Oliver KING
(Bishop of Exeter and Bath & Wells)
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Oliver KING (Bishop of Exeter and Bath & Wells) |
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Died: 29 Aug 1503
A native of London, educated at Eton and King's College, Cambridge. He is described in the patents of 1476 as Master of Arts, the first Licentiate of Laws, and principal secretary to King Edward IV, to which last office he had been appointed for life.
When Pope Alexander VI provided him on 1 Oct 1492, to the vacant see of Exeter, he was in possession of the archdeaconry of Taunton and the deanery of Hereford. He was consecrated Bishop in the course of the ensuing Feb, perhaps on 3rd, at Lambeth, by Archbishop Morton, but, whether he ever saw this diocese we cannot discover from his Register. On 11 Mar 1494, he was residing at Sheene, when he collated Hugh Oldham (subsequently Bishop of Exeter) to the canonry and prebend of this cathedral, void by the death of John Paskewe. On 6 Nov 1495, he succeeded Bishop Fox at Bath and Wells. In the former city he commenced the rebuilding of the abbey-church, but only lived to see the west end and the south part of the structure in an advanced state. From its lightsome appearance it obtained the name of "The Lantern of England".
He died on 29 Aug 1503, and, in conformity to his will, was buried on the north side of the choir near its high altar. King was succeeded by Cardinal Adriano of Castelli.
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