Matthew Parker
Matthew Parker entered the world on the 6th of August 1504 within St Saviour's parish in Norwich. He was the eldest son of William and Alice Parker, born into a family of six children. His father worked as a wealthy worsted weaver while his grandfather Nicholas Parker served as registrar to successive archbishops between 1450 and 1483. The boy grew up on Fye Bridge Street which is now known as Magdalen Street. He received early education from six men who were mostly clerics before attending university.
In 1520 the sixteen-year-old student arrived at Cambridge University to study under Richard Cowper. After six months he secured a scholarship that allowed him to move from St Mary's Hostel into college rooms. He became Bible clerk there and gained access to books by married theologians from the Continent. During these years he first commended clerical marriage when reading works by Martin Luther. He remained loyal to Thomas Bilney throughout their time together at the university.
Parker graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1525 after completing his studies. He was ordained as a deacon on the 20th of April 1527 and became a priest two months later on the 15th of June. In September he was elected a fellow of Corpus Christi College. There is no evidence that he ever participated in public disputes unlike many contemporaries.
After being summoned to the court of Anne Boleyn Parker became her chaplain. Through her influence he was appointed dean of the college of secular canons at Stoke-by-Clare in Suffolk in 1535. This post held until 1547 when the college had been secularised in 1514. The duties involved regular performance of church offices and prayers for the founder's family but little direction existed for other times during the day.
Shortly before Anne Boleyn's arrest in 1536 she charged her daughter Elizabeth to Parker's care. He honoured this trust for the rest of his life despite the queen's execution following charges of adultery incest and treason. Parker obtained his Bachelor of Divinity in July 1535 and was appointed chaplain to Henry VIII in 1537. He graduated Doctor of Divinity in July 1538.
In around 1527 Parker was one of the Cambridge scholars invited by Cardinal Thomas Wolsey to Cardinal College at Oxford. Like Cranmer he declined Wolsey's invitation since the college was still being built when Wolsey fell from power in 1529. In January 1545 after two months as master of Corpus he was elected vice-chancellor of the university.
Parker was elected on the 1st of August 1559 but finding four qualified bishops willing to consecrate him proved difficult given the turbulence preceding Elizabeth's accession. The ceremony finally occurred on the 19th of December at Lambeth Palace performed by William Barlow John Scory Miles Coverdale and John Hodgkins. The allegation of an indecent consecration at the Nag's Head public house first appeared in 1604 made by Jesuit Christopher Holywood before being discredited.
Elizabeth wanted a moderate man so she chose Parker based on recommendations from William Cecil her chief adviser. There existed emotional attachment since Parker had been favourite chaplain of Elizabeth's mother Anne Boleyn. Before Anne was arrested in 1536 she entrusted Elizabeth's spiritual well-being to Parker. Parker possessed all qualifications expected except celibacy which Elizabeth strongly disliked regarding married clergy.
The Queen treated Margaret Parker personally with such rudeness that her husband felt horror hearing it. After visiting Lambeth Palace the Queen thanked her hostess but maliciously asked how she should address her saying mistress I should be ashamed to call you. Parker mistrusted popular enthusiasm writing in horror of the idea that people should reform the church.
Parker served as one of primary architects behind the Thirty-nine Articles defining statements of Anglican doctrine. He held principal share drawing up Book of Common Prayer for which his skill in ancient liturgies peculiarly fitted him. His liturgical skill also showed in version of psalter published under his presidency. The Thirty-nine Articles were finally reviewed and subscribed by clergy during 1562.
He gave English people the Bishops Bible undertaken at his request prepared under supervision and published at expense in 1572. Much time and labour from 1563 to 1568 went into this work. Parker published old Saxon Homily on Sacrament by Aelfric of Eynsham in 1567. He collaborated with secretary John Joscelyn in manuscript studies throughout these years.
Probably most famous saying prompted by arrival of Mary Queen of Scots was I fear our good Queen Elizabeth has wolf by ears. He wrote in horror about people reforming church believing definite ecclesiastical forms must secure triumph over anarchy. He vigorously set about repression of mutinous individualism incompatible with catholic spirit.
