Robert Woodlark (also spelled Wodelarke) was an English academic and priest. He was the
Provost of
King's College, Cambridge
King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Formally The King's College of Our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge, the college lies beside the River Cam and faces out onto King's Parade in the centre of the city ...
, and the founder of
St Catharine's College, Cambridge
St Catharine's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1473 as Katharine Hall, it adopted its current name in 1860. The college is nicknamed "Catz". The college is located in the historic city-centre of Camb ...
. He was also a professor of
sacred theology
Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing the s ...
at the
University
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, t ...
.
He was the son of Richard Woodlark of
Wakerley
Wakerley is a linear village and civil parish in the county of Northamptonshire, England.
Forming part of North Northamptonshire, Wakerley is close to, and south of, the River Welland that forms the boundary with Rutland; its nearest neighbour, ...
, Northamptonshire. Robert Woodlark was one of the founding Fellows of King's College in 1441. He was appointed Provost of King's in 1452, eventually being succeeded in 1479, by Walter Field.
He was surveyor of
King's College Chapel
King's College Chapel is the chapel of King's College in the University of Cambridge. It is considered one of the finest examples of late Perpendicular Gothic English architecture and features the world's largest fan vault. The Chapel was bui ...
during its building and master of the works there, 1452-5.
While Provost of King's, Woodlark began the preparations for the foundation of a new college, which he established in 1473.
He drew up the original statutes for the governance of the college and obtained a charter from Edward IV, 16 August 1475. His vision for the college was one populated by a small society of priests.
Indeed, Woodlark's original statutes expressly excluded the teaching of medicine or law. Woodlark did not contemplate undergraduates at the college, instead desiring a small community of senior scholars of
theology
Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing the ...
and
philosophy
Philosophy (from , ) is the systematized study of general and fundamental questions, such as those about existence, reason, knowledge, values, mind, and language. Such questions are often posed as problems to be studied or resolved. Some ...
.
Woodlark served as
Chancellor of the University of Cambridge from 1459 to 1460, and again from 1462 to 1463.
Woodlark never served as
Master
Master or masters may refer to:
Ranks or titles
* Ascended master, a term used in the Theosophical religious tradition to refer to spiritually enlightened beings who in past incarnations were ordinary humans
*Grandmaster (chess), National Master ...
of St Catharine's, instead appointing
Richard Roche as the college's first true master in 1475.
References
Bibliography
*
* Jones, William Henry Samuel, "A History of St. Catharine's College, Cambridge: Once Catharine Hall, Cambridge"
Cambridge University Press
Cambridge University Press is the university press of the University of Cambridge. Granted letters patent by Henry VIII of England, King Henry VIII in 1534, it is the oldest university press
A university press is an academic publishing hou ...
(Cambridge, 1936/2010)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Woodlark, Robert
15th-century births
15th-century deaths
Chancellors of the University of Cambridge
Masters of St Catharine's College, Cambridge
Provosts of King's College, Cambridge
Founders of English schools and colleges
People from North Northamptonshire
Year of birth unknown
Year of death unknown