John Still facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John Still
Bishop John Still, effigy in Wells Cathedral
Religion	Church of England
Personal
Born	c. 1543 Grantham, Lincolnshire
Died	1607/08 (aged 64) Wells, Somerset
Resting place	Wells Cathedral
Senior posting
Based in	England
Title	Bishop of Bath and Wells
Period in office	1593–1608

John Still (born around 1543 – died 1608) was an important person in the Church of England. He led two colleges at Cambridge University. Later, he became the Bishop of Bath and Wells. He was also known as a great speaker and debater. For a long time, people thought he wrote an early English comedy play called Gammer Gurton's Needle.

John Still's Life and Career

John Still was born in 1543 in Grantham, Lincolnshire. After finishing school, he went to Christ's College, Cambridge. There, he earned several degrees. These included a BA in 1562 and a MA in 1565. In 1575, he earned his highest degree, a DD.

In 1561, he became a fellow at his college. This meant he was a senior member of the college staff. He also became a priest, taking holy orders.

Still became a professor of divinity in 1570. This was a very important teaching role. He also held church positions in Suffolk and Yorkshire. From 1576 to 1593, he was an Archdeacon of Sudbury. An archdeacon is a senior church official.

He then became the head, or "Master," of two famous colleges. First, he led St John's College in 1574. Then, he led Trinity College in 1577. He also served as the Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University twice. This role is like being the main leader of the whole university.

In 1593, John Still was chosen to be the Bishop of Bath and Wells. A bishop is a high-ranking church leader. He bought a large estate called Hutton Court in Hutton, Somerset, in 1604.

John Still passed away on February 26, 1608. He left behind a lot of money. This money came from lead mines found in the Mendip Hills. There is a beautiful monument to him in Wells Cathedral. His son, Nathaniel, had it built.

John Still's Family Life

John Still was married two times during his life.

His first wife was Anne Alabaster. She passed away in 1592. Anne was the daughter of Thomas Alabaster, a cloth merchant. They had two sons together:

• John, who sadly died young.
• Nathaniel (1579–1626), who was born in Hadleigh. Nathaniel married Jane Whitmore. They had one son who died young, and five daughters. One of their daughters, Anne, married John Codrington. The Hutton estate later passed to their family.

After Anne passed away, John Still married Jane Horner. She was the daughter of Sir John Horner. John and Jane had two sons:

• John Still, who married Margaret Grubham Howe.
• Thomas Still (died 1631), who married Bridget Champernoune.

Monuments and Legacy

There are special monuments that remember John Still and his family.

In Wells Cathedral, you can find a large tomb for Bishop John Still. It has a statue of him lying down. This monument is a way to remember his important role in the church.

There is also a stone memorial for his son, Nathaniel Still, in Hutton Church. This monument shows Nathaniel and his wife and children kneeling in prayer. It has a message that talks about how Bishop Still "first raised the name" of the family.

Who Wrote Gammer Gurton's Needle?

Gammer Gurton's Needle is one of the earliest known English comedies. For many years, people believed John Still wrote it. The play's title page, printed in 1575, said it was written by "Mr S. Mr of Art." Since John Still was the only Master of Arts (Mr. of Art) at Cambridge whose name started with "S" at the time the play was performed, he was thought to be the author.

However, some people now think the play might have been written earlier. It might even be the same play as "Dyccon of Bedlam," which was licensed in 1562–1563.

Another person suggested as the author is William Stevenson. He was a fellow at Christ's College around the time the play was performed. Some records from the college mention a play by "Mr Stevenson" in 1559–1560.

Some writers from that time also suggested that Dr. John Bridges might have been involved. However, his name did not start with "S."

Today, many experts believe Gammer Gurton's Needle was written around 1553. The true author is still a bit of a mystery!

Images for kids

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  Arms of Still: Sable gutté d'eau argent, 3 roses of the last seeded or barbed vert. These arms were granted by Sir William Dethick, Garter King of Arms, on 10 April 1593, on his elevation to the bishopric. The thorns of the roses in the arms, here depicted above the Bishop's tomb in Wells Cathedral, are painted not "vert" (green) but "or" (gold). Jewers noted in his 19th-century book that the monument had been newly painted

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  Bishop John Still by Silvester Harding, painted 1760–1809, possibly copied from a now lost contemporary portrait (British Museum Gg 1.425)

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  Monumental brass of Ann Alabaster (died 1592), first wife of John Still and daughter of Thomas Alabaster (died 1592), cloth merchant of Hadleigh (St Mary's Church, Hadleigh, Suffolk)

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  Monument to Bishop John Still in Wells Cathedral

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  Etched stone mural monument to Nathaniel Still (d. 1626) in Hutton Church, Somerset