayne-Wilson and later reverted to Montagu, following an inheritance.
, the parish church
of his family estate in South Yorkshire
, a building in which he erected several substantial family memorial
s and installed much of the church's stained glass
. His own memorial stands to the south of the altar
, below which the Fountayne family vault
is sealed.
Fountayne's heir was his only surviving grandson, Richard Fountayne-Wilson, son of his daughter Elizabeth, who became Member of Parliament
for Yorkshire
between 1826 and 1830 and High Sheriff of Yorkshire
1807-08.
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
, (1714–1802) was a Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
clergyman and the longest serving Dean of York
Dean of York
The Dean of York is the member of the clergy who is responsible for the running of the York Minster cathedral.-11th–12th centuries:* 1093–c.1135: Hugh* c.1138–1143: William of Sainte-Barbe...
.
Life
Fountayne was the younger of two sons of John Fountayne. He was raised at Melton Hall, in High MeltonHigh Melton
High Melton is a village and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster in South Yorkshire, England. It has a population of 339.-External links:*...
, the family seat
Family seat
A seat or family seat is the principal residence of a family. The residence usually denotes the social, economic, political, or historic connection of the family within a given area. Some families took their dynasty name from their family seat , or named their family seat after their own dynasty...
which he inherited upon the death of his elder brother in 1739 and which he immediately set about substantially rebuilding.
He graduated M.A. from St Catharine's College, Cambridge
St Catharine's College, Cambridge
St. Catharine’s College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1473, the college is often referred to informally by the nickname "Catz".-History:...
in 1739 and was later awarded a Doctorship of Divinity from the same college in 1751.
Having served as prebendary
Prebendary
A prebendary is a post connected to an Anglican or Catholic cathedral or collegiate church and is a type of canon. Prebendaries have a role in the administration of the cathedral...
of Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is an Anglican cathedral in Salisbury, England, considered one of the leading examples of Early English architecture....
from his graduation, he was first appointed a Canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
at St. George's Chapel, Windsor
St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle
St George's Chapel is the place of worship at Windsor Castle in England, United Kingdom. It is both a royal peculiar and the chapel of the Order of the Garter...
in 1741, and was later preferred as Dean of York
Dean of York
The Dean of York is the member of the clergy who is responsible for the running of the York Minster cathedral.-11th–12th centuries:* 1093–c.1135: Hugh* c.1138–1143: William of Sainte-Barbe...
, a position which he held from 1747 to his death in February 1802.
Noted as quite a politically astute Dean, he held on to office by moving with the political wind, as recounted by his friend, the author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, Laurence Sterne
Laurence Sterne
Laurence Sterne was an Irish novelist and an Anglican clergyman. He is best known for his novels The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, and A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy; but he also published many sermons, wrote memoirs, and was involved in local politics...
.
Marriages
John Fountayne married three times, firstly to Ann Bromley, daughter of William Bromley, speaker of the House of CommonsWilliam Bromley (Speaker)
Sir William Bromley was an English Tory politician. He was Speaker of the British House of Commons from 1710 to 1713 and Secretary of State for the Northern Department from 1713 to 1714....
in 1744 and by whom he had no issue. Following Ann's death in 1746, he married Frances Maria Whichcote, of Harpswell, Lincolnshire
Harpswell, Lincolnshire
Harpswell is a village and civil parish in the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. It lies just west off the junction of the A631 and B1398, north of Lincoln.According to the 2001 census Harpswell had a population of 65....
, by whom he had one daughter, also named Frances Maria.
Upon Frances' death in 1750, he thirdly married Ann Montagu, in 1754, the only daughter of Charles Montagu of Papplewick
Papplewick
The parish of Papplewick is situated towards the west of central Nottinghamshire, to the north of the town of Hucknall. It has an area of 7.15 km². The village of Papplewick is located in the west of the parish. It is 7.5 miles north of Nottingham and 6 miles south of Mansfield...
, Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
. This marriage produced two sons and three daughters, all of whom the except the middle daughter died unmarried. There are memorials to all these family members in Melton Church
St James' Church, High Melton
St James' Church, High Melton, is a parish church in the Church of England in High Melton.-Background:The Church of St James dominates the village of High Melton, near Doncaster, in South Yorkshire...
.
The second daughter from this third marriage married Richard Wilson, second son of Dr. Christopher Wilson, sometime Bishop of Bristol
Bishop of Bristol
The Bishop of Bristol heads the Church of England Diocese of Bristol in the Province of Canterbury, in England.The present diocese covers parts of the counties of Somerset and Gloucestershire together with a small area of Wiltshire...
. As a result of this marriage, the family name was changed to Fountayne-Wilson and later reverted to Montagu, following an inheritance.
Burial
He is buried in St James' Church, High MeltonSt James' Church, High Melton
St James' Church, High Melton, is a parish church in the Church of England in High Melton.-Background:The Church of St James dominates the village of High Melton, near Doncaster, in South Yorkshire...
, the parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
of his family estate in South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
, a building in which he erected several substantial family memorial
Memorial
A memorial is an object which serves as a focus for memory of something, usually a person or an event. Popular forms of memorials include landmark objects or art objects such as sculptures, statues or fountains, and even entire parks....
s and installed much of the church's stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
. His own memorial stands to the south of the altar
Altar
An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes. Altars are usually found at shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship...
, below which the Fountayne family vault
Burial vault (tomb)
A burial vault is a structural underground tomb.It is a stone or brick-lined underground space or 'burial' chamber for the interment of a dead body or bodies. They were originally and are still often vaulted and usually have stone slab entrances...
is sealed.
Fountayne's heir was his only surviving grandson, Richard Fountayne-Wilson, son of his daughter Elizabeth, who became Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
between 1826 and 1830 and High Sheriff of Yorkshire
High Sheriff of Yorkshire
The High Sheriff of Yorkshire was an ancient High Sheriff title originating in the time of the Angles, not long after the invasion of the Kingdom of England, which was in existence for around a thousand years. A list of the sheriffs from the Norman conquest onwards can be found below...
1807-08.