A history of Shrewsbury, Volume 2 - Deans of St. Chads

Life History

Other facts

Notes

• It's probably presumptuous to assume that Philip actually had a familial link with any of the Repingtons. His first clerical position was canon at Repton Abbey and this may be where his given surname originates.
  His birth date puts him in the same generation as Thomas Repington, son of Sir Richard Repington, but the peerage records have a major anomoly for the Repingtons here where Richard is detailed as having lived in both the 12th and 14th centuries. With this inherent inaccuracy in the peerage records and for sake of completeness Philip is therefore shown as being another son of Richard ... awaiting for further evidence to prove whether he is actually related or not.
  What is definitely of signifiance though is that the Vatican Heraldic society crest for Philip shows on one side the same 'Gules, a fess indented ermine between six billets argent' as for the peerage Repington family.
  [The 'Two lions passant guardant Or' on the lower left quadrant are the "Lions of England" given by the King as marks of favour, this associated with the symbol in the upper left quadrant showing 'the Blessed Virgin Mary ducally crowned seated on a throne issuant from the chief, on her dexter arm the infant Jesus and holding in her sinister hand a sceptre, all gold' are heraldic symbols associated with Lincoln Cathedral - a similar image can be seen in a leaded window of the Chapter House (Bishops meeting room).]
• In addition to the family tree showing an assumed parentage, Philip is also shown as having children.
  Being a Catholic priest this would normally be expected to preclude him being married and hence having any family.
  But there is some tenuous evidence to show that he had at least two sons:- in a letter between Philip and Pope Boniface there's a reference to 'my beloved son Ralph Repynton' - this could be interpreted as just a religious reference, but with Philip being born around 1345 and Ralph around 1364 this could indeed by a true fact.
  Philip wasn't ordained until 1369 so it could be that he was married and had a family before becoming a priest.
  In another document in 1402 Ralph is shown as having a brother John ... and then in another document two years earlier John Repynton is detailed as having been an Archer, fighting in Scotland ... alongside a Hugh Repyngton.
  Far more tenuous is any proven familial link to priest of Lichfield William Repyngton, but William was living at the same time as the other siblings in the same area of the country and like Philip and Ralph was a priest.
  Therefore combining all these details together the tree shows Philip as having four sons - Ralph, John, Hugh and William ... awaiting further evidence to prove or disprove any of this.
• Wikipedia - Philip Repyngdon
  Philip Repyngdon (or Repington, or Repyndon) DD, CRSA (c.1345–1424) was a bishop and cardinal.
  It is believed Repyngdon was born in Wales in around 1345. He became an Augustinian canon, first at Repton Abbey, then at Leicester Abbey where he was ordained to the priesthood on 26 May 1369. He was educated at Broadgates Hall, Oxford, graduating with a Doctorate of Divinity in 1382.
  A man of some learning, Repyngdon came to the front as a defender of the doctrines taught by John Wycliffe; for this he was suspended and afterwards excommunicated, but in a short time he was pardoned and restored by Archbishop William Courtenay, and he appears to have completely abandoned his unorthodox opinions.
  In 1394, Repyngdon was made abbot of the abbey of Saint Mary de Pratis at Leicester, and after the accession of Henry IV to the English throne in 1399 he became chaplain and confessor to this king, being described as ''clericus specialissimus domini regis Henrici''.
  On 19 November 1404, Repyngdon was chosen bishop of Lincoln, and was consecrated on 29 March 1405. In 1408, Pope Gregory XII created him a cardinal, however, it was not recognised in England, and the creation was revoked in 1409. He resigned his bishopric on 20 November 1419. Some of Repyngdon's sermons are in manuscript at Oxford and at Cambridge.
  In 1405, Repyngdon attempted to promote a pilgrimage site at Yarborough devoted to the Blessed Sacrament, after the church there was destroyed by fire. The pyx which contained the consecrated Host was the only thing to survive the fire, and the bishop attempted to establish a cult centre there, but it failed.
• Vatican Heraldry
  http://www.araldicavaticana.com/repinton_filippo__philippus_rep.htm
  Repinton Filippo - Philippus Repington
  REPINTON FILIPPO (+1434 - creato da Gregorio XII nel 1408 sett. 19); Vescovo di Lincoln; Nereo ed Achilleo, 1408 sett. 19; rifiutò la porpora.
• Lincoln Record Society Volume 57 - THE REGISTER OF BISHOP PHILIP REPINGDON - 1395.
  November 13th, Rome. Papal dispensation to Ralph Repingdon, rector of Castor, who aheady holds benefices in the dioceses of Lincoln, Lichfield, Chichester and St. David's, of which the total value does not exceed 200 marks, to hold additional benefices or offices in metropohtan, cathedral or collegiate churches, provided that where there is cure of souls it is not neglected.
