Checking Up on Peterborough
Information
1635: Described by Simon Gunton as 'a man of very pious life, and affable behaviour', Francis Dee was consecrated Bishop of Peterborough by Archbishop Laud at Lambeth Palace in May 1634. Laud's policy was to impose uniformity on the Church of England by enforcing a common style of worship across the country. Twelve months on, sir Nathaniel Brent, the Vicar General of the Archbishop of Canterbury, visited Peterborough with instructions to provide s summary account of his activities and those of the cathedral for the archbishop. He records that he was 'met by the Bishop and his Prebendaries of the church; the Dean being absent on just causes'. He continues:
The Bishop lodged me in his house and gave me very great entertainment during the time of my abode there. The cathedral church is very fair and strong, except in some places which are ordered to be repaired. The schoolmaster – one William Dickson - is very negligent by reason of his frequent preaching. He is admonished and promiseth amendment. The church has no statutes but is governed by orders of their own making. They are to send up answers to the articles and a copy of their orders to Lambeth before mid-summer day next.
(Gunton, Symon, The history of the Church of Peterborough, ed. Symon Patrick, 1990; Russell, John, Fair Spot and Goodly – Visitors’ impressions of Peterborough, Peterborough Arts Council, 1984)
Taken from The Peterborough Book of Days by Brian Jones, The History Press, 2014.