For many years I have been aware of a tradition among Whitchurch descendants, that their Whitchurch ancestor was “the first printer of the King James Version of the Bible”. We need to consider a variation on this theme. Over the years I have collected bits and pieces of information related to this story, but after a more considered study, I am beginning to get a clearer picture. The English printer who is being considered is Edward Whytchurch or Whitchurch, who lived about 1500 to 1561, primarily in London. He was not connected with the King James Version of the Bible (printing begun in 1611). He was most closely associated with the printing of the “Great Bible”. Pam Garrett, 2021.
“Edward Whitchurch or Whytchurch (died 1561), protestant publisher, was a substantial citizen of London in the middle of Henry VIII’s reign. His business was probably that of a grocer. He accepted with enthusiasm the doctrines of the protestant reformation. In 1537 he joined with his fellow citizen Richard Grafton in arranging for the distribution of printed copies of the Bible in English.”
from – Edward Whitchurch’s biography published in England’s Dictionary of National Biography.
Whitchurch and Grafton worked together for a number of years printing Bibles in English and other protestant literature. Their first printing efforts took place in France, but that shortly met with disapproval and they established their presses in England at the ‘House late of the Graye Freers’. That is where the Great Bible was first published in April 1539.
In 1538, the English clergy was directed to provide "one book of the bible of the largest volume in English, and the same set up in some convenient place within the said church that ye have care of, whereas your parishioners may most commodiously resort to the same and read it." This was the Great Bible, authorized by King Henry VIII, commissioned by Thomas Cromwell, prepared by Myles Coverdale, and printed by Whitchurch and Grafton. Although called the Great Bible because of its large size, it is known by several other names as well; Cromwell Bible, Whitchurch’s Bible, and the Chained Bible, because it was chained to the church lectern to prevent removal.
There are documents recognizing royal support for Edward Whitchurch’s printing efforts, but in 1543, following the fall of Thomas Cromwell, Whitchurch and Grafton, along with other printers, were committed to the Fleet prison for printing unlawful books. They remained for several weeks, but then returned to their printing efforts.
During Edward VI’s reign (1547-1553) Whitchurch was noted for a number of projects at the sign of the Sun on Fleet Street; including several further editions of the Great Bible, the Book of Common Prayer, primers for school children, and secular books on philosophy and medicine. The accession of Catholic Queen Mary in late 1553 again brought trouble for Edward Whitchurch, and he determined to leave England.
A man of wealth and influence, Edward Whitchurch, gave up much in England, before his flight to the continent, possibly to Germany or the Netherlands. Some of his personal story can be uncovered by looking at the history of Merton Priory and neighboring Growtes Manor.
As a part of his scheme to establish an English Church, King Henry VIII dissolved many of his country’s Catholic institutions, including Merton Priory which resided in the beautiful district of Morden*. The main priory building, a significant structure, was physically dismantled and the stones were used in the building of a nearby castle. In June of 1553 Edward Whitchurch had the opportunity to purchase Morden from King Edward VI, and he occupied a manor house, Growtes, on the extensive grounds. Sadly, he did not enjoy it for long.
An article of interest, ‘Growtes: The Home of a Rich Man in 1554’, was written by David Haunton, and published in the Merton History Society Bulletin of December 2009. Haunton introduces the article:
Edward Whitchurch sold the mansion house called ‘Growtes’, together with the lordship and manor of Morden and all his other lands, houses and rights in Morden, to the Garth family on 7 March 1554 . . for the sum of £460 (at least a million pounds today) . .
The primary purpose of Haunton’s article is to look at the inventory attached to the Bargain and Sale document, and “explore the taste of a rich man in the mid sixteenth century”. To that end, the article is very interesting. But, for purposes here, Haunton’s work is helpful in giving some clues to Edward Whitchurch’s wives and children. Evidence is scant, but it suggests that Edward Whitchurch was married two or three times. His first wife remains unclear. He may have had a wife named Agnes, who could have been the first wife, but was more likely to be second. Haunton tells us Edward Whitchurch was, “survived by four adult children, presumably of his first marriage; Edward, Helen, Elizabeth and a third daughter whose name is unknown.”
About the year 1556, during his exile on the continent, Edward Whitchurch was married to Margaret, widow of the “tragic” Archbishop Thomas Cranmer. Cranmer was in long service to England’s King Henry VIII. During an early diplomatic mission on the continent Cranmer befriended Andreas Osiander, “leading architect of Nuremberg’s reformation movement”. In short order, Thomas Cranmer had married Margaret, the niece of Osiander’s wife. Margaret’s maiden name is not known. Edward Whitchurch and Thomas Cranmer worked on a number of publishing projects together, and Whitchurch was known to be “Cranmer’s favorite printer”. After Cranmer’s murder on the 21st of March 1556, the Whitchurch family made an effort to shield and protect his widow and children.
Not long after Elizabeth came to England’s throne, 1558, Whitchurch returned to his English presses and completed several more projects before his death. Evidence suggests that he is the “Maister Wychurch”, buried on the 1st of December 1561, at Camberwell in South London.
It is a challenge for today’s researchers to draw a connection between Edward Whitchurch, the sixteenth century English printer, and Thomas Whitchurch who appears in late eighteenth century America, residing in New York. Evidence for both men remains sparse. Whitchurch family researchers have worked toward drawing a connection but no clear picture has emerged. There are a few clues of interest. Hopefully future work will reveal more.
*Today Morden is part of busy south London. Morden Hall Park, operated by the National Trust, is one hundred and twenty-five acres of parkland with the River Wandle running through it. Morden Hall, at the park’s center, was built by the Garth family in the 1770s. Morden’s Tudor past, represented by Merton Priory, is the subject of an interesting archaeological study.
Further Reading:
∙ Edward Whitchurch; Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900; Sidney Lee article.
∙ Edward Whitchurch; Alec Ryrie, 2008; published in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
∙ An Auncient Zelous Gospeller . . Desirous to Do Any Thing to Common Good: Edward Whitchurch and the Reformist Cause in Marian and Elizabethan England; Scott C Lucas; 2016.
∙ A Century of the English Book Trade: Short Notices of All Printers; E Gordon Duff; Cambridge, 2011.
∙ Growtes: The Home of a Rich Man in 1554; David Haunton; published by Merton Historical Society, Bulletin 172, December 2009. Available online at the Merton Historical Society website.
∙ Merton Historical Society website. Excellent!
∙ Merton Priory - History Unearthed; sixteen minute documentary film on UTube. Also Excellent!
About the photo:
Title page from The Byble in English (The Great Bible), prynted by Richard Grafton and Edward Whitchurch, 1539; located through wikimedia commons.
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