Humphrey Henchman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Right Reverend and Right Honourable Humphrey Henchman |
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| Bishop of London | |
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| Church | Church of England |
| Diocese | Diocese of London |
| Elected | 1663 |
| Reign ended | 1675 (death) |
| Predecessor | Gilbert Sheldon |
| Successor | Henry Compton |
| Other posts | Bishop of Salisbury 1660–1663 |
| Orders | |
| Consecration | 1660 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1592 Burton Latimer, Northamptonshire |
| Died | 1675 Aldersgate Street, London |
| Buried | All Saints Church, Fulham |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Parents | Thomas Henchman |
| Alma mater | Christ's College, Cambridge |
Humphrey Henchman (1592–1675) was an important leader in the Church of England. He served as the Bishop of London from 1663 until his death in 1675. He lived through a very exciting time in English history, including the English Civil War, the Great Plague, and the Great Fire.
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Early Life and Education
Humphrey Henchman was born in 1592 in Burton Latimer, a town in Northamptonshire, England. His father, Thomas Henchman, worked as a skinner, which meant he prepared and sold animal skins.
Humphrey went to Christ's College, Cambridge, one of England's famous universities. He earned his first degree in 1613 and a master's degree in 1616. After that, he became a fellow at Clare College, Cambridge, which meant he was a senior member of the college.
Family Life
In 1630, Humphrey Henchman married Ellen Lowe. Ellen was the niece of John Davenant, who was also a bishop. Her family connections and wealth meant that Humphrey and Ellen lived a comfortable life. They had three sons and two daughters who grew up to be adults.
A Life of Service and Change
Humphrey Henchman became a canon at Salisbury Cathedral in 1623. A canon is a type of priest who works at a cathedral. His life changed a lot when the First English Civil War began in 1642. This was a big conflict between the King and Parliament.
Supporting the King
During the Civil War, Humphrey Henchman joined the Royalist forces. These were people who supported King Charles I. Because he supported the King, he lost his job at Salisbury Cathedral. His lands and property were also taken away.
After the King's side lost the war, Humphrey Henchman helped the future King Charles II escape England. This happened after the Battle of Worcester in 1651. He also took part in a smaller uprising against the new government in 1655, called Penruddock's Rising.
Return to Power
When the King returned to power in 1660, an event known as the English Restoration, Humphrey Henchman's life changed again. He was made the Bishop of Salisbury. He officially became bishop on October 28, 1660.
In 1663, he was chosen to become the Bishop of London. This was a very important role. During his time as Bishop of London, the city faced two huge disasters:
- The Great Plague in 1665, which was a terrible disease that affected many people.
- The Great Fire in 1666, which destroyed much of the city.
Bishop Henchman played a key role in helping London recover from these events. He was also made a Privy Councillor to the King, which meant he was one of the King's closest advisors. He also served as the King's Almoner, a person who manages the King's charity. In 1665, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, a famous group dedicated to science.
