John Stafford (bishop)

The Most Reverend
John Stafford
Archbishop of Canterbury
Appointed 13 May 1443
Installed unknown
Term ended 25 May 1452
Predecessor Henry Chichele
Successor John Kemp
Other posts Bishop of Bath and Wells
Orders
Consecration translated 13 May 1443
Personal details
Died 25 May 1452
Denomination Roman Catholic
Effigy of Emma, mother of Archbishop John Stafford(d.1452), North Bradley Church, Wiltshire. Inscription in ledger-line: hic jacet d(omin)a Emma mater Venerabilissimi patris et domini D(omi)ni Joh(ann)is Stafford dei gra(tia) Cantuariensis Archiepi(scopi) qu(a)e obiit quinto die mensis Septembris anno d(omi)ni Mille(n)simo ccc.mo quadra(gen)s(i)mo vi.o cui(us) anime p(ro)piciet(ur) de(us) am(en) ("Here lies Lady Emma mother of the most venerable father and lord, Lord John Stafford by the grace of God Archbishop of Canterbury, who died on the 5th day of the month of September in the one thousandth three hundredth and sixth year of our Lord, on whose soul may God look with favour amen"

John Stafford (died 25 May 1452) was an English statesman and Archbishop of Canterbury.

Early life and education

Stafford was the illegitimate son of a Wiltshire squire, and required papal permission before he became the rector of Farmborough, vicar of Bathampton and prebendary of Wells.[1]

Stafford was educated at the University of Oxford.[2]

Career

Stafford was appointed Dean of Arches in 1419 and served as Archdeacon of Salisbury from 1419 to 1421. From 1423 to 1424 he was Dean of Wells.

Stafford came to note under Henry VI, becoming Lord Privy Seal in 1421[3] and Lord High Treasurer the following year.[4] He was Lord Chancellor from 1432 to 1450.[5]

On 18 December 1424 Pope Martin V made him Bishop of Bath and Wells, and he was consecrated on 27 May 1425.[6] Pope Eugene IV made him Archbishop of Canterbury in May 1443, a position he held until his death on 25 May 1452.[7] He steered an even course between parties as a moderate man and useful official.

Citations

  1. Dunning, Robert (2005). A Somerset Miscellany. Tiverton: Somerset Books. pp. 32–33. ISBN 0-86183-427-5.
  2. R. G. Davies, ‘Stafford, John (d. 1452)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 accessed 29 July 2013
  3. Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 95
  4. Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 106
  5. Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 87
  6. Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 228
  7. Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 233

References

Political offices
Preceded by
John Kemp
Lord Privy Seal
1421–1422
Succeeded by
William Alnwick
Preceded by
William Kinwolmarsh
Lord High Treasurer
1422–1426
Succeeded by
The Lord Hungerford
Preceded by
John Kemp
Lord Chancellor
1432–1450
Succeeded by
John Kemp
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Nicholas Bubwith
Bishop of Bath and Wells
1424–1443
Succeeded by
Thomas Beckington
Preceded by
Henry Chichele
Archbishop of Canterbury
1443–1452
Succeeded by
John Kemp
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