Grindal, Edmund

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Grindal, Edmund (1519–83). Archbishop of Canterbury (1575–83). Born in Cumberland, Grindal was educated at Pembroke Hall, Cambridge, where he was later master (1559–61). As chaplain to Bishop Ridley of London, he supported the protestant changes under Edward VI. After exile in Germany under Mary, he was successively bishop of London (1559–70), despite reservations over vestments, and archbishop of York (1570) and Canterbury. Though prominent in framing the Thirty-Nine Articles, he was too calvinistic to help Parker re-establish Anglicanism. His ruthlessness towards catholics and reluctance to bring puritan London clergy into line persuaded Parker to recommend him for the less puritan see of York (1570) where dissidence was mainly catholic. Later Cecil suggested his translation to Canterbury (1575) where he was soon in conflict with Elizabeth for refusing to suppress puritan ‘prophesyings’ (1576), and was suspended from the temporalities of his see 1577–82.

Revd Dr William M. Marshall

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