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Thomas
Langley was born in 1363 in Middleton. He was the third son of
Alice and William. His great Uncle William was the Rector of
St. Leonard's
Parish Church, Middleton. He attended St Mary’s Abbey at
Thetford from 1375 until 1381.
In 1385 he was appointed Rector of Radcliffe. Langley was then
appointed Dean of York; however this appointment was blocked by
Pope Boniface IX due to Langley’s part in the deposition and
murder of King Richard II.
In October 1404 Thomas Langley was elected Bishop of London;
however the new Pope, Innocent VII, refused to allow his
installation.
King Henry IV appointed Langley as his Lord Chancellor on 2nd
March 1405. |
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Following the unsuccessful rebellion led in large part by
Archbishop Richard le Scrope of York and his subsequent death,
Langley was appointed as Archbishop, yet again, this appointment
was blocked by the Pope. |
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Langley was successfully installed as Bishop of Durham at Saint
Paul’s Cathedral in 1406.
In 1412 Thomas Langley returned to Middleton after an absence of
27 years. It was during this time that the rebuilding of the
Norman parish church took place. He founded the Chantry
school of Saint Cuthbert in the Chapel of Our Lady and Saint
Cuthbert for the education local children.
The
parish church was re-consecrated and rededicated to Saint
Leonard. He also founded a school related to the church
(Middleton Grammar School). |
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From 1406 to his semi-retirement in 1430, he spent 5,670 days in
the service of the crown. During the reign of Henry V, he spent
much of his time in the service of the crown - a politician
first and churchman second.
He returned to
Middleton for the last time in 1424. From 1430 until his death
on 20th November 1437, he attended to his diocese, something he
had, by his own admission, neglected. He continued with various
diplomatic work when called upon by the government.
Cardinal Thomas Langley is buried in the
Galilee Chapel in
Durham Cathedral. His tomb
blocks the Great
West Door of the cathedral. |
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