Nicholas Sheppard facts for kids

Nicholas Sheppard (sometimes spelled Shepherd) was an important English churchman and academic who lived in the 1500s. He was the head of St John's College, Cambridge and also an Archdeacon of Northampton, which meant he was a senior leader in the church. He passed away in 1587.

Nicholas Sheppard's Life

Nicholas Sheppard was born in a place called Westmorland. He started his studies at St John's College, Cambridge, in 1549. He became a "fellow" there in 1553, which is like being a senior member or teacher at the college.

However, he was removed from his position the next year. He later earned his Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in 1558. In 1561, he joined Trinity College, Cambridge as a fellow. He took on important roles there, like managing the college's money (senior bursar) and being the second-in-command (vice-master).

In 1561, he was also chosen as one of the university's official preachers. He earned another degree, a Bachelor of Divinity (B.D.), in 1568. Then, in December 1569, he became the Master, or head, of St John's College.

He also became an Archdeacon in Northampton in 1571. This was a significant role in the church. However, his time as Master of St John's College ended sooner than expected in 1574. The exact reasons are not fully clear. Some records suggest he might not have lived at the college enough. There were also stories that he tried to gain too much from college activities. It's also possible there were disagreements about religious beliefs at the time.