John Kennall facts for kids
John Kennall (also known as John Kenold) was an important church leader in England who lived from 1511 to 1592. He held many different church jobs at the same time, which was common back then. One of his main roles was the Archdeacon of Oxford.
Kennall studied at Christ Church, Oxford, which is a famous college at Oxford University.
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A Busy Church Leader
John Kennall held many important positions in the Church of England during his lifetime. Holding several church jobs at once was called being a "pluralist."
His Many Roles
- He was a Canon (a type of priest) at Christ Church, Oxford, from 1559 to 1592.
- He served as the Archdeacon of Oxford from 1561 to 1592. An Archdeacon is a senior church official who helps the bishop manage a large area.
- He was also a Canon in Rochester from 1556 to 1559.
- He held the position of Archdeacon of Rochester from 1554 to 1560.
- For a time, he was a Vicar (a local priest) at St Columb Major in Cornwall.
Interest in the Cornish Language
While in Cornwall, John Kennall became very interested in the Cornish language. This language was spoken by people in Cornwall for many centuries.
A writer named Carew, who wrote about Cornwall in 1602, noted that the Cornish language was almost gone by then. He said that John Kennall was one of the last people who truly loved and knew the language well. Carew wrote that the English language was taking over, pushing Cornish to the very edges of the county.
Cornish Language and Old Traditions
The connection between the Cornish language and older religious traditions was also seen through Kennall's actions. Even as late as 1590, he was still holding Mass at St Columb, which was a traditional form of worship. This was during a time when the Church of England was changing many practices.
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