The Parker collection of early English manuscripts includes book of St Augustine Gospels and Version A of Anglo-Saxon Chronicle created as part efforts to demonstrate English Church historically independent of Rome. Alongside pioneering scholar Lawrence Nowell Parker's work concerning Old English literature laid foundation for Anglo-Saxon studies. This became one world's most important collections of ancient manuscripts.
Parker left priceless collection largely collected from former monastic libraries to college at Cambridge. The Parker Library at Corpus Christi bears name housing most collection with some volumes in Cambridge University Library. Collection includes important materials concerning St Erkenwald preserved as 12th-century manuscript known as Parker 161. The Parker Library on Web project made digital images available online today.
De antiquitate Britannicæ ecclesiae exemplified historical research probably printed at Lambeth in 1572 where archbishop had establishment printers engravers and illuminators. Parker published editions of Asser Matthew Paris Thomas Walsingham and compiler known as Matthew of Westminster all in 1571. These works demonstrated deep commitment preserving national religious heritage through careful scholarly effort.
Parker's consecration gave rise to continuing dispute regarding sacramental validity from Roman Catholic perspective eventually leading condemnation of Anglican orders absolutely null and utterly void by papal commission in 1896. Commission could not dispute consecration meeting legal liturgical requirements or deny manual succession taking place through laying hands prayer. Pope asserted defect form intent rendered rite insufficient making bishop apostolic succession according Roman understanding minima for validity.
Church England archbishops rejected pontiff arguments Saepius Officio written 1897 demonstrating sufficiency form intention used Anglican Ordinal. They stated preface clearly states intention continue existing holy orders received. Even if consecrators had private doubts lacking intention doing rites clearly stated counted nought since words actions rite performed behalf church ministers sacrament sole determinants opinions inner states moral condition actors carry them out.
Government recruited four bishops retired Queen Mary gone exile two having valid orders Rome view made bishops 1536 1537 with Roman Pontifical Latin Rite. John Scory Miles Coverdale other two consecrated English Ordinal 1550 same day 1551 Cranmer Hodgkins Ridley consecrated Latin Rite 1532 1537 1547 respectively. All four consecrators ordained bishops themselves consecrated Roman Pontifical Church England schism from Rome.
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Common questions
When was Matthew Parker born and where did he grow up?
Matthew Parker entered the world on the 6th of August 1504 within St Saviour's parish in Norwich. He grew up on Fye Bridge Street which is now known as Magdalen Street.
What role did Matthew Parker play during Anne Boleyn's life and after her execution?
Matthew Parker served as chaplain to Anne Boleyn and later received charge of her daughter Elizabeth shortly before her arrest in 1536. He honoured this trust for the rest of his life despite the queen's execution following charges of adultery incest and treason.
How and when was Matthew Parker consecrated as Archbishop of Canterbury?
Matthew Parker was elected on the 1st of August 1559 but the ceremony finally occurred on the 19th of December at Lambeth Palace performed by William Barlow John Scory Miles Coverdale and John Hodgkins. The allegation of an indecent consecration at the Nag's Head public house first appeared in 1604 made by Jesuit Christopher Holywood before being discredited.
Which major religious texts did Matthew Parker help produce or publish?
Matthew Parker served as one of primary architects behind the Thirty-nine Articles defining statements of Anglican doctrine and held principal share drawing up Book of Common Prayer. He gave English people the Bishops Bible undertaken at his request prepared under supervision and published at expense in 1572.
What is the significance of the Parker Library at Corpus Christi College Cambridge?
The Parker collection of early English manuscripts includes book of St Augustine Gospels and Version A of Anglo-Saxon Chronicle created as part efforts to demonstrate English Church historically independent of Rome. Parker left priceless collection largely collected from former monastic libraries to college at Cambridge where it bears name housing most collection with some volumes in Cambridge University Library.