Sheldon, Gilbert

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Sheldon, Gilbert (1598–1677). Archbishop of Canterbury (1663–77). A graduate of Trinity College, Oxford, Sheldon was fellow, then warden (1626), of All Souls. Spiritual adviser to Charles I in the Civil War, he was ejected from All Souls (1648) and briefly imprisoned. He returned in 1659 and at the Restoration became bishop of London (1660). A keen protagonist of uniformity, he succeeded Juxon as archbishop (1663) and arranged with Clarendon to end separate taxation for the clergy (1664). As chancellor of Oxford (1667–9), he had the Sheldonian theatre built at his own expense with Wren as architect. A man of deep spirituality, he was equally critical of dissent and Charles II's suspected popery.

Revd Dr William M. Marshall

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