Thomas Lancaster
Encyclopedia
Thomas Lancaster was an English Protestant clergyman, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh from 1568.
, probably educated at Oxford. In July 1549 he was consecrated Bishop of Kildare
by George Browne
, Archbishop of Dublin
. An evangelical Protestant, he attended the conference in June 1551 which Sir James Croft, Lord Deputy of Ireland
, held at Dublin with George Dowdell, the Primate of Ireland
and a Roman Catholic. In 1552 Lancaster was installed in the deanery of Ossory, which he held in commendam
with his bishopric. On 2 February 1553 he assisted in the consecration of John Bale
as Bishop of Ossory
; and about the same time he published a statement of his doctrinal position; it is dedicated to Edward VI. Lancaster's style of argument resembles Bale's.
Lancaster was married, and on that ground he was deprived of both his preferments by Queen Mary
in 1554, and spent the remainder of her reign in retirement. In 1559 he was presented by the crown to the treasurership of Salisbury Cathedral
, in succession to Thomas Harding; and he also became one of the royal chaplains. He was a member of the lower house of convocation, and on 5 February 1563 was in the minority of 58 who approved of the proposed six formulas committing the English church to ultra-Protestant doctrine and practices, as against 59 who opposed the change. In the same year he signed the petition of the lower house of convocation for reform of church discipline. He acted as suffragan bishop of Marlborough under Bishop John Jewel
, but the dates are not known. In that capacity he held ordinations at Salisbury on 13 April 1560 and 26 April 1568. Writing to Archbishop Matthew Parker
(8 May 1568) Jewel complained of Lancaster's want of discretion. Lancaster was also elected Principal of St Edmund Hall, Oxford
in early 1565.
When Sir Henry Sydney went to Ireland as Lord Deputy in October 1565, Lancaster had a royal license to attend him and absent himself from his spiritual offices. He accompanied Sydney in his progress through various parts of Ireland. Sir William Cecil was friendly with him, and wrote to Sidney on 22 July 1567 that Lancaster was to be made Archbishop of Armagh, in succession to Adam Loftus
, who had been translated to Dublin. Some months passed before the choice was officially announced, but on 28 March 1568 Queen Elizabeth
informed the Irish lords justices. His consecration took place, at the hands of Archbishop Loftus of Dublin, Hugh Brady
the Bishop of Meath
, and Robert Daly
the Bishop of Kildare
, on 13 June 1568, in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
. He preached his own consecration sermon on the subject of 'Regeneration.' The archbishop had license to hold sundry preferments, both in England and in Ireland, on account of the poverty of his see, which had been wasted by rebellion. He died in Drogheda
in December 1583, and was buried in St. Peter's Church in the town, in the vault of one of his predecessors, Octavian de Palatio (died 1513). He left a son and two daughters. His will was disputed and the intended foundation of a public grammar school at Drogheda, to be endowed at his cost, and eight scholarships for it at St Edmund Hall, Oxford, came to nothing.
Life
He was perhaps a native of CumberlandCumberland
Cumberland is a historic county of North West England, on the border with Scotland, from the 12th century until 1974. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
, probably educated at Oxford. In July 1549 he was consecrated Bishop of Kildare
Bishop of Kildare
The Bishop of Kildare was an episcopal title which took its name after the town of Kildare in County Kildare, Ireland. The title is no longer in use by any of the main Christian churches having been united with other bishoprics. In the Roman Catholic Church, the title has been merged with that of...
by George Browne
George Browne (archbishop of Dublin)
George Browne D.D. was an English Augustinian who was appointed by Henry VIII of England to the vacant Episcopal see of Dublin. He became the king's main instrument in his desire to establish the state church in the Kingdom of Ireland.-Life:...
, Archbishop of Dublin
Archbishop of Dublin
The Archbishop of Dublin may refer to:* Archbishop of Dublin – an article which lists of pre- and post-Reformation archbishops.* Archbishop of Dublin – the title of the senior cleric who presides over the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin....
. An evangelical Protestant, he attended the conference in June 1551 which Sir James Croft, Lord Deputy of Ireland
Lord Deputy of Ireland
The Lord Deputy was the King's representative and head of the Irish executive under English rule, during the Lordship of Ireland and later the Kingdom of Ireland...
, held at Dublin with George Dowdell, the Primate of Ireland
Primate of Ireland
The Primacy of Ireland was historically disputed between the Archbishop of Armagh and the Archbishop of Dublin until finally settled by Pope Innocent VI. Primate is a title of honour denoting ceremonial precedence in the Church, and in the Middle Ages there was an intense rivalry between the two...
and a Roman Catholic. In 1552 Lancaster was installed in the deanery of Ossory, which he held in commendam
In Commendam
In canon law, commendam was a form of transferring an ecclesiastical benefice in trust to the custody of a patron...
with his bishopric. On 2 February 1553 he assisted in the consecration of John Bale
John Bale
John Bale was an English churchman, historian and controversialist, and Bishop of Ossory. He wrote the oldest known historical verse drama in English , and developed and published a very extensive list of the works of British authors down to his own time, just as the monastic libraries were being...
as Bishop of Ossory
Bishop of Ossory
The Bishop of Ossory is an episcopal title which takes its name after the ancient of Kingdom of Ossory in the Province of Leinster, Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with other bishoprics.-History:The diocese of Ossory...
