Richard Fletcher (bishop)
16th-century English Anglican bishop / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Richard Fletcher (1544/5, Watford – 15 June 1596) was a Church of England priest and bishop. He was successively Dean of Peterborough (1583–89), bishop of Bristol (1589–93), Bishop of Worcester (1593–95) and Bishop of London (1595–96).
Richard Fletcher | |
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Bishop of London | |
Church | Church of England |
Province | Canterbury |
Diocese | London |
Elected | 30 December 1594 |
In office | 10 January 1595 – 15 June 1596 |
Predecessor | John Aylmer |
Successor | Richard Bancroft |
Orders | |
Consecration | 14 December 1589 |
Personal details | |
Born | c. 1544/5 |
Died | 15 June 1596 (aged approximately 51–52) |
Nationality | English |
Denomination | Anglican |
Children | John Fletcher |
Previous post(s) | Bishop of Worcester Bishop of Bristol Dean of Peterborough |
Fletcher was educated at Norwich School[1] and at Trinity College, Cambridge, matriculating in 1562, graduating B.A. 1566. Moving to Corpus Christi College, where he gained a fellowship in 1569, he graduated M.A. 1569, B.D. 1576, D.D. 1580.[2] He was the father of playwright John Fletcher.
During Fletcher's time as Dean of Peterborough Cathedral he was present at the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots on 8 February 1587,[2] described by Fraser as "pray(ing) out loud and at length, in a prolonged and rhetorical style as though determined to force his way into the pages of history" (1969:584), and presided over her initial funeral and burial at Peterborough Cathedral.[3]
Fletcher was elected Bishop of Bristol on 13 November 1589 and consecrated on 14 December 1589.[4] He was translated to the bishopric of Worcester on 10 February 1593,[5] and to the bishopric of London on 10 January 1595.[6]
Fletcher died in office on 15 June 1596.[6]