Accepted Frewen

41
Accepted Frewen bigraphy, stories - Archbishop of York; Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry

Accepted Frewen : biography

1588 – 1664

Accepted Frewen (1588–1664) was a priest in the Church of England and Archbishop of York from 1660 to 1664.

Life

Frewen was born at Northiam, in Sussex, the son of John Frewen who was the rector there. The unusual forename is an example of the type of puritan name not uncommon in the area in the late sixteenth century; his brother was called Thankful Frewen. He was educated at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he became a Fellow in 1612. Anthony Wood describes him as being at that time "puritanically enclin’d". In 1617 and 1621 the college allowed him to act as chaplain to Sir John Digby, ambassador in Spain. In Madrid he preached a sermon that pleased Prince Charles, afterwards Charles I, who, on his accession, appointed him one of his chaplains.

Two years later (in 1644) he was consecrated Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, and resigned his presidentship (and deanery). Parliament declared his estates forfeited for treason in 1652, and Cromwell afterwards set a price on his head. The proclamations, however, designated him Stephen Frewen, and he was consequently able to escape into France. At the Restoration he reappeared in public, and in 1660 he was consecrated Archbishop of York. In 1661 he acted as chairman of the Savoy conference.