John Chambers (bishop) facts for kids

John Chambers (who passed away in 1556) was an important English Benedictine monk. He was the very last Abbot of Peterborough Abbey and then became the first Bishop of Peterborough.

Early Life and Education

John Chambers was born in Peterborough, England. Sometimes, people called him Burgh or Borowe. He joined the abbey there and became a monk. In 1528, he was chosen to be the abbot, which is like the leader of the monastery.

Chambers was a very smart person. He studied at both Oxford and Cambridge universities. He earned a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree from Cambridge in 1505. Later, in 1539, he also earned a Bachelor of Divinity (B.D.) degree.

Serving the King

In 1530, while he was still the abbot, John Chambers welcomed Thomas Wolsey to Peterborough. Wolsey was a very powerful church leader and advisor to King Henry VIII. He stayed at Peterborough for Easter with a lot of ceremony.

Even after Wolsey lost his power, Chambers managed to keep his position at the abbey. He made some small changes but stayed in charge.

The Dissolution of Monasteries

During this time, King Henry VIII started closing down monasteries across England. This was called the dissolution of the monasteries. The king wanted to take their wealth and land.

When the king's agents, like Richard Layton, came to close Peterborough Abbey, Chambers tried to save it. He reached out to Sir William Parr for help. However, Chambers soon realized he couldn't stop the king.

So, in 1539, Peterborough Abbey was given over to the king. Chambers was then put in charge of managing the abbey's property. He also received a regular payment from the king. He became one of the king's personal chaplains, which are like religious advisors.

Becoming a Bishop

On September 4, 1541, King Henry VIII made a big change. He turned the abbey church of Peterborough into a grand cathedral. A cathedral is the main church of a bishop's area.

King Henry also built a monument for Catherine of Aragon inside the cathedral. She was the king's first wife and had been buried there in 1536.

John Chambers became the first bishop of this new Peterborough Cathedral. He even got to live on the cathedral grounds. He was officially made a bishop on October 23, 1541. Other bishops helped with the ceremony.

In 1542, John Chambers was asked to help revise a part of the Great Bible. This was a new edition of the Bible that was being translated into English. He worked on the Apocalypse section.

Later Life and Legacy

John Chambers passed away on February 7, 1556. He was buried in the choir area of his cathedral on March 6. Sadly, two monuments that honored him were destroyed during the English Civil War much later.

Sometimes, people have confused John Chambers with another person named John Chambre, who was a doctor. But they were different people.