Simon Islip facts for kids

Simon Islip (died 1366) was an important English church leader. He held the high position of Archbishop of Canterbury from 1349 until his death in 1366. This made him the most senior bishop in the Church of England.

Early Life and Education

Simon Islip was related to other important people of his time. He was the uncle of William Whittlesey and a cousin of Walter de Islip, who was a top judge in Ireland. Both Simon and Walter got their last name from their hometown, Islip, Oxfordshire.

Simon studied at the University of Oxford. He earned a special degree in church law (canon law) and civil law (laws of the country). In 1307, he became a fellow at Merton College. People at the time thought he was one of the best church lawyers around.

Early Career in the Church

Simon Islip held several church jobs before becoming Archbishop. He was a rector, which means he was in charge of a local church, in places like Easton and Horncastle. In 1332, he became an Archdeacon of Stow. An archdeacon helps the bishop manage a part of the diocese.

He also held several "prebendaries." This meant he received income from certain church lands, like the important Prebendal of Aylesbury at Lincoln Cathedral. He also served as the Vicar-General for the Diocese of Lincoln, helping the bishop with many duties. Later, he became the Archdeacon of Canterbury in 1343, and then the Dean of Arches, a top judge in the church courts.

Serving the King: Lord Privy Seal

In 1347, Simon Islip was given a very important job: Keeper of the Privy Seal. The Privy Seal was used to approve important documents from the King. Before this, he had worked for Lionel of Antwerp, King Edward III's son.

King Edward III trusted Simon Islip a lot. The King relied on him for political, diplomatic, and church matters. When the King was away in France, Simon was given a lot of power to manage things in England. Even though he was loyal to the King, Simon wasn't afraid to stand up for the Church. He famously refused the King's request for a large part of the Church's income for six years. He wrote a strong letter about it called the Speculum Regis Edwardi. Simon left this job between February and May of 1350.

Archbishop of Canterbury's Role

Simon Islip was chosen to be the Archbishop of Canterbury on September 20, 1349. This happened after three Archbishops before him died very quickly from the Black Death. He officially took over the church's lands on November 15, 1349. His special ceremony, called a consecration, took place on December 20, 1349.

As Archbishop, Simon Islip faced big challenges because of the Black Death. Many priests and church workers had died, so the remaining ones started charging much higher fees for their services. Archbishop Islip worked hard to control these fees. He believed it was important to save money during these difficult times. Because he was naturally careful with money, some people thought he was a bit stingy.

He also successfully settled a long-standing disagreement with the Archbishop of York. This argument was about whether the Archbishop of York could carry his special cross in the area controlled by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Later Years and Legacy

Simon Islip passed away on April 26, 1366, in Mayfield, Sussex. For three years before his death, he had been very ill after having a stroke. This stroke made it impossible for him to speak.

He left generous gifts to the monks at Canterbury. He also left money to start a new college at Oxford University. However, this college did not last long. It was later taken over by Cardinal Wolsey and became part of Christ Church, Oxford.