• Repyngdon pluralitas. Bonifacius episcopus servus servorum dei dilecto filio Radulpho Repynton' rectori parochialis ecclesie de Castr' Lincoln diocesis salutem et apostolicam benediccionem.
  Vite ac morum honestas aliaque laudabilia probitatis et virtutum merita super quibus apud nos fidedigno commendaris testimonio nos inducunt ut te favoribus apostolicis et graciis prosequamur.
  Volentes itaque premissorum meritorum tuorum intuitu necnon consideracione carissimi in Christo filii nostri Ricardi Regis Anglie illustris pro te dilecto familiari suo nobis super hoc humiliter supphcantis favore gracie prosequi specialis tecum qui parochialem ecclesiam de Castr' Lincoln' diocesis ac liberam capellam sancti Michaelis suam infra castrum dicti Regis in Salopia necnon prebendam de Weford'
  in ecclesia cathedrali Lich' et prebendam de Wartlyng Newenfeld' et Hoo in libera capella Regis de Hastyng Cicestren' diocesis ac aliam prebendam in ecclesia cathedrali Meneven'
  quorum omnium fructus redditus et proventus ducentarum marcharum sterlingorum secundum communem estimaccionem valorem annuum ut asseris non excedunt obtines ac unum aliud beneficium ecclesiasticum eciam si dignitas personatus vel officium in metropolitano cathedrali vel collegiata et dignitas ipsa in metropolitano
  vel cathedrali maior post pontificalem aut in collegiatis ecclesiis predictis principalis fuerit si tibi alias canonice canonice conferatur vel assumaris ad illud recipere et una cum dicta parochiali ecclesia licite retinere necnon ecclesiam et beneficium huiusmodi simil vel successive tociens quociens tibi placuerit simpliciter vel ex causa permutacionis dimittere et loco dimissi vel dimissorum aliud vel aha simile vel dissimile aut similia vel dissimilia beneficium seu beneficia ecclesiasticum seu ecclesiastica duo tantum incompatibilia recipere et retinere libera et licite valeas generalis consilii et quibuscumque aliis constitucionibus apostolicis necnon statutis et consuetudinibus ecclesiarum in quibus huiusmodi beneficia forsan fuerint contrariis iuramento confirmacione apostolica vel quacumque firmitate alia roboratis nequaque obstantibus auctoritate apostolica de speciali gracia tenore presencium dispensamus.
  Proviso quod parochialem ecclesiam ac beneficia huiusmodi debitis non fraudentur obsequiis et animarum cura in eis quibus ilia imminet nullatinus necgligatur.
  Nulli ergo omnino hominum liceat hanc paginam nostre dispensacionis et voluntatis infringere vel ei ausu temerario contraire.
  Si quis autem hoc attemptare presumpserit indignacionem omnipotentis dei et beatorum Petri et Pauli apostolorum eius se noverit incursurum. Dat' Rome apud sanctum Petrum idus Novembris Pontificatus nostri anno septimo.
• Translation of the above Latin:-
  Repyngton plurality. Boniface, bishop, servant of the servants of God, my beloved son Ralph Repynton' the rector of the parish church of Castor the diocese of Lincoln, greeting and apostolic blessing.
  Of life and purity of manners, and other laudable honesty and virtues on which we commend to the testimony credible, we introduce to you the grace and favor of the apostolic further.
  Wishing, therefore, as well as consideration of the foregoing, in consideration of the merits of your beloved son in Christ, King Richard I of England, famous for his beloved friend who was with us on this special treat with grace humbly supphcantis favor of parochial church CastorLincoln diocese and the free chapel of St. Michael within his castle of King in Shrewsbury and prebend of Weford'
  in the church of Lichfield, the cathedral', and the prebend of Wartlyng Newenfeld' Hoo and in the king's free chapel of Hastings from the Chichester diocese and another prebend in the cathedral church of St'
  of all of which is the fruit of an annual value of the rents and income of two hundred marks sterling, according to the common estimaccionem do not exceed, as you assert and hold one another even if the dignity of the parsonage or ecclesiastical benefice or office in the metropolitan cathedral itself in the collegiate and the dignity of metropolitan the cathedral or collegiate churches of the aforesaid or in the papal mayor after the principal has been at other times if you have to receive it canonically canonically is to be conferred or taken up into the church of the parish, and together with the sayings of the Church and the right to retain the benefit of this kind, as well as similar or successively taken simply, or as often as it shall seem good to thee, and let them go, for the reason permutations of or other similar or dissimilar to any other place of their release, or are dismissed, or similar or dissimilar, or benefit, or the profits of the church, only the two are incompatible, and legally able to receive and to retain independent general counsel and other apostolic constitutions and statutes and customs of the churches in which such benefits may be contrary to the oath Notwithstanding anything to the confirmation of the apostolic apostolic authority, or anything of other firmness of strength by no means out of the tenor of these presents by the grace of a special dispensation.
