John Holyman
Encyclopedia
John Holyman was a distinguished canonist who was born about 1495 in Cuddington, Buckinghamshire
. He was educated at Winchester and afterwards at New College, Oxford, where he became a Fellow in 1512. He obtained his degree of Bachelor of Canon Law
in 1514 and his Doctorate in 1526.
After a short period at the parish of Colerne, Wiltshire, he was admitted as a Benedictine
monk at the Abbey of Reading where he had a reputation for his preachings. At the suppression of the Abbey, he obtained a small pension. Along with others he was an opponent of annulment of Henry VIII
's marriage to Catherine of Aragon
- deciding that the marriage was legal. This made Holyman unpopular at Court.
Holyman was appointed Rector of Hanborough, Oxfordshire
in 1534 and in November 1554 he was consecrated Bishop of Bristol
. He held the living of Hanborough throughout his time as Bishop until he resigned from the living in February 1558, shortly before his death. He was buried in Hanborough.
Holyman, along with the Bishops of Lincoln and Gloucester, formed a commission to try Nicholas Ridley
, Bishop of London, and Hugh Latimer
, Bishop of Worcester, although it is believed that he took no active part in the proceedings on the matter of heresy. Holyman also took part in the trial of John Hooper
, Bishop of Gloucester.
Cuddington, Buckinghamshire
Cuddington is a village and civil parish within Aylesbury Vale district in Buckinghamshire, England. It is near the Oxfordshire border, about six miles west of Aylesbury....
. He was educated at Winchester and afterwards at New College, Oxford, where he became a Fellow in 1512. He obtained his degree of Bachelor of Canon Law
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
in 1514 and his Doctorate in 1526.
After a short period at the parish of Colerne, Wiltshire, he was admitted as a Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
monk at the Abbey of Reading where he had a reputation for his preachings. At the suppression of the Abbey, he obtained a small pension. Along with others he was an opponent of annulment of Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
's marriage to Catherine of Aragon
Catherine of Aragon
Catherine of Aragon , also known as Katherine or Katharine, was Queen consort of England as the first wife of King Henry VIII of England and Princess of Wales as the wife to Arthur, Prince of Wales...
- deciding that the marriage was legal. This made Holyman unpopular at Court.
Holyman was appointed Rector of Hanborough, Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
in 1534 and in November 1554 he was consecrated Bishop of Bristol
Bishop of Bristol
The Bishop of Bristol heads the Church of England Diocese of Bristol in the Province of Canterbury, in England.The present diocese covers parts of the counties of Somerset and Gloucestershire together with a small area of Wiltshire...
. He held the living of Hanborough throughout his time as Bishop until he resigned from the living in February 1558, shortly before his death. He was buried in Hanborough.
Holyman, along with the Bishops of Lincoln and Gloucester, formed a commission to try Nicholas Ridley
Nicholas Ridley (martyr)
Nicholas Ridley was an English Bishop of London. Ridley was burned at the stake, as one of the Oxford Martyrs, during the Marian Persecutions, for his teachings and his support of Lady Jane Grey...
, Bishop of London, and Hugh Latimer
Hugh Latimer
Hugh Latimer was a Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge, Bishop of Worcester before the Reformation, and later Church of England chaplain to King Edward VI. In 1555, under Queen Mary, he was burnt at the stake, becoming one of the three Oxford Martyrs of Anglicanism.-Life:Latimer was born into a...
, Bishop of Worcester, although it is believed that he took no active part in the proceedings on the matter of heresy. Holyman also took part in the trial of John Hooper
John Hooper
John Hooper, Johan Hoper, was an English churchman, Anglican Bishop of Gloucester and Worcester. A Protestant Reformer, he was killed during the Marian Persecutions.-Biography:...
, Bishop of Gloucester.