; and about the same time he published a statement of his doctrinal position; it is dedicated to Edward VI. Lancaster's style of argument resembles Bale's.
Lancaster was married, and on that ground he was deprived of both his preferments by Queen Mary
Mary I of England
Mary I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from July 1553 until her death.She was the only surviving child born of the ill-fated marriage of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Her younger half-brother, Edward VI, succeeded Henry in 1547...
in 1554, and spent the remainder of her reign in retirement. In 1559 he was presented by the crown to the treasurership of Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is an Anglican cathedral in Salisbury, England, considered one of the leading examples of Early English architecture....
, in succession to Thomas Harding; and he also became one of the royal chaplains. He was a member of the lower house of convocation, and on 5 February 1563 was in the minority of 58 who approved of the proposed six formulas committing the English church to ultra-Protestant doctrine and practices, as against 59 who opposed the change. In the same year he signed the petition of the lower house of convocation for reform of church discipline. He acted as suffragan bishop of Marlborough under Bishop John Jewel
John Jewel
John Jewel was an English bishop of Salisbury.-Life:He was the son of John Jewel of Buden, Devon, was educated under his uncle John Bellamy, rector of Hampton, and other private tutors until his matriculation at Merton College, Oxford, in July 1535.There he was taught by John Parkhurst,...
, but the dates are not known. In that capacity he held ordinations at Salisbury on 13 April 1560 and 26 April 1568. Writing to Archbishop Matthew Parker
Matthew Parker
Matthew Parker was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1559 until his death in 1575. He was also an influential theologian and arguably the co-founder of Anglican theological thought....
(8 May 1568) Jewel complained of Lancaster's want of discretion. Lancaster was also elected Principal of St Edmund Hall, Oxford
St Edmund Hall, Oxford
St Edmund Hall is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Better known within the University by its nickname, "Teddy Hall", the college has a claim to being "the oldest academical society for the education of undergraduates in any university"...
in early 1565.
When Sir Henry Sydney went to Ireland as Lord Deputy in October 1565, Lancaster had a royal license to attend him and absent himself from his spiritual offices. He accompanied Sydney in his progress through various parts of Ireland. Sir William Cecil was friendly with him, and wrote to Sidney on 22 July 1567 that Lancaster was to be made Archbishop of Armagh, in succession to Adam Loftus
Adam Loftus (Archbishop)
thumb|right|200px|Archbishop Adam LoftusAdam Loftus was Archbishop of Armagh, and later Dublin, and Lord Chancellor of Ireland from 1581. He was also the first Provost of Trinity College, Dublin.-Early life:...
, who had been translated to Dublin. Some months passed before the choice was officially announced, but on 28 March 1568 Queen Elizabeth
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
informed the Irish lords justices. His consecration took place, at the hands of Archbishop Loftus of Dublin, Hugh Brady
Hugh Brady
Hugh Brady was an American general from Pennsylvania. He served in the Northwest Indian War under General Anthony Wayne, and during the War of 1812. Following the War of 1812, Brady remained in the military, eventually rising to the rank of major general and taking command of the garrison at Detroit...
the Bishop of Meath
Bishop of Meath
The Bishop of Meath is an episcopal title which takes its name after the ancient Kingdom of Meath. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains as a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with another bishopric.-History:...
, and Robert Daly
Robert Daly
Robert Daly may refer to:*Robert A. Daly, Corporate Executive of Warner Bros., Warner Music Group, The Los Angeles Dodgers and CBS*Robert Daly , Irish track and field sprinter*Robert Daly -See also:*Robert Daley, American author...
the Bishop of Kildare
Bishop of Kildare
The Bishop of Kildare was an episcopal title which took its name after the town of Kildare in County Kildare, Ireland. The title is no longer in use by any of the main Christian churches having been united with other bishoprics. In the Roman Catholic Church, the title has been merged with that of...
, on 13 June 1568, in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
Christ Church Cathedral is the cathedral of the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough and the cathedral of the Ecclesiastical province of the United Provinces of Dublin and Cashel in the Church of Ireland...
. He preached his own consecration sermon on the subject of 'Regeneration.' The archbishop had license to hold sundry preferments, both in England and in Ireland, on account of the poverty of his see, which had been wasted by rebellion. He died in Drogheda
Drogheda
Drogheda is an industrial and port town in County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, 56 km north of Dublin. It is the last bridging point on the River Boyne before it enters the Irish Sea....
in December 1583, and was buried in St. Peter's Church in the town, in the vault of one of his predecessors, Octavian de Palatio (died 1513). He left a son and two daughters. His will was disputed and the intended foundation of a public grammar school at Drogheda, to be endowed at his cost, and eight scholarships for it at St Edmund Hall, Oxford, came to nothing.