Humphrey Tyndall

Humphrey Tyndall
Dean of Ely
ChurchChurch of England
DioceseDiocese of Ely
Installed1591
Term ended1614
PredecessorJohn Bell
SuccessorHenry Caesar
Other post(s)Archdeacon of Stafford
Personal details
Born1549
Died12 October 1614(1614-10-12) (aged 64–65)
Ely, England
BuriedEly Cathedral
DenominationAnglicanism
SpouseJane Russell (m.1593)
Alma materChrist's College, Cambridge

Humphrey Tyndall (also spelt Tindall; 1549 – 1614) was an English churchman who became the President of Queens' College, Cambridge, Archdeacon of Stafford, Chancellor of Lichfield Cathedral and Dean of Ely.[1]

Early life and family

Humphrey Tyndall descended from the noble, English, Tyndall family. He was the fourth son of Sir Thomas Tyndall of Hockwold, Norfolk and his second wife, Amy Fermor, daughter of Sir Henry Fermor of East Barsham, Norfolk.[2]

Tyndall entered Cambridge University in 1555, matriculating at the age five or six as a pensioner of Gonville Hall. In 1563 he moved to Christ's College and became a scholar under Andrew Willet.[2]

Clerical life

In 1572, Tyndall was ordained by Edmund Scambler, the bishop of Peterborough.[2] Tyndall's clerical career began at Cambridge, and he was licensed as one of the preachers of the university in 1576.[2] In 1577 he became Vicar of Soham in Cambridgeshire in 1577, a position he held until his death.[2] He was also Chaplin to the Earl of Leicester, whom he married to Lettice Knollys privately on 20 September 1578.[2]

In April 1586, he was installed as the Chancellor of Lichfield Cathedral and prebend of Alrewas, and at the same time also to the archdeaconary in Stafford, offices he retained until his death. Between 1588 and 1599 he was Prebend of Southwell in Nottinghamshire.[2]

In December 1591, Tyndall was installed as Dean of Ely and also as Rector of Wentworth in the Isle of Ely. He resigned the rectory in 1610 but remained as dean until his death in 1614.[2]

Academic life

In 1567, Tyndall was elected as a fellow of Pembroke Hall and became junior bursar in 1570 and senior bursar in 1572. He was awarded the degree of Bachelor of Divinity in 1577, and of Doctor of Divinity, the highest of the degrees awarded by the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, in 1582.[1]

In July 1578, David Yale, a fellow from Queens' wrote to Lord Burghley, begging that if Dr Chaderton (the current President of Queens') were made bishop of Chester, the Earl of Leicester might not be allowed to exert his influence over the fellows in favour of Tyndall, whom he considered to be unfit to be president on account of his youth and inexperience.[2] Despite this he was elected President of Queens' College in July 1579 on the recommendation and through the influence of Lord Burghley.[2]

Tyndall served in the office of Vice-Chancellor of the university between 1585 and 1586.[2]

Personal life

Tyndall married Jane Russell in 1593 and had one child who died at an early age. Jane outlived Tyndall and went on to remarry twice.

Tyndall died in Ely on 12 October 1614 aged 65 and left his books to his college. He was buried in Ely Cathedral on the south aisle of the choir. His tomb features a life-size brass effigy with the following inscription:

"In presence, government, good actions, and in birth,
Grave, wise, courageous, noble, was this earth;
The poor, the Church, the College say, here lies,
A friend, a Dean, a Master, true, good, wise."[3]

References

  1. ^ a b "Tyndall, Humphrey (TNDL555H)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Searle, William George (1871). The History of Queens' College of St Margret and St Bernard in the University of Cambridge. Part II. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  3. ^ Bentham, James (1812). The History And Antiquities of the Conventual And Cathedral Church of Ely: From The Foundation Of The Monastery, A.d. 673. To The Year 1771 (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 230.
  • iconChristianity portal
Academic offices
Preceded by President of Queens' College, Cambridge
1579–1614
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Robert Norgate
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge
1585–1586
Succeeded by
Church of England titles
Preceded by Archdeacon of Stafford
1586–1614
Succeeded by
John Fulnetby
Preceded by
John Bell
Dean of Ely
1591–1614
Succeeded by
Henry Caesar
Authority control databases Edit this at Wikidata
International
  • ISNI
  • VIAF
National
  • United States
  • v
  • t
  • e
  • v
  • t
  • e
15th century
  • Thomas Ashwell
  • Henry Stockton
  • Nicholas de Swaffham
  • Nicholas Gay
  • William Millington
  • John Roclyffe
  • Thomas Stoyle
  • William Uttyng
  • William Smyth
  • Edmund Conisborough
  • Thomas Stoyle
  • William Towne
  • Thomas Tuppin
  • John Riplingham
  • John Camberton
  • William Rawson
  • William Stockdale
  • John Dolman
  • Henry Rudd
  • John Smith
  • John Smith
  • Henry Babington
16th century
17th century
18th century
19th century
20th century
Full-time
  • v
  • t
  • e
Archdeacons of Stafford and of Lichfield
High Medieval
(Stafford)
  • Robert
  • William
  • Helias
  • Ralph de Thamewood
  • Alan
  • Henry Marshal
  • Alexander
  • Henry de Loundres
  • Helyas
  • Robert of Gloucester
  • William of York
  • R. de Langdon
  • Robert of Stafford
  • Richard de Mepham
  • Thomas de Cantilupe
  • Adam Paine
  • Rayner de Vichio/Florence
Late Medieval
(Stafford)
  • John de Brunforte
  • Robert de Patrika
  • John Clarel
  • William de Apeltre
  • Roger de Depyng
  • Richard de Birmingham
  • Roger de Dorkyng
  • John de Marisco
  • William de Grenburgh
  • John de Sulgrave
  • John de Outheby
  • Richard de Toppeclyve
  • Henry Davyd
  • John Fyton
  • Thomas Barton
  • John Fyton (again)
  • William de Admondeston
  • Ralph Prestbury
  • Roger Wall
  • John Wendesley
  • Thomas Hawkins
  • William Moggys
  • William Duffield
  • Edward Willughby
  • John Wardroper
  • Adam Grafton
  • Geoffrey Blythe
  • John Blythe
  • Nicholas Heath
  • John Redman
Early modern
(Stafford)
Late modern
(Stafford)
Lichfield
  • Richard Ninis (previously Archdeacon of Stafford)
  • George Frost
  • Chris Liley
  • Simon Baker
  • Sue Weller (designate)
  • v
  • t
  • e
Early modern
Late modern