Richard Vaughan
A portrait of Richard Vaughan, with that charming old-timey font: ‘RICARDVS VAVGHANVS’
Vaughan was born in Wales circa 1550, but the precise date is unknown. He died in London in 1607.
He was educated at St John's College, Cambridge, where he graduated BA in 1574 and MA in 1577. After he earned Doctor of Divinity in 1589, he became chaplain to John Aylmer (Bishop of London from 1577 - 94). Vaughan also assisted William Morgan, Bishop of Llandaff and St Asaph, in the first version of the translation of the Bible into Welsh from Greek and Hebrew, published in 1588.
Portrait of William Morgan
From 1578 to 1580, Vaughan was rector of Chipping Ongar. He became Bishop of Bangor in 1592 and, five years later, Bishop of Chester. King James VI promoted him to Bishopric of London on December 8, 1604. His enthronement took place on December 26 of the same year. Enthronements are most popular in religious settings, as a chair is seen as the symbol of the authority to teach. Therefore, in Christianity, bishops of almost all denominations have a ceremony of enthronement as part of their inauguration.
Vaughan’s views were Calvinist. Calvinism is a major branch of Protestantism that follows the theological tradition and forms of Christian practise set down by John Calvin and other reformation era theologians. As Bishop of London, Vaughan was generally sympathetic to moderate Puritan clergy but did take action in suspending Stephen Egerton - an English Priest and leading Puritan preacher of his time. Vaughan’s role as Bishop of London proved to be a short one; he died on March 30, 1607.
But his life was rich and varied. Vaughan had married Jane Bewers, on June 25, 1581, at Great Dunmow, Essex. The lucky couple had nine children! Which brought forth some notable descendants:
Vaughan is a ninth-great-grandfather of singer/actress Judy Garland (1922-1969).
A publicity shot of Judy Garland in the Wizard of Oz (1939)
Vaughan’s great-grandson, Henry Batte, emigrated to Prince George County, Virginia. Batte's great-great-grandson, Richard Baugh, was the great-great-grandfather of Garland's father, Frank Gumm (1886-1935).
Vaughan himself was a ninth-great-grandson of King Edward I of England through his daughter Eleanor.
Many thanks to Lee Copeland – front of house, events and tour guide volunteer - for providing such thorough research.