John Islip facts for kids

John Islip (born 1464, died 1532) was an important leader, known as an Abbot of Westminster Abbey in London. He lived during the Tudor period, a time when kings and queens like Henry VII and Henry VIII ruled England.

Leading Westminster Abbey

Early Life and Becoming Abbot

John Islip joined the monastery of Westminster around 1480. He quickly showed he was good at managing things. By 1498, he was chosen as the Prior, which is like a second-in-command. Then, on October 27, 1500, he became the Abbot of Westminster. This meant he was the head of the entire monastery.

Working with King Henry VII

One of Abbot Islip's first big tasks was to claim the body of King Henry VI for Westminster Abbey. King Henry VII wanted Henry VI to be made a saint, and Westminster Abbey wanted to be his final resting place. After some debate, the King's special council decided that Henry VI's remains should be moved to Westminster. This move cost a lot of money, about £500.

Abbot Islip also helped King Henry VII with a major building project. The King wanted to replace an old chapel at the Abbey with a grand new one. This new chapel is now known as Henry VII's Lady Chapel. On January 24, 1503, Islip laid the first stone for this impressive new building. He also helped create the official agreements for the chapel's construction and its religious services. These documents even had pictures of the King giving the papers to Islip and the monks. Islip's face in these pictures looks so real, it might be a true portrait of him!

Working with King Henry VIII

Islip was very dedicated to his duties as Abbot. He visited other smaller monasteries, like Great Malvern Priory, to make sure they were running well. He even had to suspend a prior there in 1516, showing he was serious about his role.

Because he was so good at managing things, King Henry VIII made him a member of the Privy Council around 1513. This meant Islip advised the King on important matters. He also helped review petitions to Parliament and served as a local judge in Middlesex.

However, even Islip, in his high position, had to follow the powerful Cardinal Wolsey. Wolsey, who had special authority from the Pope, inspected Westminster Abbey strictly in 1518 and again in 1525. The monastery had to pay a large sum of money for these inspections. Islip also helped Wolsey with matters concerning other monasteries, like Glastonbury Abbey. In 1527, Islip, as the head of the English Benedictine monks, even sent someone to investigate problems at Malmesbury Abbey, where the monks were rebelling against their abbot.

The King's Divorce and Islip's Final Years

Life became more complicated for Islip, as it did for many important people, because of King Henry VIII's desire to divorce his wife. In 1529, Islip was asked to help find documents for the King's divorce case. In 1530, he was one of the people who signed a letter to the Pope, supporting the King's divorce. In 1531, King Henry VIII even suggested that Islip, whom he called "a good old father," should help the Archbishop try the divorce case in England.

Even with the divorce issues, the King still dealt with other matters. In 1531, Henry VIII traded some land near Charing Cross with Westminster Abbey. In return, the Abbey received the land of a smaller monastery that had been closed down.

Abbot Islip died peacefully on May 12, 1532. He was buried in Westminster Abbey with a very grand ceremony.

Islip's Legacy and Buildings

Islip's life showed what it was like to be a powerful church leader in his time. He was also involved in searching for people with different religious beliefs, known as heretics, among merchants in London. He often sat in court to judge these cases.

However, Islip is best remembered for his building work at Westminster Abbey.

• He raised the western tower of the Abbey up to the roof level.
• He repaired many parts of the church, especially the strong supports called buttresses.
• He filled empty spaces with statues.
• He planned a central tower but didn't build it because the existing pillars were too weak.
• He built many rooms in the Abbot's house.
• He added a special gallery overlooking the main part of the church.

He also built a small chapel for himself, which is still called Islip's Chapel. This chapel has his special symbol, called a rebus, which shows a boy falling from a tree with the words "I slip." While the paintings in the chapel are gone, his tomb table remains. Islip was known for taking great care of the Abbey's buildings, and his work was seen as an example for others who came after him.

Today, a street in Westminster, John Islip Street, is named after him.