John Gwynneth facts for kids
John Gwynneth (lived around 1511–1557) was a Welsh clergyman and a talented composer of religious music. He earned a special degree, a doctorate, from the University of Oxford for his musical work.
Gwynneth served in churches across England, including Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, and London, as well as in North Wales. He was a strong supporter of the Catholic Church, even though England went through big religious changes during his lifetime. He managed to keep his job through the reigns of King Henry VIII, King Edward VI, and Queen Mary. He is remembered as one of the important composers of early Tudor period music, known for his "polyphony" (music with many voices singing different parts).
Contents
Early Life and Music
Growing Up in Wales
John Gwynneth was born in Caernarfonshire, Wales. Some people even said he came from Welsh royal blood! He was very smart but didn't have much money to pay for his studies at Oxford University. Luckily, a church leader helped him out. This person hoped John would become a good writer who could argue against those who opposed the Catholic faith.
John studied the ideas of important religious reformers like Martin Luther and Huldrych Zwingli. He became very familiar with their arguments.
A Gifted Composer
Even though he didn't finish a regular degree, John Gwynneth was very active in writing and studying music from about 1510. He became a priest and likely gained his musical experience in Oxford or by working with church choirs.
He was especially known as an early Tudor composer. He even received a special degree called a Doctor of Music. Some of his music was included in a collection printed in 1530 called the "Book of XX Songes." Sadly, only the bass parts of this book still exist today. Later, a famous musician named Thomas Morley mentioned John Gwynneth as one of the English composers whose works he studied carefully.
Family Connections
John Gwynneth had a sister named Margaret. She first married Edward Awpart, a London businessman. They had five children together. When Edward died in 1532, he named John Gwynneth and Margaret as the people who would manage his estate.
Later, Margaret married Stephen Vaughan, who was an important merchant and a royal agent. Stephen Vaughan was a supporter of the English Reformation, which was a time of big religious change in England. Margaret worked for Anne Boleyn, King Henry VIII's second wife. Margaret and Stephen had more children, including a daughter named Anne Vaughan, who later became a poet.
Challenges and Responsibilities
Serving in London Churches
In 1543, John Gwynneth became the rector (head priest) of St Peter, Westcheap, a church in London. He continued to serve there through the reigns of King Edward VI and Queen Mary.
During King Edward VI's reign, England became more Protestant. This meant big changes for churches like St Peter's. Old traditions were stopped, altars were replaced with simple tables, and many Catholic items were removed.
Managing Family Affairs
John Gwynneth had many family responsibilities. His niece, Joan Awparte (Margaret's daughter from her first marriage), married Edward Myldemay in 1548. Sadly, Edward died soon after, in 1549.
When his brother-in-law, Stephen Vaughan, died in 1549, John Gwynneth became the person in charge of his estate. This included managing a property in London called "The Three Leggs" and looking after Vaughan's daughters for nine years. He also had to make sure a large sum of money owed to the King from Vaughan's accounts was paid.
A story from 1632 says that John Gwynneth was "a long time kept in prison when heresy came in." This likely happened during King Edward's reign because of John's strong Catholic beliefs. After his release, he helped arrange his niece Jane Vaughan's marriage.
Standing Up for His Faith
Supporting Queen Mary
When Queen Mary came to the throne, she brought back the Catholic faith. This was a welcome change for John Gwynneth. In 1553, he gave a sermon (a religious speech) in Luton, celebrating Queen Mary's return to power. He even compared her name to Mary, mother of Jesus, who was very important in Catholic beliefs. This sermon was published and became popular.
John Gwynneth also continued to write books defending the Catholic faith and arguing against Protestant ideas. His books were published in London in 1554.
Restoring Church Traditions
In 1555, there was a big effort to bring back the traditional Catholic items and practices at St Peter's church in Westcheap. New stone altars were put back in place, and a new "rood" (a large cross with figures of Mary and St John) was added. Organs were repaired, and the "Easter Sepulchre" (a special place used during Easter) was fixed.
John Gwynneth wrote about how he disliked the Protestant reformers moving the altars out of the main part of the church. He believed masonry altars made it harder to do this. The church accounts show money spent on blessing the altars, including a small amount for frankincense, a special incense. They also bought new books needed for Catholic services, like "Processionals" and an "Antiphonary."
John Gwynneth also helped resolve an issue in Luton. Years earlier, some silver items belonging to the church had been sold to help pay for church repairs. In 1556, John Gwynneth helped make sure that the money was used correctly and that new church ornaments were bought.
Final Years
Legal Battles
After Stephen Vaughan's death, his widow (who had remarried) sued John Gwynneth. She claimed he had kept some of Vaughan's money that belonged to her. They agreed to let others decide the matter. The decision was that John owed her more money.
However, John Gwynneth proved that he had already paid the full amount. He showed that he had not used the children's money to pay his own debts. In November 1556, a court officially cleared him of any wrongdoing and even awarded him money to cover his legal costs.
John Gwynneth left his position at St Peter's, Westcheap, in November 1556. His last book, which argued against John Frith's ideas about the "Blessed Sacrament of the Altar," was published in 1557. His religious writings were sometimes described as very detailed and precise.
His Death
John Gwynneth likely died around the end of Queen Mary's reign, probably before December 1558. After his death, his nephew Edward Awpart and niece Elizabeth Awpart took over managing his affairs.
There are some suggestions that he might have lived into the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, but most records point to his death in 1558.
Family Members
As the person in charge of his sister Margaret's estates, John Gwynneth had responsibilities for her children from two marriages.
- Children with Edward Awpart:
* Elizabeth Awpart, who married George Keynsham. * Ann Awpart. * Joan Awpart, who married Edward Mildmay. * Edward Awpart. * Susan Awpart.
- Children with Stephen Vaughan:
* Anne Vaughan (1534 – around 1590), a poet. She married three times. * Stephen Vaughan (born 1537 – died 1605), who studied at Cambridge and became a lawyer. * Jane Vaughan (died around 1610), who married Thomas Wiseman. She was imprisoned for her Catholic beliefs but was later released. Two of her daughters became nuns.
Works
John Gwynneth wrote music and several books:
- A song called 'My Love mourneth,' included in a music book from 1530.
- The confutacyon of the fyrst parte of Frythes boke (1536), a book arguing against the ideas of John Frith.
- A brief Declaration of the notable Victory given of God to oure soueraygne lady, quene Marye (1554), a sermon celebrating Queen Mary's return to power.
- A Declaration of the State wherein all Heretickes dooe leade their lives (1554), another book against Protestant ideas.
- A Manifeste Detection of the notable falshed of that Part of Frythes boke (1554), a second edition of his arguments against Frith.
- A Playne Demonstration of John Frithes lacke of witte and learnynge (1557), a final book arguing against John Frith, written as a dialogue.
