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William Reade (bishop)

William Reade or William Rede[a] (c.1315–1385) was a medieval bishop, theologian and astronomer.

William Reade
Bishop of Chichester
Amberley Castle
Appointed23 September 1368
Term ended18 August 1385
PredecessorWilliam Lenn
SuccessorThomas Rushock
Personal details
BornAbout 1315
Wyngerworthy, Derby, England
Died18 August 1385
DenominationCatholic

Education

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Reade was initially brought up, from boyhood to maturity, by his friend and protégé Nicholas of Sandwich. He was then educated at Exeter College, Oxford where astronomy, mathematics, and natural philosophy[b] flourished. Reade's career at Oxford is unclear, but he was probably studying there from 1337. He was a fellow at Merton College from around 1347 until 1357 at least, a second bursar in 1352-3 and sub-warden in 1353–54. There is some suggestion that he was also a fellow of Exeter College but there is no evidence to support this. He became a Doctor of Theology sometime before 1362.[2][3][4][5]

Career

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In 1354 Reade was given letters dimissory, by the bishop of Exeter and moved to the diocese of Rochester, Kent. From the same year until 1356 he was successively subdeacon, deacon and priest in the Rochester diocese. He became archdeacon of Rochester in 1359 and provost of the college of Wingham, Kent in 1363.[6] Then on 23 September 1368, he was nominated for Bishop of Chichester by provision of Pope Urban V, he was confirmed as bishop of Chichester on 2 September 1369 and vacated his post as provost of Wingham at the same time. He remained as bishop of Chichester until his death.[7][2]

Life

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The Mob Quad group of buildings at Merton College, Oxford,

Reade was active in public life, but is better known for his collection of some 370 books. His private library was probably the biggest of its kind, in 14th century England and was larger than any of the Oxford colleges at that time.[2] Reade donated and bequeathed some 250 volumes shared between the libraries at Merton, Exeter, Balliol, Oriel, Queen's, and New Colleges, Oxford. Reade also provided a large sum of money to build the Merton College Library. The building, although added to over the centuries, still exists and is known today as the Mob Quad.[2][8]

Reade's books covered a wide range of subjects including theology, natural philosophy, astrology and astronomy. He is known in astronomical circles for his work on Alfonsine tables. He compiled a table of solar positions between the years 1341-1344 for the Oxford meridian.[2]

Bishop of Chichester

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Reade's contribution to Chichester Cathedral was the systematic compilation of cartularies, gathering together all the charters and writings concerning the church. His cartularies have preserved virtually the only early documentary evidence about the cathedral.[9]

Reade converted the old Manor House at Amberley, into a castle.[c]The 19th century theologian and historian William Stephens says he did this "to provide a strong fortress for himself and his successors against troublous times." At the time the south coast of England was being made secure to prepare itself for an invasion by the French.[3][11]

Reade held a deer park, in Selsey, that was plagued with poachers so much so, that the incensed bishop issued a decree excommunicating the offenders by "Bell, book, and candle", and he ordered that the ritual should be performed at all churches within the deanery.[12] Reade died 18 August 1385,[2] and asked in his will to be buried at Selsey parish church "once the cathedral church of my diocese...", then located at Church Norton, "...before the high altar".[13] His wish was not acted upon as he was buried in Chichester Cathedral without monument.[d][3] It seems that this was not the only problem with the execution of his will as the dean and chapter, of Chichester Cathedral, petitioned the executors, thirteen years later, to account for the thirteen gilt cups,[e] bequeathed by Reade, for the use of the cathedral.[3]

 
The Chichester Cross stands in the centre of Chichester, at the intersection of the four principal streets. It was built by Bishop Edward Story(1477 to 1503) and replaced an earlier wooden cross that had been erected by William Reade.

Notes

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  1. ^ Also known as William Reed.
  2. ^ The philosophical study of physics. It was dominant before the development of modern science.[1]
  3. ^ Reed was granted a Licence to Crenellate, Amberley in 1377. [10]
  4. ^ There is some supporting evidence that he was not buried at Selsey. The later prelate Robert Rede, requested, in his will, that he be buried at the foot of his predecessor William, before the high altar in Chichester.[14]
  5. ^ Reade bequeathed thirteen gilt cups, probably for the thirteen altars, then present in the cathedral.[15]

Citations

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  1. ^ Cahan 2003, Ch. 1.
  2. ^ a b c d e f North 2006.
  3. ^ a b c d Stephens 1876, pp. 119–121.
  4. ^ Powicke 1931, p. 29.
  5. ^ Powicke 1931, p. 90.
  6. ^ Page 1926, pp. 110–153.
  7. ^ Stephens 1876, p. 119.
  8. ^ Stephens 1876, p. 119-121.
  9. ^ McCann 1994, p. 196-197.
  10. ^ Reade 1377.
  11. ^ Historic England & 1027499.
  12. ^ Horsfield 2009, p. 33.
  13. ^ Powicke 1931, p. 87.
  14. ^ Walcott 1877, p. 55.
  15. ^ Lower 1865, pp. 106–107.

References

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  • Cahan, David (2003). "Looking at Nineteenth-Century Science: An introduction". In David Cahan (ed.). From Natural Philosophy to the Science. pp. 3–15. ISBN 0-226-08927-4.
  • Horsfield, Thomas Walker (2009) [1835]. The History, Antiquities and Topography of the County of Sussex Vol II (Facsimile ed.). Country Books. ISBN 978-1-906789-16-9.
  • Historic England (2005). "Amberley Castle (1027499)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 April 2010.
  • McCann, Alison (1994). "Archives and Antiquaries". In Mary Hobbs (ed.). Chichester Cathedral:An Historic Survey. Chichester: Phillimore. ISBN 9780850339246.
  • Lower, Mark Antony (1865). The Worthies of Sussex. Lewes: Sussex Advertiser. OCLC 249704190.
  • Page, William (1926). A History of the County of Kent: Provosts of Wingham College. British History Online. Retrieved 18 April 2010.
  • Powicke, F.M. (1931). The Medieval Books of Merton College, Bishop of Chichester. Oxford: OUP. OCLC 926120606.
  • Reade, William (1377), Licence to Crenellate Amberley, f.38 Licence to Crenellate Amberley, 1377: CC(800), W.S.R.O
  • Stephens, W.R.W (1876). Memorials of the South Saxon See and Cathedral Church of Chichester. London: Richard Bentley and Sons. OCLC 1737721.
  • North, J.D (2006). "Rede, William(c. 1315–1385)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/23248. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  • Walcott, Mackenzie Edward (1877). The Early Statutes of the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, Chichester With Observations on Its Constitution and History. London: J.B. Nichols and Sons. OCLC 903307542.
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Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Chichester
1368–1385 		Succeeded by

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