Nicholas Lechmere (1700/1–1770)
was an English
priest
A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particu ...
in the 18th century. He was
Archdeacon of Winchester briefly, in 1749–50.
Life
He was the son of Richard Lechmere and matriculated at
Wadham College, Oxford
Wadham College () is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. It is located in the centre of Oxford, at the intersection of Broad Street and Parks Road.
Wadham College was founded in 1610 by Dorothy W ...
in 1719. He graduated B.A. in 1723, and M.A. in 1725 from
Merton College
Merton College (in full: The House or College of Scholars of Merton in the University of Oxford) is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its foundation can be traced back to the 1260s when Walter de Merton, ch ...
.
According to ''Hanley and the House of Lechmere'', his father Richard was the son of Nicholas Lechmere, and resided at Sutton Hall in London. This Nicholas Lechmere was son of Thomas Lechmere, brother of
Nicholas Lechmere (1613–1701) the judge, as recorded in a manuscript by the judge. The same source suggests that Major Richard Lechmere, of
Newbourne Hall, who was involved in Whig politics around 1714, was from this branch of the family, being another son of Thomas. Five members of the Lechmere family were Members of Parliament in the 18th century.
In his early clerical career, Nicholas Lechmere was Rector of
Warnford in Hampshire from 1733, jointly for two years with
Easington, Oxfordshire. He retained the Warnford living for life.
Lechmere was made Archdeacon of Winchester in 1749.
His appointment by
Benjamin Hoadly
Benjamin Hoadly (14 November 1676 – 17 April 1761) was an English clergyman, who was successively Bishop of Bangor, of Hereford, of Salisbury, and finally of Winchester. He is best known as the initiator of the Bangorian Controversy.
Li ...
was because of his family connection with the circle of
Richard Steele
Sir Richard Steele (bap. 12 March 1672 – 1 September 1729) was an Anglo-Irish writer, playwright, and politician, remembered as co-founder, with his friend Joseph Addison, of the magazine ''The Spectator''.
Early life
Steele was born in Du ...
, to which Hoadly had belonged.
Nicholas Lechmere (1675–1727), son of Edmund Lechmere of Hanley Castle, had been one of the small group, with Hoadly and others, who had scrutinised Steele's 1713 Whig pamphlet ''The Crisis'' on the
Hanoverian Succession before its publication.
In 1750 Lechmere resigned as Archdeacon, making way for
Robert Lowth
Robert Lowth ( ; 27 November 1710 – 3 November 1787) was a Bishop of the Church of England, Oxford Professor of Poetry and the author of one of the most influential
textbooks of English grammar.
Life
Lowth was born in Hampshire, England, G ...
. Earlier in the year he was given the 9th
prebend
A prebendary is a member of the Roman Catholic or Anglican clergy, a form of canon with a role in the administration of a cathedral or collegiate church. When attending services, prebendaries sit in particular seats, usually at the back of the ...
in
Winchester Cathedral, which he retained.
He died in 1770 and was buried in the north aisle of the nave of the cathedral.
Family
Lechmere married in 1741 Mary van Ryssen.
Notes
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lechmere, Nicholas
People from London
1770 deaths
Archdeacons of Winchester (ancient)
Alumni of Wadham College, Oxford
Year of birth uncertain