John Potter (Dean)
Encyclopedia
John Potter was an 18th-century Church of England
clergyman who was Dean of Canterbury
from 1766 to 1770.
He was the eldest son of John Potter, Archbishop of Canterbury
(1673/4–1747).
Following a private education, he studied at Christ Church, Oxford
(1727), taking an M.A. in 1734.
His first ecclesiastical appointment was as vicar of St Mary, Blackburn (1738, resigned 1742), followed by rector of Elm
, with Emneth
Chapel (Norfolk, 1738–1755).
In 1741 his father installed him as Archdeacon of Oxford. He obtained the degree of B.D. the same year.
In 1742 he was collated by his father to the vicarage of Lydd
(Kent), together with the Rectory
of Chiddingstone
.
He was installed as a prebendary of Canterbury Cathedral
in 1745 (Stall XII).
He obtained the degree of D.D. in 1746, and the following year exchanged Chiddingstone for the rectory of Wrotham
(Kent).
In 1766 he succeeded Dr William Freind
as Dean of Canterbury
. He died in 1770 at Wrotham where he is buried.
Potter was disinherited by his father as a result of a marriage of which the archbishop disapproved but he nevertheless enjoyed considerable preferment within the church as a result of his father's patronage.
Hasted noted 'He had married very imprudently in his early part of life, and consequently highly to the disapprobation of his father, who though he presented him as is mentioned before to several valuable preferments in the church, yet disinherited him, by leaving the whole of his fortune to his youngest son, Thomas Potter, esq.'
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
clergyman who was Dean of Canterbury
Dean of Canterbury
The Dean of Canterbury is the head of the Chapter of the Cathedral of Christ Church, Canterbury, England. The office of dean originated after the English Reformation, and its precursor office was the prior of the cathedral-monastery...
from 1766 to 1770.
He was the eldest son of John Potter, 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...
(1673/4–1747).
Following a private education, he studied at Christ Church, Oxford
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...
(1727), taking an M.A. in 1734.
His first ecclesiastical appointment was as vicar of St Mary, Blackburn (1738, resigned 1742), followed by rector of Elm
Elm, Cambridgeshire
Elm is a Fenland village in Cambridgeshire, England. The civic parish of Elm, had a resident population of 3,295, as recorded during the 2001 United Kingdom census. It is located alongside the county boundary with Norfolk,on the outskirts of the market town of Wisbech. The northern end of Elm,...
, with Emneth
Emneth
Emneth is a village and a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. The village is west of Norwich, south-west of King's Lynn and north of London. The nearest town is Wisbech which is north-north-west of the village. The Village lies to the south-west of the route of the A47 between...
Chapel (Norfolk, 1738–1755).
In 1741 his father installed him as Archdeacon of Oxford. He obtained the degree of B.D. the same year.
In 1742 he was collated by his father to the vicarage of Lydd
Lydd
Lydd is a town in Kent, England, lying on the Romney Marsh. It is one of the larger towns on the Marsh, and the most southerly town in Kent. Actually located on Denge Marsh, Lydd was one of the first sandy islands to form as the bay evolved into what is now called the Romney Marsh...
(Kent), together with the Rectory
of Chiddingstone
Chiddingstone
Chiddingstone is a village and civil parish in the Sevenoaks District of Kent, England. The parish is located on the River Eden between Tonbridge and Edenbridge...
.
He was installed as a prebendary of Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, Kent, is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England and forms part of a World Heritage Site....
in 1745 (Stall XII).
He obtained the degree of D.D. in 1746, and the following year exchanged Chiddingstone for the rectory of Wrotham
Wrotham
Wrotham is a village situated on the Pilgrims' Way in Kent, at the foot of the North Downs. It is located one mile north of Borough Green and approximately five miles east of Sevenoaks. It is within the junction of the M20 and M26 motorways....
(Kent).
In 1766 he succeeded Dr William Freind
William Freind
William Freind was an 18th-century Church of England clergyman who was Dean of Canterbury from 1760 to 1766.He was the son of Robert Freind, headmaster of Westminster School and Jane, daughter of Samuel de L'Angle, prebendary of Westminster. The family name was also spelled 'Friend'.He was...
as Dean of Canterbury
Dean of Canterbury
The Dean of Canterbury is the head of the Chapter of the Cathedral of Christ Church, Canterbury, England. The office of dean originated after the English Reformation, and its precursor office was the prior of the cathedral-monastery...
. He died in 1770 at Wrotham where he is buried.
Potter was disinherited by his father as a result of a marriage of which the archbishop disapproved but he nevertheless enjoyed considerable preferment within the church as a result of his father's patronage.
Hasted noted 'He had married very imprudently in his early part of life, and consequently highly to the disapprobation of his father, who though he presented him as is mentioned before to several valuable preferments in the church, yet disinherited him, by leaving the whole of his fortune to his youngest son, Thomas Potter, esq.'