John De la Bere, Bishop of St David's
Encyclopedia
John De la Bere was a 15th century Bishop of St David's
in Wales
.
John's parentage is not known for sure, but it seems certain that he was of the family of De la Bere from Stretford Manor in Herefordshire
and Weobley Castle
in Glamorgan
. He may have been a younger son of John De la Bere of Weobley who died in 1433.
John entered the Church
and became Dean of Wells
before being appointed Bishop
of St David's
in September 1447. He was consecrated on 19 November that year. De la Bere may have been an Oxford
scholar, for it is said that he never set foot in St David's
, leaving the running of the diocese
to Gruffydd, the son of Sir Rhys ap Thomas
. He lived instead in Oxfordshire
where he owned the manor of Clifton Hampden
. He paid for the restoration of Dorchester
Bridge. Bishop De la Bere lent his palace at Lamphey to the Earl of Richmond
for his honeymoon with the thirteen-year-old Margaret Beaufort in 1455. It was there that, their son, King Henry VII of England
, was conceived. The bishop resigned on 23 July 1460, possibly due to his political affiliations during the Wars of the Roses
, and was succeeded by Robert Tully
.
Bishop of St David's
The Bishop of St David's is the ordinary of the Church in Wales Diocese of St David's.The succession of bishops stretches back to Saint David who in the 6th century established his seat in what is today the city of St David's in Pembrokeshire, founding St David's Cathedral. The current Bishop of St...
in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
.
John's parentage is not known for sure, but it seems certain that he was of the family of De la Bere from Stretford Manor in Herefordshire
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
and Weobley Castle
Weobley Castle
Weobley Castle is a fortified manor house on the Gower Peninsula, Wales in the care of Cadw.It is near the village of Leason overlooking Llanrhidian Marsh and the Loughor estuary. The castle dates from the 13th Century. It was attacked and damaged by the forces of Owain Glyndŵr in 1403.- External...
in Glamorgan
Glamorgan
Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three...
. He may have been a younger son of John De la Bere of Weobley who died in 1433.
John entered the Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
and became Dean of Wells
Wells Cathedral
Wells Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral in Wells, Somerset, England. It is the seat of the Bishop of Bath and Wells, who lives at the adjacent Bishop's Palace....
before being appointed 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...
of St David's
St David's
St Davids , is a city and community in Pembrokeshire, Wales. Lying on the River Alun on St David's Peninsula, it is Britain's smallest city in terms of both size and population, the final resting place of Saint David, the country's patron saint, and the de facto ecclesiastical capital of...
in September 1447. He was consecrated on 19 November that year. De la Bere may have been an Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
scholar, for it is said that he never set foot in St David's
St David's
St Davids , is a city and community in Pembrokeshire, Wales. Lying on the River Alun on St David's Peninsula, it is Britain's smallest city in terms of both size and population, the final resting place of Saint David, the country's patron saint, and the de facto ecclesiastical capital of...
, leaving the running of the diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
to Gruffydd, the son of Sir Rhys ap Thomas
Rhys ap Thomas
Rhys ap Thomas was a Welsh soldier and landholder who rose to prominence during the Wars of the Roses, and was instrumental in the victory of Henry Tudor at the Battle of Bosworth Field. He remained a faithful supporter of Henry and was rewarded with lands and offices in South Wales...
. He lived instead in Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
where he owned the manor of Clifton Hampden
Clifton Hampden
Clifton Hampden is a village and civil parish on the north bank of the River Thames, just over east of Abingdon in Oxfordshire. Since 1932 the civil parish has included the village of Burcot, east of Clifton Hampden.-Manor:...
. He paid for the restoration of Dorchester
Dorchester, Oxfordshire
Dorchester-on-Thames is a village and civil parish on the River Thame in Oxfordshire, about northwest of Wallingford and southeast of Oxford. Despite its name, Dorchester is not on the River Thames, but just above the Thame's confluence with it...
Bridge. Bishop De la Bere lent his palace at Lamphey to the Earl of Richmond
Edmund Tudor, 1st Earl of Richmond
Edmund Tudor, 1st Earl of Richmond , also known as Edmund of Hadham , was the father of King Henry VII of England and a member of the Tudor family of Penmynydd, North Wales.-Birth and early life:...
for his honeymoon with the thirteen-year-old Margaret Beaufort in 1455. It was there that, their son, King Henry VII of England
Henry VII of England
Henry VII was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizing the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death on 21 April 1509, as the first monarch of the House of Tudor....
, was conceived. The bishop resigned on 23 July 1460, possibly due to his political affiliations during the Wars of the Roses
Wars of the Roses
The Wars of the Roses were a series of dynastic civil wars for the throne of England fought between supporters of two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet: the houses of Lancaster and York...
, and was succeeded by Robert Tully
Robert Tully
-Coaching career:Tully was the head football coach for the Bethel Threshers located in North Newton, Kansas. He held that position for three seasons, from 1946 until 1948. His coaching record at Bethel was 6 wins, 18 losses and 1 tie.As of the conclusion of the 2010 season, this ranks him #10 at...
.