Richard Gwent
Encyclopedia
Richard Gwent was the archdeacon of London
.
Gwent was the son of a Monmouthshire
farmer. He was elected Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford
, in 1515. On 17 December 1518 he supplicated for bachelor of civil law
, on 28 February 1518–19, he was admitted bachelor of canon law, on 20 March 1522–3 he supplicated for doctor of canon law
, and proceeded doctor of civil law
on 3 April 1525. For a while he acted as chief moderator of the canon law
school at Oxford University, and was instituted by the abbess and convent of Godstow
to the vicarage of St Giles
in that city, a benefice which he resigned in April 1524. He moved to London
in order to practise as an ecclesiastical advocate, and was employed on behalf of Catherine of Aragon
in 1529. On 13 April 1528, he was presented to the rectory of Tangmere
, Sussex
, and on 31 March 1530 to that of St Leonard, Foster Lane
, London, which he resigned in 1534 to become, on 17 April of that year, rector of St Peter's Cheap, London. He was admitted to the prebend of Pipa Parva in the church of Lichfield
on 6 October 1531, but quitted it for Longdon
in the same church on the following 9 December.
He was appointed chaplain
to King Henry VIII, and on 18 September 1532 dean of the arches and master of the prerogative, having previously been vicar-general of the diocese of Coventry and Lichfield. His name occurs as archdeacon
of Brecknock in 1534, and on 6 May of that year he was made prebendary
of Leighton Ecclesia in the church of Lincoln. When Thomas Cranmer
made his metropolitan visitation in September 1534, Gwent, as the archbishop's commissary, visited Merton College, Oxford
, and altered many of the ancient customs of that house. Gwent was collated to the archdeaconry of London on 19 December 1534. Convocation elected him their prolocutor in 1536, 1540, and 1541. He was one of those appointed by convocation in July 1540 to determine the validity of the marriage of Henry VIII with Anne of Cleves, and in the following August was a commissioner in London for prosecution upon the 'Six Articles'.
On 5 April 1542 he was installed archdeacon of Huntingdon, and on 12 April of the ensuing year prebendary of Tottenhall in St. Paul's Cathedral. He also held the rectory of Walton-on-the-Hill
, Lancashire, that of Newchurch, Kent
, and that of North Wingfield, Derbyshire, which last preferment he ceded to Anthony Draycot
. He died at the end of July 1543, and by his desire was buried in the middle of St Paul's Cathedral
. As 'Richardus Ventanus juridicus' Gwent is eulogised for his virtues and learning in John Leland's 'Encomia.'
Archdeacon of London
The Archdeacon of London is an archdiaconal post in the Church of England. It covers one of two archdeaconries within the London and Westminster episcopal area of the Diocese of London - that episcopal area's bishop is the Bishop of London.-List:*William de Beaumais, 12th century *William of...
.
Gwent was the son of a Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire (historic)
Monmouthshire , also known as the County of Monmouth , is one of thirteen ancient counties of Wales and a former administrative county....
farmer. He was elected Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford
All Souls College, Oxford
The Warden and the College of the Souls of all Faithful People deceased in the University of Oxford or All Souls College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England....
, in 1515. On 17 December 1518 he supplicated for bachelor of civil law
Bachelor of Civil Law
Bachelor of Civil Law is the name of various degrees in law conferred by English-language universities. Historically, it originated as a postgraduate degree in the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, but many universities now offer the BCL as an undergraduate degree...
, on 28 February 1518–19, he was admitted bachelor of canon law, on 20 March 1522–3 he supplicated for doctor of canon law
Doctor of Canon Law
Doctor of Canon Law is the doctoral-level terminal degree in the studies of canon law of the Roman Catholic Church.It may also be abbreviated I.C.D. or dr.iur.can. , ICDr., D.C.L., D.Cnl., D.D.C., or D.Can.L. . Doctor of both laws are J.U.D...
, and proceeded doctor of civil law
Doctor of Civil Law
Doctor of Civil Law is a degree offered by some universities, such as the University of Oxford, instead of the more common Doctor of Laws degrees....
on 3 April 1525. For a while he acted as chief moderator of the 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...
school at Oxford University, and was instituted by the abbess and convent of Godstow
Godstow
Godstow is a hamlet on the River Thames about northwest of the centre of Oxford. The ruins of Godstow Abbey, or Godstow Nunnery, are here.-The Abbey:...
to the vicarage of St Giles
St Giles' Church, Oxford
St. Giles' Church is a church in North Oxford, England. It is at the northern end of the wide thoroughfare of St Giles', at the point where meets Woodstock Road and Banbury Road...
in that city, a benefice which he resigned in April 1524. He moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in order to practise as an ecclesiastical advocate, and was employed on behalf of 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...
in 1529. On 13 April 1528, he was presented to the rectory of Tangmere
Tangmere
Tangmere is a village and civil parish in the Chichester District of West Sussex, England. Located three miles north east of Chichester it is twinned with Hermanville-sur-Mer in Lower Normandy, France....
, Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
, and on 31 March 1530 to that of St Leonard, Foster Lane
Foster Lane
Foster Lane is a short street within Cheap Ward, in the City of London. It is situated north-east of St Paul’s Cathedral and runs northwards from Cheapside to a junction with Gresham Street....
, London, which he resigned in 1534 to become, on 17 April of that year, rector of St Peter's Cheap, London. He was admitted to the prebend of Pipa Parva in the church of Lichfield
Lichfield
Lichfield is a cathedral city, civil parish and district in Staffordshire, England. One of eight civil parishes with city status in England, Lichfield is situated roughly north of Birmingham...
on 6 October 1531, but quitted it for Longdon
Longdon
Longdon may refer to:* Longdon, Staffordshire in Lichfield district* Longdon, Worcestershire in Malvern Hills district* Longdon-on-Tern, Shropshire...
in the same church on the following 9 December.
He was appointed chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
to King Henry VIII, and on 18 September 1532 dean of the arches and master of the prerogative, having previously been vicar-general of the diocese of Coventry and Lichfield. His name occurs as archdeacon
Archdeacon
An archdeacon is a senior clergy position in Anglicanism, Syrian Malabar Nasrani, Chaldean Catholic, and some other Christian denominations, above that of most clergy and below a bishop. In the High Middle Ages it was the most senior diocesan position below a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church...
of Brecknock in 1534, and on 6 May of that year he was made prebendary
Prebendary
A prebendary is a post connected to an Anglican or Catholic cathedral or collegiate church and is a type of canon. Prebendaries have a role in the administration of the cathedral...
of Leighton Ecclesia in the church of Lincoln. When Thomas Cranmer
Thomas Cranmer
Thomas Cranmer was a leader of the English Reformation and Archbishop of Canterbury during the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI and, for a short time, Mary I. He helped build a favourable case for Henry's divorce from Catherine of Aragon which resulted in the separation of the English Church from...
made his metropolitan visitation in September 1534, Gwent, as the archbishop's commissary, visited Merton College, Oxford
Merton College, Oxford
Merton College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its foundation can be traced back to the 1260s when Walter de Merton, chancellor to Henry III and later to Edward I, first drew up statutes for an independent academic community and established endowments to...
, and altered many of the ancient customs of that house. Gwent was collated to the archdeaconry of London on 19 December 1534. Convocation elected him their prolocutor in 1536, 1540, and 1541. He was one of those appointed by convocation in July 1540 to determine the validity of the marriage of Henry VIII with Anne of Cleves, and in the following August was a commissioner in London for prosecution upon the 'Six Articles'.
On 5 April 1542 he was installed archdeacon of Huntingdon, and on 12 April of the ensuing year prebendary of Tottenhall in St. Paul's Cathedral. He also held the rectory of Walton-on-the-Hill
Walton-on-the-Hill
Walton-on-the-Hill, Surrey, is a village in England, situated midway between Reigate and Epsom, just inside the M25 orbital motorway around London. It is situated close to the larger village of Tadworth. Other neighbouring villages include: Kingswood, Burgh Heath, Headley and Box Hill...
, Lancashire, that of Newchurch, Kent
Newchurch, Kent
Newchurch is a village and civil parish in the Shepway District in Kent, England. The village is located on the Romney Marsh, west of Dymchurch...
, and that of North Wingfield, Derbyshire, which last preferment he ceded to Anthony Draycot
Anthony Draycot
Anthony Draycot was an English Roman Catholic churchman and lawyer. During the reign of Queen Mary he held a diocesan position as chancellor; his role in condemning numerous Protestants to death is detailed in Foxe's Book of Martyrs.-Life:He was from Staffordshire, and became Principal of White...
. He died at the end of July 1543, and by his desire was buried in the middle of St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral, London, is a Church of England cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. St Paul's sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the mother...
. As 'Richardus Ventanus juridicus' Gwent is eulogised for his virtues and learning in John Leland's 'Encomia.'