Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall

The Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall (Chronicon Anglicanum) is an indispensable medieval history that brings to life centuries of English and European affairs through the eyes of a learned Cistercian monk. Ralph of Coggeshall, abbot of the Abbey of Coggeshall in Essex in the early 13th century, continued and expanded his community’s chronicle, documenting events from the Norman Conquest of 1066 into the tumultuous reign of King Henry III. Blending eyewitness testimony, careful compilation, and the monastic commitment to record-keeping, this chronicle offers a rare narrative of political intrigue, royal power struggles, and social upheaval in England and beyond. Ralph’s work captures the reigns of pivotal figures such as Richard I and King John, providing invaluable insights into their characters, decisions, and the forces that shaped medieval rule. More than a simple annal, Chronicon Anglicanum conveys the texture of medieval life and governance, making it a rich source for scholars and readers fascinated by English history, monastic authorship, and the shaping of the medieval world.

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Bishop John Lonsdale 1788-1867

Before 17th January 1788 [his father] John Lonsdale [aged 51] and [his mother] Elizabeth Steer were married.

On 17th January 1788 Bishop John Lonsdale was born to John Lonsdale [aged 51] and Elizabeth Steer. He was educated at Eton College [Map] and King's College, Cambridge University [Map].

In 1800 [his father] John Lonsdale [aged 63] died.

In November 1815 Bishop John Lonsdale [aged 27] and Sophia Bolland were married.

After November 1815 Bishop John Lonsdale [aged 27] was appointed Chaplain to Archbishop Charles Manners-Sutton [aged 60].

In 1822 Bishop John Lonsdale [aged 33] was given the Rectory of St John the Baptist Church, Mersham by Archbishop Charles Manners-Sutton [aged 66].

On 23rd February 1823 [his daughter] Fanny Catherine Lonsdale Baroness Beckett was born to Bishop John Lonsdale [aged 35] and [his wife] Sophia Bolland. She married 7th October 1845 Edmund Beckett 1st Baron Grimthorpe, son of Edmund Beckett aka Denison 4th Baronet and Maria Beverley Lady Beckett.

In 1828 Bishop John Lonsdale [aged 39] became Rector of St George's Church, Bloomsbury.

In 1839 Bishop John Lonsdale [aged 50] was appointed Principal of King's College, Cambridge University [Map].

In 1842 Bishop John Lonsdale [aged 53] was appointed Archdeacon of Middlesex.

In October 1843 Bishop John Lonsdale [aged 55] was elected Bishop of Lichfield.

On 3rd December 1843 Bishop John Lonsdale [aged 55] was consecrated Bishop of Lichfield.

On 7th October 1845 Edmund Beckett 1st Baron Grimthorpe [aged 29] and Fanny Catherine Lonsdale Baroness Beckett [aged 22] were married. She the daughter of Bishop John Lonsdale [aged 57] and Sophia Bolland.

In 1852 [his wife] Sophia Bolland died.

On 19th October 1867 Bishop John Lonsdale [aged 79] died at Eccleshall Castle, Staffordshire [Map] of a rupture of a blood-vessel in the brain. He was buried at Holy Trinity Church, Eccleshall [Map].