George Montgomery (bishop)

Arms of Montgomerie: Azure, three fleurs-de-lys or

Composite arms of George Montgomery, as shown on the monumental brass mural monument in Washfield Church, Devon, erected by him in memory of his mother-in-law Alice Fry (d.1605). These combine the arms (in an un-heraldic manner) of Montgomery and of Eglinton, usually quartered by the Montgomery family, together with a quasi-heraldic element of lance and sword in saltire.^[1] The composite arms might therefore be blazoned as follows: Party per chevron azure and gules, a lance and sword in saltire points uppermost between three fleurs-de-lys or (Montgomery) in base three annulets or stoned azure (Eglinton)

The Rt Rev. Dr George Montgomery (1562–1621) (alias Montgomerie^[2]) was a Scottish protestant cleric, promoted by King James VI and I to various Irish bishoprics. He held the offices of Rector of Chedzoy, Somerset; Dean of Norwich (1603); Bishop of Raphoe, Bishop of Clogher, Bishop of Derry (1605); Bishop of Meath (1610).

Life

He was born in North Ayrshire, the younger son of Adam Montgomery, 5th Laird of Braidstane, and brother of The 1st Viscount Montgomery, who used his influence on George's behalf. Their mother was a Montgomery cousin.^[3][4] After James I had made him Dean of Norwich in 1603,^[5] he was appointed the first Protestant Bishop of Raphoe, in 1605.^[6] There he began the construction of The Cathedral Church of St. Eunan.^[7] At the same time he was made Bishop of Clogher and Bishop of Derry; and in 1607 lobbied Lord Salisbury for the establishment of free schools in Ulster.^[8]

In 1608 when O'Doherty's Rebellion broke out, the settlement of Derry was captured and burnt by the rebels led by Sir Cahir O'Doherty. Although Montgomery and O'Doherty had been on good terms before the rising, the rebels burnt the Bishop's house and his library of two thousand books because of their deemed heretical content. The Bishop's wife and sister were taken as hostages by the rebels, but were eventually freed by Crown forces.

From 1609 he assisted in the plantation of Scots in western Ulster.^[9]

From 1610 he was Bishop of Meath, retaining the Norwich deanery to 1614, and the Raphoe bishopric for the rest of his life. Montgomery was also rector of Chedzoy.^[10]

After his death in London in 1620/21 his body was taken to Ireland and buried at Ardbraccan church.^[11]

Marriage & progeny

He married twice:

Arms of George Montgomery impaling Steyning, 1605 monumental brass, Washfield Church, Devon. The crest of Montgomery is shown on a helm above: A dexter hand couped holding a fleur-de-lys

Monumental brass mural monument in Washfield Church, Devon, erected by Montgomery in memory of his mother-in-law Alice Fry (d.1605). His arms are shown on the escutcheon at sinister, impaling Steyning: Argent, a bat displayed sable

• Firstly to Susan Steyning (d.1614), the eldest daughter of Phillip Steyning (1509-1589), lord of the manor of Holnicote in Somerset,^[12] by his wife Alice Fry (1533-1605), a daughter of William Fry, lord of the manor of Yarty in Devon.^[13] Montgomery erected a monumental brass tablet in Washfield Church in Devon to his mother-in-law Alice Fry, on which are engraved his arms impaling Steyning. It comprises a lengthy rhyming verse on the lady's good moral character, composed by Montgomery.^[14] Susan Steyning's younger sister Margaret Steyning married John Willoughby of Payhembury in Devon, with whom Montgomery frequently corresponded. The correspondence was preserved by Willoughby's grand-daughter Mary Willoughby, the wife of George Trevelyan lord of the manor of Nettlecombe in Somerset, which collection is now known as the Trevelyan Papers. These provide an important source for the biography of Montgomery. By his wife Susan Steyning he had progeny as follows:
  • Jane Montgomery, only daughter, who in 1618 married Nicholas St Lawrence, 11th Baron Howth, which family her father described as "a noble house, the best of the Pale of Ireland".^[15] Montgomery provided her with a dowry of £3000, a considerable sum at the time.
• Secondly he married Elizabeth Brabazon, daughter of Edward Brabazon, 1st Baron Ardee and sister of William Brabazon, 1st Earl of Meath.

Character

He was praised in his time as "no lazy bishop nor idle patriot" and was called the "darling and chief advocate of the Church of Ireland". He was also noted for his loyalty to his brother Lord Montgomery, his "best and closest friend".

References

Further reading

• Henry A. Jefferies, George Montgomery, first Protestant Bishop of Clogher (1605-1621). Clogher Record: Journal of the Clogher Historical Society, 16:3 (1999), 127-29. ISSN 0412-8079.