Cardinal Wolsey: possibly born 1473, died 1530.

Thomas Wolsey was the son of Robert Wolsey, an Ipswich butcher, and his wife Joan (née Daundy).  Wolsey was born near the parish church of St Nicholas in the centre of Ipswich.  Accounts vary, both as to the year of Wolsey’s birthday and the location of the birthplace, the latter probably being either an inn in the parish of St Mary Elm, (possibly the Black Horse Inn?) or a butcher’s shop, possibly in St Nicholas Church Lane.  

Later this year, and into next, Ipswich will be celebrating the life and achievements of the great statesman.  Over a period of 550 days (March 2023 to September 2024), 550 years after his birth a wide variety of events will take place.  During his life Wolsey achieved phenomenal social progress, from being a lowly Ipswich schoolboy to holding one of the highest offices of State, the most powerful Minister in Tudor England, a position second only to the King himself.  The proposed series of events will be an opportunity to acknowledge Wolsey’s outstanding progress, promote the significance of the town over the centuries, dispel the current negativity and encourage a sense of pride.

A committee led by Terry Hunt with the assistance of Katherine Cockshaw have made an application to the Heritage Lottery Fund for just under a quarter of a million pounds.  If successful this will enable numerous events to take place, particularly in schools, but also in community and public halls across Ipswich, spreading the knowledge of Wolsey and his success from those humble beginnings to becoming Henry VIII’s Chancellor.

Over the past century events have included pageants, stage plays, church services and exhibitions.  The latest proposals could include, depending on Lottery funding, creating a ‘Tudor Garden’ at the Stoke Bridge entrance to the Waterfront, and an exhibition of his life, and of Tudor Ipswich, possibly in St Peter’s Church.  St Peter’s is the church Wolsey sequestered as his college chapel. The parishioners, and daily services, were moved to St Mary Key.       (continues

Wolsey started a college in the town that historians believe could have rivalled the colleges of Oxford if the cardinal had not fallen from power.  Scholars have pored over, and written volumes on Wolsey’s role in Henry VIII's divorce and of his negotiations with the Pope in the late 1520s - but his early life in Ipswich is not so well known and the anniversary celebrations starting in March next year are aimed at shining a light on his whole life.  

Terry Hunt said: "Wolsey’s story has so much importance, not just for Ipswich but to the country as a whole and the world beyond.  This project will unearth his story which is about ambition, aspiration, the importance of education and the ability of anyone to succeed if they are given the right opportunities.  An important aspect is that Wolsey was proud of his roots in Ipswich and this initiative can do a great deal for restoring civic pride.”

John Norman

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