Vale of Evesham History Portal

A FARMER'S SON

In the Forest of Feckenham a humble child was born of farming stock. His name was John Howman and he was born in 1515 or 1518 dependent on the source used, but each source uses the word 'circa'. He was, in origins, of little consequence but he rose to be a mighty power in the religious turmoil of the 16th Century. He was, from an early age a bright lad, very good at his scriptures and attendance at the parish church. His priest noticed his willingness to learn and his ability in religious matters and wished him to better himself. Amongst his flock there were people of influence and the priest prevailed upon them to enter him into the famed abbey at Evesham. Here he would be taught and guided by the monks and theologians and would ultimately realise his full potential as a cleric.

JOHN, MONK OF EVESHAM ABBEY

On admission to the abbey, John Howman, after taking his vows, became John of Feckenham. He studied at the abbey in the novice's school and in about 1536 he was admitted to Gloucester Hall, a Benedictine seminary where there was a special apartment for Evesham Abbey. It took him three years of study to obtain his degree and on 11th June 1539 he took the degree of BD and returned to Evesham to teach the novices. He was not to teach for long at Evesham for on the 17th November 1539 Evesham Abbey was dissolved, as a full monk of the abbey John Feckenham's signature is on the document of surrender. (Some sources quote the 27th January 1540 as the date of surrender.)

FROM ABBEY TO PRISON

John Feckenham, in common with the rest of the monks retired with an annual pension of 15 Marks (or £10). He returned to Oxford University to continue his studies. To support him in this, for 15 marks was a pension only, he was appointed rector of Solihull over a period of about ten years or so. The exact period is open to question for Dugdale quotes the rectorship being vacated in 1539 and Feckenham finally surrendered the post in 1554. By my reckoning that means he was rector for up to fifteen years. He had by now added other strings to his bow and for some years prior to 1543 he was chaplain to Dr. Bell, Bishop of Worcester. When Dr. Bell retired in 1543 he became chaplain to Bishop Bonner of London.

He had by now travelled along his career path from Feckenham to London via Evesham, Oxford, Solihull and Worcester. Bishop Bonner is recorded as a cruel man and Feckenham was kind, even to those who dissented from him. Bishop Bonner crossed swords with the mighty Archbishop Cranmer and in 1549 Bonner fell from power. At the same time Feckenham, a devout Catholic was imprisoned in the Tower of London by Archbishop Cranmer.

In 1551 he was temporarily released by Sir Philip Hoby to represent, with others (Watson & Young), the Roman Catholic party at a series of disputations on the sacraments with Jewel and Hooper. They were held in Pershore and Worcester. He greatly distinguished himself, especially in a dispute with Bishop Hooper. When the conferences over he was sent back to the Tower.

FREE AND CATHOLIC

When Queen Mary accessed to the throne she released him on the 5th September 1553 and returned to be chaplain to Bishop Bonner who we must assume was also released. John Feckenham was a master of his Catholic faith, he was well educated and though always a kind and generous man was sharp and quick witted in argument. He had the rhetoric, the speech and the personality to become an icon of the age. To promote his Catholic beliefs he was willing and much employed as a preacher in London.

He was then elevated to be private chaplain and confessor to the Queen. In January 1554 Bishop Bonner made him prebendary of Kentish Town, establishing him in St. Paul's cathedral. Two months later, in March 1554 he received the deanery of St. Paul's.

It was an age of religious conflict and under Queen Mary the Catholic flag flew firmly but there were still protestants that needed some sort of treatment. To that end John Feckenham was delegated by the Pope to take part in the disputation at Oxford with Cranmer, Latimer and Ridley in April 1554. In June 1554 he received the rectory of Finchley and in September 1554 he also received the rectory of Greenford Magna resigning as rector of Solihull.

He had built a great reputation as a preacher and throughout Queen Mary's reign he was very occupied with preaching against Protestantism. Throughout the Marian persecutions Feckenham was constantly employed to plead with obdurate protestants (heretics) to convert back to the Catholic faith. In this manner he saved many from burning at the stake. He failed to convince Lady Jane Grey of her errors and thus had to prepare her for death. He did convert Sir John Cheke, the King's tutor, thereby saving his life.

He interceded for Elizabeth after Wyatt's rebellion, obtaining her life and subsequent release. It seems strange to me that despite the evidently deep involvment in the politics and religious upheavals of the time that in May 1556 he took his DD degree at Oxford.

ABBOT FECKENHAM

Queen Mary, seeking to resurrect monasticism re-founded the Benedictine monastery of St. Peter, Westminster and Feckenham received the unique post of mitred Abbot of Westminster on 7th September 1556. Unfortunately even after overcoming great difficulties it proved impossible to find more than 14 suitable monks in the whole of London. Feckenham was installed on 21st November and consecrated on the 30th. Feckenham faced and overcame more problems in his journey to re-establish Westminster Abbey. The last problem he could not overcome was inmates and at its height the Abbey had no more than 28 in the community. On the 11th February 1557 he successfully defended in Parliament the threatened privilege of sanctuary.

Queen Mary died in 1558, November 17th and Feckenham preached a fine sermon at her funeral but it was now the end of Catholic supremacy. After Elizabeth's accession to the throne she sent for Feckenham to try and get him to conform to the Protestant faith, if he would do that then she would preserve the monastery. He refused, and during her first Parliament he spoke against every motion regarding religious reform. He gave sanctuary to Bishop Bonner at Westminster Abbey.

BACK TO PRISON

After less than six months, in April 1559, at Westminster Abbey a conference was held between Protestant and Catholic divines. Though he took a moderate stance he refused to proceed further towards a Uniform liturgy etc. This spelt the end of Mary's Catholic resurgence and on July 5th all the remaining religious houses were dissolved. Thus it was that on 12th July Abbot John Feckenham and his monks were expelled from Westminster.Queen Elizabeth replaced Feckenham by Dean William Bill. John Feckenham remained true to his faith and on 20th May, 1560, he was again incarcerated in the Tower. Queen Elizabeth, aware of her debt to him released him into the custody of Bishop Horne of Winchester in 1563. They had months of daily discussions on religion but Horne was unable to sway Feckenham who was returned to the Tower in 1564. In the early 1570s he was removed from the Tower and sent with other Catholics to the Marshalsea where they had more freedom.

In 1574 the leading Catholic prisoners were released on bail and Feckenham went to live in a house in Holborn. He fell ill and was permitted to go to Bath where in 1576 he built a hospice for the poor who visited the mineral springs in Bath. Unfortunately in Bath his religious zeal caused much rancour and in 1577 Feckenham was committed into free custody with Bishop Cox of Ely. In 1580 Bishop Cox pleaded that he was too feeble to watch over Feckenham and John was removed to imprisonment at Wisbech Castle. While serving his interment at Wisbech the bishop and dean of Ely produced a document purporting to be a confession by Feckenham. It is suggested that his signature was either forced or forged but for the next five years he was left in peace.

He died in 1585 and is buried in Wisbech church.

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