James Johnson (bishop)
Encyclopedia
Rt. Rev. James Johnson DD
(1705–1774) was an English prelate, successively Bishop of Gloucester
(1752-59) and of Worcester
(1759-74).
, Suffolk
, to the Rev. James Johnson and Anne Cuthbert. His grandfather was George Johnson, a Judge and Councilor of Charles II
. He was educated at Westminster School
in London and became a King's Scholar before matriculating to Christ Church
, Oxford. He became Second Master of Westminster School and held the rectory of Berkhampstead, Hertfordshire
.
He became a chaplain to George II
and canon residentiary of St. Paul's Cathedral. In 1752 he was consecrated Bishop of Gloucester
but was quickly embroiled in a scandal involving allegations of Jacobitism
. Christopher Fawcett had gossiped to Lord Ravensworth that Bishop Johnson, Andrew Stone and William Murray
had drunk to the health of the Pretender
in their youth. The allegations were brought all the way to the House of Lords
and were subsequently thrown out.
Johnson was translated to the see of Worcester in 1759 and made many alterations to Hartlebury Castle
, the residence of the Bishops of Worcestor, out of his own considerable fortune. He was also a patron of Benjamin West
, commissioning "The Return of the Prodigal Son". Bishop Johnson died in 1774 from a fall from his horse in Stall Street, Bath. There is a monument to him in Worcester Cathedral
.
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
(1705–1774) was an English prelate, successively Bishop of Gloucester
Bishop of Gloucester
The Bishop of Gloucester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Gloucester in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers the County of Gloucestershire and part of the County of Worcestershire and has its see in the City of Gloucester where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church...
(1752-59) and of Worcester
Bishop of Worcester
The Bishop of Worcester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury, England. He is the head of the Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury...
(1759-74).
Life
James Johnson was born in MelfordLong Melford
Long Melford is a large village and civil parish in the county of Suffolk, England. It is on Suffolk's border with Essex, which is marked by the River Stour, approximately from Colchester and from Bury St. Edmunds...
, Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, to the Rev. James Johnson and Anne Cuthbert. His grandfather was George Johnson, a Judge and Councilor of Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
. He was educated at Westminster School
Westminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
in London and became a King's Scholar before matriculating to Christ Church
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
, Oxford. He became Second Master of Westminster School and held the rectory of Berkhampstead, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
.
He became a chaplain to George II
George II of Great Britain
George II was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Archtreasurer and Prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 11 June 1727 until his death.George was the last British monarch born outside Great Britain. He was born and brought up in Northern Germany...
and canon residentiary of St. Paul's Cathedral. In 1752 he was consecrated Bishop of Gloucester
Bishop of Gloucester
The Bishop of Gloucester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Gloucester in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers the County of Gloucestershire and part of the County of Worcestershire and has its see in the City of Gloucester where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church...
but was quickly embroiled in a scandal involving allegations of Jacobitism
Jacobitism
Jacobitism was the political movement in Britain dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland, later the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Kingdom of Ireland...
. Christopher Fawcett had gossiped to Lord Ravensworth that Bishop Johnson, Andrew Stone and William Murray
William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield
William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield, SL, PC was a British barrister, politician and judge noted for his reform of English law. Born to Scottish nobility, he was educated in Perth, Scotland before moving to London at the age of 13 to take up a place at Westminster School...
had drunk to the health of the Pretender
Pretender
A pretender is one who claims entitlement to an unavailable position of honour or rank. Most often it refers to a former monarch, or descendant thereof, whose throne is occupied or claimed by a rival, or has been abolished....
in their youth. The allegations were brought all the way to the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
and were subsequently thrown out.
Johnson was translated to the see of Worcester in 1759 and made many alterations to Hartlebury Castle
Hartlebury Castle
Hartlebury Castle, a Grade I listed building, in Worcestershire, central England, was built in the mid-13th century as a fortified manor house on land given to the Bishop of Worcester by King Burgred of Mercia. It lies near Stourport town in north Worcestershire. The manor of Hartlebury...
, the residence of the Bishops of Worcestor, out of his own considerable fortune. He was also a patron of Benjamin West
Benjamin West
Benjamin West, RA was an Anglo-American painter of historical scenes around and after the time of the American War of Independence...
, commissioning "The Return of the Prodigal Son". Bishop Johnson died in 1774 from a fall from his horse in Stall Street, Bath. There is a monument to him in Worcester Cathedral
Worcester Cathedral
Worcester Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in Worcester, England; situated on a bank overlooking the River Severn. It is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Worcester. Its official name is The Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Mary the Virgin of Worcester...
.