John Bell

John Bell (died 11 August 1556) was a Bishop of Worcester (1539–1543), who served during the reign of King Henry VIII.

Education Bell was educated at Balliol College, Oxford, and later at Cambridge, where he took the degree of Bachelor of Civil Law in 1503/4.

Career Following this advancement he was promoted to other posts:

"Canon and prebendary of the collegiate church of St. Stephen in Westminster Palace (until 1539);"; 1526 Collated: Warden of the church of Stratford-Upon-Avon, Magister, Bachelor of Civil law, acta capitularia (Chapter act book) Coventry & Lichfield diocese 1528 Collated: Doctor of Canon law, Lincoln Cathedral, 1529 Collated: Magister, Doctor of Civil law Gloucester, 1539 Collated: Archdeacon of Gloucester.

Wolsey, would appoint Bell to the membership of the Legantine court of audience, where in 1523, he examined William Tyndale on charges of heresy.

One such mission was to secure a religious and political relationship with the Lutheran Princes in Germany. While abroad Bell was made LL.D of some foreign university, in which his degree was incorporated at Oxford in 1531.

In 1540, Bell was a member of the committee of convocation which pronounced the marriage of Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves illegal.

Final years Bell retired to London where he was priest of the parish church in Clerkenwell, until his death.

An account of his funeral was recorded by Mr. Green, a historian of Worcestershire:

" Dr. Bell, sometime bishop of Worcester, was buried with due respect August 13, at Clerkenwell, with a sermon preached by Nicholas Harpsfield; he was put into his coffin, like a bishop, with the mitre and other pontificalibus; his funeral was illuminated with two white branches, two dozen staff torches, and four great tapers, [near the altar]" (Strype, Memorials, Vol. 3, p. 305)

"He gave by his will 2l. to the poor of Clerkenwell, 5l. to Stratford-upon-Avon, and some legacies to Jesus chantry in St. Paul's Cathedral, desiring that 'his soul might be prayed for.' He was also a benefactor to Balliol College, Oxford, and to Cambridge, but especially to the former, where he provided for the maintenance of two scholars born in the diocese of Worcester."

"Coote says of bishop Bell (English Civilians): That 'He died with the character of an eloquent preacher and advocate, a learned divine, and a man of integrity and beneficence.'"