John the Chanter
John the Chanter (died 1191) was a medieval Bishop of Exeter.
John the Chanter | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Exeter | |
| Appointed | 1184 |
| Term ended | 1 June 1191 |
| Predecessor | Bartholomew Iscanus |
| Successor | Henry Marshal |
| Orders | |
| Consecration | 5 October 1186 |
| Personal details | |
| Died | 1 June 1191 |
| Buried | Exeter Cathedral |
| Denomination | Catholic |
Life
John's exact background is unclear, though biographer John Prince calls him "a native of this county [Devon]"; Liskeard lawyer Frederick Caunter states that he was born in Exeter, and was said to be a great-grandson of Condor, Earl of Cornwall.[1] He may be the same person as the John Planeta who was a clerk of Thomas Becket's during Becket's exile, but the connection is not proven.[2] Antiquaries Thomas Duffus Hardy and John Le Neve say he was originally Sub-Dean of Salisbury,[1] though all that is known for certain is that he was elderly when he was consecrated as Bishop.[2]
According to antiquary Richard Izacke John was installed Bishop of Exeter in 1184 and served for six years.[1] He was consecrated on 5 October 1186.[3] According to Caunter, "he appears to have been of good repute" and carried out a number of repairs to the Cathedral during his short time as bishop.[1] He was present at King Richard I's coronation in 1189.[2]
John died on 1 June 1191.[3] He was buried in an altar tomb under the south tower of Exeter Cathedral, which survives to this day.[4] The Caunter family traditionally claim a connection to John, though Frederick Caunter considered this unlikely.[1]
Citations
- F. Lyde Caunter (1930). "Of the alleged Descent from the Earls of Cornwall". Caunter Family History. Solicitors' Law Stationery Society. pp. 15–21.
- Barlow "John the Chanter" Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
- Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 246
- "John the Chanter's tomb in Exeter Cathedral" Exeter Cathedral
References
- Barlow, Frank (24 May 2007). "John the Chanter (d. 1191)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/94378. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I. (1996). Handbook of British Chronology (Third revised ed.). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-56350-X.
- "John the Chanter's tomb in Exeter Cathedral". Exeter Cathedral. Archived from the original on 31 August 2007. Retrieved 26 October 2007.