William Lyon (bishop) facts for kids

William Lyon was an important English church leader who became a bishop in Ireland. He was in charge of three areas: Cork, Cloyne, and Ross. He passed away in 1617.

Early Life and Career

William Lyon studied at Oxford University in England. Around 1570, he moved to Ireland. In 1573, he became a vicar in a town called Naas. A vicar is a type of priest in charge of a local church.

In 1580, Queen Elizabeth I gave him another church area in Bodenstown. He was allowed to keep his church earnings even when he was in England. However, he usually lived in Ireland.

Becoming a Bishop

When Arthur Grey, 14th Baron Grey de Wilton became the leader of the Irish government in 1580, Lyon worked as his chaplain. A chaplain is a priest who serves a specific group or person.

In 1582, William Lyon made history. He became the first Protestant bishop of Ross. Ross is a region in the province of Munster in Ireland.

Leading the Church in Ireland

People in Cork were impressed by Lyon. The mayor of Cork asked for him to also become the bishop of Cork and Cloyne. This happened for a short time in 1584. By 1587, all three areas – Cork, Cloyne, and Ross – were officially joined under his leadership.

Lyon faced challenges. Another religious leader had been chosen for Ross by the Pope. Lyon worried he might be replaced. But a powerful person named Sir Henry Wallop strongly supported him.

Keeping Ireland Safe

Bishop Lyon was very involved in protecting Ireland. He went to Kinsale to investigate rumors about the Spanish Armada. This was a large Spanish fleet that planned to invade England and Ireland. For many years, he watched people who were in contact with Spain.

In 1589, he warned the government about a person named Thomas Wetherhead. Wetherhead was involved in "simony," which means buying or selling church positions. Lyon's warning was not listened to, and Wetherhead became a bishop and continued his bad actions.

Building and Teaching

The Lord Deputy, William FitzWilliam, was the Queen's main representative in Ireland. He was very impressed with Bishop Lyon's early efforts to spread the Protestant faith. In 1589 and 1590, Lyon sometimes had thousands of people attending his church services!

However, Lyon had a problem: he didn't have enough clergy (church leaders) who could speak Irish.

By 1591, Lyon had used his own money to build a free school and a bridge in Ross. He also spent money on the church and his home there. Sadly, his home was burned down by a local leader, Donnell II O'Donovan, just three years after it was finished.

Even in Cork, Lyon had no official home. He spent a lot of his own money, over £1,000, to build one. He also made sure that Bibles and prayer books in English were given out across his church areas.

Facing Challenges

Lyon faced strong opposition from Catholic groups. Despite this, he believed that Irish people would respond to fairness and justice. He thought that soldiers sometimes made his work harder. However, he did want priests from other countries to be kept out of Ireland.

In 1598, during a time of violence, Lyon and his family had to flee for their safety. But they quickly returned. Lyon was often part of important groups that helped govern Munster.

In 1608, a man named Sir Thomas Crooke, 1st Baronet was accused of piracy. Lyon strongly defended him. He argued that Crooke had done amazing things by building a successful town, Baltimore, from nothing in just three years.

Later Years and Legacy

William Lyon worked hard to improve the value of the church lands in Cork and Ross. He did this by researching old records and managing things well.

The Cloyne area was more difficult. Here, he faced challenges from Sir John FitzEdmund Fitzgerald, who had control over many church lands. These lands did not fully return to the church until after 1660.

Lyon lived to be quite old. He passed away in Cork on October 4, 1617. He was buried in a tomb he had built for himself twenty years earlier. His bones were found by accident in 1846 and later moved to the new cathedral in 1865.

Lyon's wife, Elizabeth, was still alive in 1640. One of his daughters was sadly killed in 1642 when rebels attacked the church at Ross.