Charles Fotherby

Charles Fotherby was a Church of England clergyman who became Dean of Canterbury (1615–1619).

Life

Fotherby's date of birth is not recorded but he is stated to have been 70 when he died. His father was Martin Fotherby of Great Grimsby in Lincolnshire. His younger brother, Dr Martin Fotherby (c.1560-1620), was also a prebendary of Canterbury, and later bishop of Salisbury.

He studied at Trinity College, Cambridge (sizar 1573, scholar 1575, B.A. 1576/77, M.A. 1580, B.D. 1587). He became a fellow of Trinity in 1579.

He died in 1619 and was buried in the Lady Chapel at Canterbury Cathedral. His monument is described as 'a bone-encrusted tomb-chest [which] is a fine example of that obsessive early seventeenth-century morbidity which repelled later, more squeamish observers'.

As Dean, he is recorded as reinvigorating the musical life of the Cathedral.

Career date office reference 1587–1592 Vicar of Chislet (Kent) Venn, p. 165 1587 Vicar of Deal (Kent) Venn, p. 165 1592–1619 Vicar of Aldington (Kent) Venn, p. 165 1595–1600 Vicar of Teynham (Kent) Venn, p. 165 1595–1619 Archdeacon of Canterbury Fasti, III, iii. 15 1595–1615 Canon of 4th prebend, Canterbury Cathedral Fasti, III, iii. 23 1600–1619 Rector of Bishopsbourne (Kent) Venn, p. 165 1615–1619 Dean of Canterbury Fasti, III, iii. 12