  Provided that the parish church and the benefits of such debts not defrauded services and the care of souls in which she threatens necgligatur nowise.
  No one, therefore, is it permitted to infringe this page of our dispensation and of the will or with rash boldness contravene it.
  And if any one shall presume to attempt this, his wrath of almighty God and of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul that he will incur. Given at Rome, at St. Peter the seventh day before the Ides of November in the year of Our Pontificate.
• The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church - Salvador Miranda.
  Philip Repington (?-1424)
  Birth. (No date or place found), diocese of Lincoln, England. His last name is also listed as Repyngdon and Repingdon.
  Education. Studied at Oxford University; obtained a doctorate in theology. Joined the Canons Regular of Saint Augustine; professed at the abbey of St. Mary de Pré, Leicester.
  Priesthood. Ordained (no further information found). Professor of theology at Oxford University. He expressed his support for Oxford Theologian John Wycliffe's rejection of transubstantiation; for that, Canon Repington was invited to a disputation with Oxford doctors in theology on June 7 1382 and was duly suspended from preaching by the chancellor of the university; he was formally excommunication by Archbishop William Courtenay of Canterbury; he soon abjured his heresy before the primate on the following October 23 and at Oxford University in November; he took special care to extinguish Wycliffe's heresies wherever he found them. Canon of the abbey of Leicester; one of the four member council of the abbot, 1389; and later, in 1394, became abbot of Leicester. Elected chancellor of Oxford University in 1397; reelected in 1400; occupied the post until 1402. A friend of King Henry IV of England, he was named by the monarch one of the royal chaplains and his confessor. The king, using his conge d'elire, named him bishop.
  Episcopate. Elected bishop of Lincoln, November 19, 1404. Consecrated, March 29,1405, Canterbury, by Thomas Arundel, archbishop of Canterbury.
  Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of September 19, 1408 with the title of Ss. Nereo ed Achilleo. In 1412, the canons of Leicester abbey obtained a royal licence permitting them to obtain from the pope exemption from the bishop of Lincoln's jurisdiction, so long as Cardinal Repingdon should be bishop; such exemption, if ever obtained, was nullified in the following year, when the cardinal obtained from the pope a declaration that Leicester abbey should be fully subject to him and his successors. Did not participated in the conclave of 1417, which elected Pope Martin V. Resigned his see on October 10, 1419; the pope accepted his resignation on February 1, 1420; he resumed his duties as one of the Augustinian Canons. He was a renowned author of ecclesiastical works.
  Death. 1424. His request to lie in his old abbey of St. Mary de Pré was not granted. Buried in the cathedral of Lincoln, near the tomb of one of his predecessors, Bishop Robert Grosseteste. He left generous bequests to the library of Oxford University.
• Wikisource - Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)/Philip Repington - Edwin Burton.
  Philip Repington
  (Also Repyngdon).
  Cardinal-priest of the title of SS. Nereus and Achilleus, Bishop of Lincoln (1404-1419); died early in 1424. The place and date of his birth are uncertain, but he was educated at Broadgates Hall, Oxford, and became an Augustinian canon of St. Mary de Pre, Leicester. In his early life he was infected with Wyclifism, and was suspended at the Council of Blackfriars, 12 June, 1382, being excommunicated at Canterbury on 1 July. Recanting his heretical views, he was restored to the communion of the Church during the autumn of the same year. In 1394 he became abbot of his monastery, and was Chancellor of the University of Oxford for the years 1397, 1400, 1401 and 1402. On the accession of Henry IV he became confessor and chaplain to the king, with whom he lived in great intimacy, and on 19 Nov., 1404, he was appointed Bishop Of Lincoln by papal provision, being consecrated on 29 March following. Pope Gregory XII created him a cardinal in Sept., 1408, but as the Council of Pisa on 5 June, 1409, deposed Gregory and annulled all his acts since May, 1408, Repington's cardinate was invalidated until the Council of Constance, when he was reinstated. In 1419 Cardinal Repington resigned his bishopric, probably for court reasons, and this resignation was accepted by the pope on 21 November. The date of his death is unknown, but it occurred before 1 August, 1424, when his will was proved. His "Sermons on the Gospels" are extant in several manuscripts in Oxford, Cambridge, and British Museum.
• A History of the County of Oxford: Volume 3: The University of Oxford
  CHANCELLORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
  1400–3.Philip Repingdon (Repyngton).
• Inscription of Philip's tomb:-
  Marmorea in tumba, simplex sine felle columba.
  Repington natus, jacet hic Philippus humatus, Flos, adamas cleri, pastor gregis ac preco veri; Vivat ut in coelis, quem poscat quisque fidelis.
  Translated:-
  On the tomb of marble, simple dove without gall.
  Repington was born, Philip was buried here lies, The flower, a diamond of the clergy, and the prayers of the true shepherd of the flock; Long live to be in the heavens, whom he asks for each of the faithful.