Edwin Sandys (bishop) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Most Reverend Edwin Sandys
Archbishop of York
Enthroned	1576
Reign ended	1588
Predecessor	Edmund Grindal
Successor	John Piers
Other posts	Bishop of Worcester (1559–1570) Bishop of London (1570–1576)
Personal details
Born	c. 1519 Esthwaite Hall
Died	(1588-07-10)10 July 1588
Buried	Southwell Minster
Spouse	Mary Sandys Cecily Wilford
Alma mater	St John's College, Cambridge

Edwin Sandys (born around 1519 – died 10 July 1588) was an important English church leader. He served as an Anglican Bishop of Worcester from 1559 to 1570. Later, he became Bishop of London (1570–1576). His final major role was Archbishop of York (1576–1588). All these roles were during the time of Elizabeth I of England. He also helped translate the Bishops' Bible, an important English version of the Bible.

Early Life and School Days

Edwin Sandys was born in 1519 at Esthwaite Hall. This home is in Cumbria, a beautiful area in England. It's near a lake called Esthwaite Water. Even today, the Sandys family still lives in the area.

Some people think Edwin went to school at Furness Abbey. But it's more likely he grew up in St Bees, a village in Cumbria. He probably went to school there with Edmund Grindal. Edmund Grindal also became a very important church leader. Edwin and Edmund were close friends, like brothers, for many years.

Later, Edwin Sandys went to St John's College, Cambridge. He earned his first degree in 1539. Ten years later, he became a Doctor of Divinity. This is a very high degree in religious studies. In 1547, he became the head of Catharine Hall. By 1553, he was the Vice Chancellor of the whole university.

A Time of Exile

When King Edward VI died in 1553, there was a big change in England. Some leaders tried to put Lady Jane Grey on the throne. They wanted to stop England from becoming a Roman Catholic country again. Edwin Sandys was asked to give a sermon to support this plan.

But the plan failed, and Mary Tudor became queen. Queen Mary was a Roman Catholic. Because Edwin had supported Lady Jane Grey, he was arrested. He was sent to the Tower of London, a famous prison. His story is even mentioned in Foxe's Book of Martyrs, a book about people who suffered for their beliefs.

Later, he was moved to a different prison called Marshalsea. The prison keeper became his friend and helped him escape! Edwin first went to Antwerp, then Augsburg, and finally Strasbourg. His wife joined him there. Sadly, his wife and their baby son died from a terrible sickness, probably the plague.

Edwin then lived in Zurich, Switzerland. He stayed there until it was safe to return to England. This happened when Elizabeth I became queen. She was a Protestant, like Edwin. He returned to England on the very day Elizabeth was crowned queen. In February 1559, he married his second wife, Cicely Wilford.

Becoming Archbishop of York

After returning to England, Edwin Sandys quickly rose through the church ranks. He became the Bishop of Worcester, then the Bishop of London. Finally, he became the Archbishop of York. This was a very high position in the Church of England.

He also helped translate the Bishops' Bible. This was an important project to create a new English version of the Bible. You can still see Edwin Sandys's own copy of this Bible today. It is kept at the Hawkshead Grammar School Museum in Cumbria.

A memorial to Edwin Sandys in Southwell Minster

Like many other English Protestants who had been forced to leave England during Queen Mary's reign, Archbishop Sandys wanted to make sure that true religion and good learning would always be strong in England. He believed that education was very important for people to understand their faith. He also felt it was important for the Church of England to be able to discuss its beliefs with Roman Catholics.

Because of this, Edwin Sandys founded Hawkshead Grammar School in 1585. He gave the school enough land and money so that it could offer a free education to students.

Edwin Sandys died on 10 July 1588. He was buried in Southwell Minster in Nottinghamshire.

His Family

Edwin Sandys was married twice. His first wife, Mary Sandys, died in 1558. They had one son named James, who also died young.

In 1559, Edwin married Cicely Wilford. They had many children together:

• Sir Samuel Sandys (1560–1623)
• Sir Edwin Sandys (1561–1629), who was important in the Virginia Company of London. This company helped set up colonies in America.
• Sir Miles Sandys (1563–1645)
• William Sandys (born 1565), who died young.
• Margaret Sandys (1566–1611)
• Thomas Sandys (1568–around 1634), who was one of the first settlers in Jamestown, Virginia, in America.
• Anne Sandys (1570–around 1629)
• Henry Sandys (1572–1626)
• George Sandys (1578–1644), who was a traveler and a poet. He also helped settle Virginia.

In 1604, Cicely Sandys, Edwin's wife, tried to start a university in Ripon, Yorkshire. She even got help from Anne of Denmark, the queen. But the plan did not work out.

Edwin Sandys and his second wife, Cicely Wilford

Images for kids

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  Edwin Sandys, Archbishop of York