A tailpiece to Rob's masterly summary. Coverdale was suggested in 1563 for
the diocese of Llandaff in south Wales. The aged bishop Anthony Kitchin had
died and the post proved difficult to fill. Edmund Grindal wrote to Cecil
in December 1563 criticising one possible candidate and suggesting his old
friend and mentor Coverdale as an alternative: though he did also say that
the diocesan revenues would have to be augmented. Coverdale did not of
course speak Welsh - but neither did Kitchin: and Coverdale was obviously a
competent linguist. One wonders therefore what impact his appointment might
have had on the translation of the Bible into Welsh - a scheme which was
being initiated in that year. However, if he was ever offered the post he
seems to have refused it. He also refused several other posts, and it was
with some difficulty that Grindal eventually persuaded him to take the
parish of St Magnus Martyr in London.
Grateful thanks for all the ideas on deconsecration.
Maddy
Dr Madeleine Gray, in the foothills of God's golden county of Gwent
(Department of Humanities and Science
UWCN Caerleon Campus
PO Box 179
Newport NP18 3YG
Tel: +44 (0)1633.432675
http://humanities.newport.ac.uk/history.html)
'Reading is sometimes an ingenious device for avoiding thought'
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