Thomas Winniffe
Encyclopedia
Thomas Winniffe was an English churchman, the Bishop of Lincoln
from 1642 to 1654.
, Dorset
, in 1576, the son of John Winniffe (1540?-1630), who was buried on 28 September 1630 in Lambourne
church, Essex
. He matriculated from Exeter College, Oxford
, on 22 Feb. 1594, and was elected fellow in 1595; he graduated B.A. on 12 July 1598, M.A. on 17 May 1601, B.D. on 27 March 1610, and D.D. on 5 July 1610. In August 1605 he was one of those who disputed in moral philosophy before James I, his queen Anne of Denmark
, and Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales
on the occasion of their visit to Oxford. On 5 May 1608 he was admitted to the rectory of Willingale-Doe, Essex, and on 15 June following to that of Lambourne in the same county, and on 30 June 1609 he resigned his fellowship at Exeter, having livings above the statutable value.
After Prince Henry's death Winniffe became chaplain to Prince Charles
, but on 7 April 1622, when the Spaniards were overrunning the Palatinate, he gave offence by a sermon denouncing Gondomar
, and comparing Spinola
with the devil. He was sent to the Tower of London
, but repented and appealed to the Spanish and imperial ambassadors, at whose intercession he was released a few days later. On 17 September 1624 he was nominated dean of Gloucester, being installed on 10 November. He remained chaplain to Charles after his accession, and on 8 April 1631 was nominated dean of St. Paul's in succession John Donne
, who bequeathed him a picture; he was also one of the three to whom Donne is said to have left his religious manuscripts. Winniffe was elected dean of St. Paul's on 18 April; on 15 March 1634 he took the oath as an ecclesiastical commissioner.
On the translation of Bishop John Williams from Lincoln to York on 4 December 1641, Winniffe was selected to succeed him. The nomination is said to have been intended to gratify parliament on the ground of Winniffe's supposed Puritan tendencies; but on 30 December Francis Rous
moved in the House of Commons for the postponement of Winniffe's consecration, and Winniffe's house ia Westminster is said to have been destroyed by a mob, whose leader, Sir Richard Wiseman, was killed. He was elected on 5 January 1642, and was consecrated on 6 February; he retained the deanery of St. Paul's, but resigned his livings in Essex.
The outbreak of the First English Civil War
disturbed his possession of his see, though according to his own account he was always at Buckden Palace and submitted to parliamentary ordinances. In November 1646 all bishops' lands were vested in trustees for the benefit of the commonwealth, and Winniffe retired to Lambourne. Early in 1654, on his petition to Oliver Cromwell
, his arrears were paid up to November 1646; during his retirement he gave active assistance to Brian Walton in the preparation of the 'Polyglot Bible.' He died at Lambourne on 29 September 1654, and was buried within the altar-rails of the church. He was unmarried, and gave the advowson
of Lambourne, which he had purchased, to his nephew, Peter Mews
.
Bishop of Lincoln
The Bishop of Lincoln is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Lincoln in the Province of Canterbury.The present diocese covers the county of Lincolnshire and the unitary authority areas of North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire. The Bishop's seat is located in the Cathedral...
from 1642 to 1654.
Life
He was born and baptised at SherborneSherborne
Sherborne is a market town in northwest Dorset, England. It is sited on the River Yeo, on the edge of the Blackmore Vale, east of Yeovil. The A30 road, which connects London to Penzance, runs through the town. The population of the town is 9,350 . 27.1% of the population is aged 65 or...
, Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, in 1576, the son of John Winniffe (1540?-1630), who was buried on 28 September 1630 in Lambourne
Lambourne
Lambourne is a civil parish in the Epping Forest district of Essex, England. It is located approximately 4.5 miles South of Epping and 5 miles North-West of Romford, it is situated entirely within the M25 motorway...
church, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
. He matriculated from Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England and the fourth oldest college of the University. The main entrance is on the east side of Turl Street...
, on 22 Feb. 1594, and was elected fellow in 1595; he graduated B.A. on 12 July 1598, M.A. on 17 May 1601, B.D. on 27 March 1610, and D.D. on 5 July 1610. In August 1605 he was one of those who disputed in moral philosophy before James I, his queen Anne of Denmark
Anne of Denmark
Anne of Denmark was queen consort of Scotland, England, and Ireland as the wife of King James VI and I.The second daughter of King Frederick II of Denmark, Anne married James in 1589 at the age of fourteen and bore him three children who survived infancy, including the future Charles I...
