Gilbert Berkeley
Encyclopedia
Gilbert Berkeley was an English churchman, a Marian exile and then bishop of Bath and Wells
.
in 1544, according to 19th-century sources, though the Dictionary of National Biography
doubts that there is evidence of his early preferments. During the reign of Mary of England he was in exile at Frankfurt
.
After the deprivation of Gilbert Bourne
, bishop of Bath and Wells, license of election was granted 11 January 1560. Berkeley was elected to the see 29 January, the royal assent was given 20 March, he was consecrated at Lambeth 24 March, and received the temporalities 10 July. He received the degree of D.D. per gratiam in 1563. His dean at Wells
was William Turner, another Marian exile but less conformist and with the dissenters in the Vestments controversy
; Berkeley admonished him, and then in 1565 complained of his conduct to Archbishop Matthew Parker
.
John Strype
gives him a high reputation but records that in 1564 he licensed Thomas, son of John Harington
, to the living of Kelston
when only eighteen years of age. In 1574 the burgesses of Wells applied for a renewal of their ancient corporation, but Berkeley resisted their claim. In 1578 he successfully resisted an attempt made by William Paulet, 3rd Marquess of Winchester
to impropriate the tithes of the living of West Monkton
, of which he was patron. He died 2 November 1581. He had written to the lord treasurer urging that appointments might be made to fill sees, but the diocese of Bath and Wells was left without a bishop for nearly three years.
Bishop of Bath and Wells
The Bishop of Bath and Wells heads the Church of England Diocese of Bath and Wells in the Province of Canterbury in England.The present diocese covers the vast majority of the county of Somerset and a small area of Dorset. The Episcopal seat is located in the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew in...
.
Life
He took the degree of B.D. at Oxford about 1539, according to Anthony à Wood. He was rector of AttleboroughAttleborough
Attleborough is a market town and civil parish in Norfolk, England situated between Norwich and Thetford. The parish falls within the district of Breckland and has an area of 21.90 km² with a Mainline to both Norwich and Cambridge....
in 1544, according to 19th-century sources, though the Dictionary of National Biography
Dictionary of National Biography
The Dictionary of National Biography is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history, published from 1885...
doubts that there is evidence of his early preferments. During the reign of Mary of England he was in exile at Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
.
After the deprivation of Gilbert Bourne
Gilbert Bourne
Gilbert Bourne was the last Roman Catholic Bishop of Bath and Wells, England.-Life to the death of Mary I:Bourne was son of Philip Bourne, of Worcestershire...
, bishop of Bath and Wells, license of election was granted 11 January 1560. Berkeley was elected to the see 29 January, the royal assent was given 20 March, he was consecrated at Lambeth 24 March, and received the temporalities 10 July. He received the degree of D.D. per gratiam in 1563. His dean at Wells
Wells
Wells is a cathedral city and civil parish in the Mendip district of Somerset, England, on the southern edge of the Mendip Hills. Although the population recorded in the 2001 census is 10,406, it has had city status since 1205...
was William Turner, another Marian exile but less conformist and with the dissenters in the Vestments controversy
Vestments controversy
The vestments controversy arose in the English Reformation, ostensibly concerning vestments, but more fundamentally concerned with English Protestant identity, doctrine, and various church practices...
; Berkeley admonished him, and then in 1565 complained of his conduct 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....
.
John Strype
John Strype
John Strype was an English historian and biographer. He was a cousin of Robert Knox, a famous sailor.Born in Houndsditch, London, he was the son of John Strype, or van Stryp, a member of a Huguenot family whom, in order to escape religious persecution within Brabant, had settled in East London...
gives him a high reputation but records that in 1564 he licensed Thomas, son of John Harington
John Harington (treasurer)
John Harington was an English official working for Henry VIII, and husband to one of his reputed illegitimate children, Ethelreda Malte.-Life:...
, to the living of Kelston
Kelston
Kelston is a small village and civil parish in Somerset, north west of Bath, and east of Bristol, on the A431 road. It is situated just north of the River Avon, close to the Kelston and Saltford locks...
when only eighteen years of age. In 1574 the burgesses of Wells applied for a renewal of their ancient corporation, but Berkeley resisted their claim. In 1578 he successfully resisted an attempt made by William Paulet, 3rd Marquess of Winchester
William Paulet, 3rd Marquess of Winchester
William Paulet, 3rd Marquess of Winchester was the son of John Paulet, 2nd Marquess of Winchester and Elizabeth Willoughby. He married Agnes Howard, daughter of William Howard, 1st Baron Howard of Effingham and his first wife, Katherine Broughton.- Children :# Lord William Paulet, 4th Marquess of...
to impropriate the tithes of the living of West Monkton
West Monkton
West Monkton is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated north east of Taunton in the Taunton Deane district. The parish includes the hamlets of Monkton Heathfield, Bathpool, Burlinch and Coombe, and had a population of 2,663 at the 2001 census.-History:The charter for West...
, of which he was patron. He died 2 November 1581. He had written to the lord treasurer urging that appointments might be made to fill sees, but the diocese of Bath and Wells was left without a bishop for nearly three years.