John Pollard (priest) facts for kids
John Pollard was an important church leader in England during the 1500s. He held several key positions, including being an Archdeacon in different parts of the country like Wiltshire, Cornwall, Barnstaple, and Totnes. An Archdeacon is a senior official in the Church of England who helps a bishop manage a large area.
Who Was John Pollard?
John Pollard came from a well-known family. He was one of eleven sons of Sir Lewis Pollard (who lived from about 1465 to 1526). His father was an important person too, serving as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Totnes in Devon. An MP is someone elected to represent people in the country's government. Sir Lewis was also a Justice of the Common Pleas, which means he was a judge in a major court. John's mother was Agnes Hext.
His Education
John Pollard went to Oxford University, a very famous school in England. He studied there and earned his first degree, a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), in 1522 or 1523. A few years later, in 1526, he earned his Master of Arts (M.A.) degree.
A Career in the Church
John Pollard dedicated his life to the church. He held many different roles over the years. In 1539, he became the vicar of Minety and an Archdeacon of Wiltshire. However, he lost this position in 1544 during the time of Queen Mary I, who made changes to the church.
He also served as the Archdeacon of Cornwall from 1543 to 1545. In 1544, he became the Archdeacon of Barnstaple, but again, he was removed from this role in 1554 under Queen Mary I. Later, in 1558, he became the Archdeacon of Totnes.
Besides being an Archdeacon, John Pollard was also a rector (a priest in charge of a parish) in several places, including Portishead and Ermington. He was also a canon at Sarum, which means he was a member of the clergy connected to the cathedral.