, and Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales
Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales
Henry Frederick Stuart, Prince of Wales was the elder son of King James I & VI and Anne of Denmark. His name derives from his grandfathers: Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley and Frederick II of Denmark. Prince Henry was widely seen as a bright and promising heir to his father's throne...
on the occasion of their visit to Oxford. On 5 May 1608 he was admitted to the rectory of Willingale-Doe, Essex, and on 15 June following to that of Lambourne in the same county, and on 30 June 1609 he resigned his fellowship at Exeter, having livings above the statutable value.
After Prince Henry's death Winniffe became chaplain to Prince Charles
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
, but on 7 April 1622, when the Spaniards were overrunning the Palatinate, he gave offence by a sermon denouncing Gondomar
Gondomar
Gondomar may refer to:*Gondomar, Portugal, a city in Portugal*Gondomar Municipality*Gondomar, Pontevedra, a town in Galicia, Spain*Diego Sarmiento de Acuña, conde de Gondomar , Spanish diplomat...
, and comparing Spinola
Spinola
Spinola may refer to:*Spinola family a leading political family in Genoa in the 13th and 14th Centuries.-People:* Battista Spinola, 16th century Doge of Genoa* Benedict Spinola , a 16th century Genoese merchant in London...
with the devil. He was sent to the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
, but repented and appealed to the Spanish and imperial ambassadors, at whose intercession he was released a few days later. On 17 September 1624 he was nominated dean of Gloucester, being installed on 10 November. He remained chaplain to Charles after his accession, and on 8 April 1631 was nominated dean of St. Paul's in succession John Donne
John Donne
John Donne 31 March 1631), English poet, satirist, lawyer, and priest, is now considered the preeminent representative of the metaphysical poets. His works are notable for their strong and sensual style and include sonnets, love poetry, religious poems, Latin translations, epigrams, elegies, songs,...
, who bequeathed him a picture; he was also one of the three to whom Donne is said to have left his religious manuscripts. Winniffe was elected dean of St. Paul's on 18 April; on 15 March 1634 he took the oath as an ecclesiastical commissioner.
On the translation of Bishop John Williams from Lincoln to York on 4 December 1641, Winniffe was selected to succeed him. The nomination is said to have been intended to gratify parliament on the ground of Winniffe's supposed Puritan tendencies; but on 30 December Francis Rous
Francis Rous
Francis Rous or Rouse was an English politician and a prominent Puritan. He was also Provost of Eton, and wrote several theological and devotional works.-Early life:...
moved in the House of Commons for the postponement of Winniffe's consecration, and Winniffe's house ia Westminster is said to have been destroyed by a mob, whose leader, Sir Richard Wiseman, was killed. He was elected on 5 January 1642, and was consecrated on 6 February; he retained the deanery of St. Paul's, but resigned his livings in Essex.
The outbreak of the First English Civil War
First English Civil War
The First English Civil War began the series of three wars known as the English Civil War . "The English Civil War" was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations that took place between Parliamentarians and Royalists from 1642 until 1651, and includes the Second English Civil War and...
disturbed his possession of his see, though according to his own account he was always at Buckden Palace and submitted to parliamentary ordinances. In November 1646 all bishops' lands were vested in trustees for the benefit of the commonwealth, and Winniffe retired to Lambourne. Early in 1654, on his petition to Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
, his arrears were paid up to November 1646; during his retirement he gave active assistance to Brian Walton in the preparation of the 'Polyglot Bible.' He died at Lambourne on 29 September 1654, and was buried within the altar-rails of the church. He was unmarried, and gave the advowson
Advowson
Advowson is the right in English law of a patron to present or appoint a nominee to a vacant ecclesiastical benefice or church living, a process known as presentation. In effect this means the right to nominate a person to hold a church office in a parish...
of Lambourne, which he had purchased, to his nephew, Peter Mews
Peter Mews
Peter Mews was an English Royalist theologian and bishop.-Life:Mews was born at Caundle Purse in Dorset, and was educated at the Merchant Taylors' School, London, and at St John's College, Oxford, of which he was scholar and fellow.When the Civil War broke out in 1642, Mews joined the Royalist...
.