James Calfhill

James Calfhill (also Calfield; 1530?–1570) was an Anglican priest, academic and controversialist, who died as Archdeacon of Colchester and Bishop-designate of Worcester.

Life He was a native of Edinburgh, was educated at Eton College, and entered King's College, Cambridge, in 1545. In 1548 he was appointed a student of the new foundation of Christ Church, Oxford. He graduated B.A. 1549, M.A. 1552, B.D. 1561, and D.D. 1565–6.

Calfhill was ordained deacon on 14 January 1559, and in the same month instituted to the rectory of West Horsley, Surrey. He took priest's orders on 9 June 1560, and became canon of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford on 5 July following. In 1561 Calfhill superintended the reinterment of the remains of Catherine, wife of Peter Martyr, at Christ Church. He had the bones of Catherine and relics of Frideswide intermingled.

In May 1562 Calfhill became rector of St. Andrew Wardrobe, London, and was proctor both for the clergy of London and the chapter of Oxford in the convocation of 1563, where he was a conspicuous "precisian", with Arthur Saul. On 14 December 1562 he was presented by the queen to the penitentiaryship of St. Paul's and the annexed prebend of St. Pancras.

On 18 February 1564 he was appointed Lady Margaret professor of divinity at Oxford. On 4 May 1565 he became rector of Bocking, Essex, appointed by Archbishop Matthew Parker, and on 16 July became archdeacon of Colchester. He applied unsuccessfully to secretary Cecil for the provostship of King's College, Cambridge, in 1569. In 1570 he was nominated to the bishopric of Worcester, vacant by the translation of Edwin Sandys to London, but died in August at Bocking before election or consecration. He left a widow, to whom administration of his effects was granted on 21 August 1570. and in 1568 he preached two sermons at Bristol in defence of John Calvin, against Richard Cheyney, bishop of Gloucester, who then held Bristol in commendam. The bishop complains that Calfhill would not share a meal with him afterwards;