Robert Sylvester (Pursglove)
Encyclopedia
Robert Pursglove was an English
sixteenth-century bishop
.
, Derbyshire
the son of Adam Pursglove; his mother's name was Bradshawe. By a maternal uncle, William Bradshawe, he was sent to St Paul's School, London, where he spent nine years. After a short spell at St. Mary Overy, then a priory, he went on to Corpus Christi College, Oxford
. He remained in Oxford until about 1532. He was then the last Prior of Gisborough, by about 1534. The king appointed him suffragan Bishop of Hull
in 1538. In 1540 he surrendered Gisborough Priory to the king, and was given a pension.
He was made provost of Jesus College, Rotherham in 1544. It was suppressed early in the reign of Edward VI, and he became then Archdeacon of Nottingham
. His tenure of the bishopric of Hull continued under Robert Holgate
and Nicholas Heath
; but he was deprived of the office, as well as of his archdeaconry, in 1559 for refusing to take the oath of supremacy
.
In 1559, the year of his deprivation, he obtained letters patent from Elizabeth to found a grammar school at Tideswell. On 5 June 1563 he also obtained letters patent to found a similar school, bearing the same name, and also a hospital, or almshouse, at Guisborough
. Pursglove resided in his last years partly at Tideswell and partly at Dunston
. He died on 2 May 1579, and was buried in Tideswell church.
Prior Pursglove College
, a sixth form college
in Guisborough, North Yorkshire
, is named in his memory. At some point or other, he used the alias "Sylvester".
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
sixteenth-century bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
.
Life
He was born in TideswellTideswell
Tideswell is a village and civil parish in the Peak District of Derbyshire, in England. It lies east of Buxton on the B6049, in a wide dry valley on a limestone plateau, at an altitude of above sea level, and is within the District of Derbyshire Dales...
, Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
the son of Adam Pursglove; his mother's name was Bradshawe. By a maternal uncle, William Bradshawe, he was sent to St Paul's School, London, where he spent nine years. After a short spell at St. Mary Overy, then a priory, he went on to Corpus Christi College, Oxford
Corpus Christi College, Oxford
Corpus Christi College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom...
. He remained in Oxford until about 1532. He was then the last Prior of Gisborough, by about 1534. The king appointed him suffragan Bishop of Hull
Bishop of Hull
The Bishop of Hull is an episcopal title used by a suffragan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of York, England. The suffragan bishop, along with the Bishop of Selby and the Bishop of Whitby, assists the Archbishop of York in overseeing the diocese....
in 1538. In 1540 he surrendered Gisborough Priory to the king, and was given a pension.
He was made provost of Jesus College, Rotherham in 1544. It was suppressed early in the reign of Edward VI, and he became then Archdeacon of Nottingham
Archdeacon of Nottingham
The historic Archdeaconry of Nottingham was an extensive ecclesiastical jurisdiction within the diocese of York, England. It comprised almost the whole of the county of Nottingham, and was divided into the four deaneries of Nottingham, Newark, Bingham and Retford...
. His tenure of the bishopric of Hull continued under Robert Holgate
Robert Holgate
Robert Holgate was Bishop of Llandaff and then Archbishop of York . He recognised Henry VIII as leader of the Church of England....
and Nicholas Heath
Nicholas Heath
Nicholas Heath was archbishop of York and Lord Chancellor.-Life:Heath was born in London and graduated BA at Oxford in 1519. He then migrated to Christ's College, Cambridge, where he graduated BA in 1520, MA in 1522, and was elected fellow in 1524. After holding minor preferments he was appointed...
; but he was deprived of the office, as well as of his archdeaconry, in 1559 for refusing to take the oath of supremacy
Oath of Supremacy
The Oath of Supremacy, originally imposed by King Henry VIII of England through the Act of Supremacy 1534, but repealed by his daughter, Queen Mary I of England and reinstated under Mary's sister, Queen Elizabeth I of England under the Act of Supremacy 1559, provided for any person taking public or...
.
In 1559, the year of his deprivation, he obtained letters patent from Elizabeth to found a grammar school at Tideswell. On 5 June 1563 he also obtained letters patent to found a similar school, bearing the same name, and also a hospital, or almshouse, at Guisborough
Guisborough
Guisborough is a market town and civil parish within the unitary authority of Redcar and Cleveland and the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England....
. Pursglove resided in his last years partly at Tideswell and partly at Dunston
Dunston
Dunston may refer to one of the following places in England:*Dunston, Derbyshire*Dunston, Lincolnshire**Dunston Pillar, a nearby landmark**Nocton and Dunston railway station*Dunston, Norfolk*Dunston, Staffordshire*Dunston, Tyne and Wear...
. He died on 2 May 1579, and was buried in Tideswell church.
Prior Pursglove College
Prior Pursglove College
Prior Pursglove College is a sixth form college in Guisborough in the local education authority of Redcar and Cleveland, North Yorkshire, England. The college has been an educational institution since its founder Robert Pursglove set up the grammar school there in the 16th century after helping...
, a sixth form college
Sixth form college
A sixth form college is an educational institution in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Belize, Hong Kong or Malta where students aged 16 to 18 typically study for advanced school-level qualifications, such as A-levels, or school-level qualifications such as GCSEs. In Singapore and India, this is...
in Guisborough, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, is named in his memory. At some point or other, he used the alias "Sylvester".