Philip Hawford alias Ballard (Died Aug 11th 1557) was the parish priest (c.1536-1557) at Elmley Lovett Worcestershire

Worcestershire

Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...

 He was also the last Abbot of Evesham

Abbot of Evesham

The Abbot of Evesham was the head of Evesham Abbey, a Benedictine monastery in Worcestershire founded in the Anglo-Saxon era of English history. The succession continued until dissolution of the monastery in 1540:-List:...

 And also Dean of Worcester

Dean of Worcester

The Dean of Worcester is the head of the Chapter of Worcester Cathedral in Worcester, England. The most current Dean is the Very Rev Peter Gordon Atkinson who lives at The Deanery, College Green, Worcester.-List of Deans:...

Life

Philip Hawford became Abbott of Evesham Abbey by preferment. He was in negotiations with Thomas Cromwell in 1536 telling Cromwell that he would 'Gladly accomplish' all the promises he had made and be always ready for "the call to preferment" promised him by Cromwell. Philip Hawford was called to preferment on April 4th 1538. Evidently he had bribed Cromwell for his preferment, for in May 1538 William Petre

William Petre

Sir William Petre was a secretary of state to Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I.Educated as a lawyer at Oxford, he became a public servant, probably through the influence of the Boleyns, one of whom, George, he had tutored at Oxford and another of whom, Anne, was married to the king...

 wrote to Thomas Wriothesley

Thomas Wriothesley

Sir Thomas Wriothesley was a long serving officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. He was the son of Garter King of Arms, John Writhe, and he succeeded his father in this office.-Personal life:...

 that 'touching Mr Cromwell's matter the abbot says it shall be paid to-morrow morning'. And an entry of 400 Marks from the abbot is found in Cromwell's account for that month. Hence Philip Hawford became the last abbott of Evesham and effectively 'gave' King Henry VIII

Henry VIII of England

Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...

The Abbey of Evesham which was destroyed shortly after.