Thomas Stanley (bishop)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Stanley was a sixteenth century, English Reformation
-era Bishop of Sodor and Man
.
Allegedly the natural son of Sir Edward Stanley
, of Hornby Castle, Lancashire
, on account of his bastardy, he obtained leave from the Pope to hold his preferments, especially the rectory of Wigan
. In 1513 he became rector of Badworth (Wigan), a post he held until 1549 and shortly after he was appointed rector of Barwick, he became prebendary (canon) of Thorngate from 1528 to 1530.
He was elevated to the bishopric of Sodor and Man in 1542. His diocese was removed from the province of Canterbury
and united with that of York
, and his opposition to this move led to his being deposed in 1545. After an interval of over a dozen years, he was restored to the bishopric in 1556 then subsequently confirmed as such and appointed as Governor
of the Isle of Man
by the Roman Catholic Mary I of England
.
During the time of his suspension from the bishopric he became, in 1552, rector of the valuable living of Winwick
in Lancashire on the presentation of his cousin Edward Stanley, 3rd Earl of Derby
, and in 1557, Rector of North Meols (Wigan).
Notoriously absent, however, his neglect of his many responsibilities, was commented on in a letter written by James Pilkington, Bishop of Durham, to Matthew Parker
, Archbishop of Canterbury
, in which he says, "The Bishop of Man, Thomas Stanley, liveth here at his ease as merry as Pope Joan
." It would seem from this that to his other preferments he had added a canonry at Durham Cathedral
. In fact, he was only imitating a number of the beneficed clergy of his time who absented themselves from their livings that they might be more free to enjoy themselves.
He appears to have died in office in 1568 but details of his death, or burial place, are unknown and his successor was not appointed until 1569.
English Reformation
The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....
-era Bishop of Sodor and Man
Bishop of Sodor and Man
The Bishop of Sodor and Man is the Ordinary of the Diocese of Sodor and Man in the Province of York in the Church of England. The diocese covers the Isle of Man. The see is in the town of Peel where the bishop's seat is located at the Cathedral Church of St German, elevated to cathedral status on 1...
.
Allegedly the natural son of Sir Edward Stanley
Edward Stanley, 1st Baron Monteagle
Edward Stanley, 1st Baron Monteagle was an English soldier who became a peer and Knight of the Garter. He is known, perhaps wrongly, for his deeds at the Battle of Flodden.-Life:...
, of Hornby Castle, Lancashire
Hornby Castle, Lancashire
Hornby Castle is a country house, developed from a medieval castle, standing to the east of the village of Hornby in the Lune Valley, Lancashire, England. It occupies a position overlooking the village in a curve of the River Wenning...
, on account of his bastardy, he obtained leave from the Pope to hold his preferments, especially the rectory of Wigan
Wigan
Wigan is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It stands on the River Douglas, south-west of Bolton, north of Warrington and west-northwest of Manchester. Wigan is the largest settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan and is its administrative centre. The town of Wigan had a total...
. In 1513 he became rector of Badworth (Wigan), a post he held until 1549 and shortly after he was appointed rector of Barwick, he became prebendary (canon) of Thorngate from 1528 to 1530.
He was elevated to the bishopric of Sodor and Man in 1542. His diocese was removed from the province of Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
and united with that of York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, and his opposition to this move led to his being deposed in 1545. After an interval of over a dozen years, he was restored to the bishopric in 1556 then subsequently confirmed as such and appointed as Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
by the Roman Catholic Mary I of England
Mary I of England
Mary I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from July 1553 until her death.She was the only surviving child born of the ill-fated marriage of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Her younger half-brother, Edward VI, succeeded Henry in 1547...
.
During the time of his suspension from the bishopric he became, in 1552, rector of the valuable living of Winwick
Winwick
Winwick may refer to:*Winwick, Cambridgeshire, England*Winwick, Cheshire, England*Winwick, Northamptonshire, England...
in Lancashire on the presentation of his cousin Edward Stanley, 3rd Earl of Derby
Edward Stanley, 3rd Earl of Derby
Edward Stanley, 3rd Earl of Derby was an English nobleman.At the age of thirteen, Edward received the titles and estates of his father, the 2nd Earl of Derby, and King Henry VIII took responsibility for bringing him up until he was of age...
, and in 1557, Rector of North Meols (Wigan).
Notoriously absent, however, his neglect of his many responsibilities, was commented on in a letter written by James Pilkington, Bishop of Durham, to Matthew Parker
Matthew Parker
Matthew Parker was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1559 until his death in 1575. He was also an influential theologian and arguably the co-founder of Anglican theological thought....
, Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
, in which he says, "The Bishop of Man, Thomas Stanley, liveth here at his ease as merry as Pope Joan
Pope Joan
Pope Joan is a legendary female Pope who, it is purported, reigned for a few years some time in the Middle Ages. The story first appeared in the writings of 13th-century chroniclers, and subsequently spread through Europe...
." It would seem from this that to his other preferments he had added a canonry at Durham Cathedral
Durham Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of Christ, Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of Durham is a cathedral in the city of Durham, England, the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Durham. The Bishopric dates from 995, with the present cathedral being founded in AD 1093...
. In fact, he was only imitating a number of the beneficed clergy of his time who absented themselves from their livings that they might be more free to enjoy themselves.
He appears to have died in office in 1568 but details of his death, or burial place, are unknown and his successor was not appointed until 1569.