Nicholas Heath

Nicholas Heath: The Last Catholic Archbishop of York

Nicholas Heath (c. 1501–1578) holds the distinction of being the final Roman Catholic Archbishop of York and served as Lord Chancellor of England. His life and career represent a pivotal period of religious and political transition in England.

Life and Historical Context

Born in London, Heath pursued his education at Oxford and Cambridge, earning degrees in theology. His early career saw him engage with the Lutheran princes of Germany, suggesting an initial openness to reform. However, his subsequent career became firmly aligned with Roman Catholicism. He served as bishop of Rochester and then Worcester, navigating the complex religious landscape of Henry VIII's reign. Heath's Catholicism was described as less rigid than some of his contemporaries, showing an awareness of national sentiment and the necessity of unity in matters of faith. He appears to have carried out earlier reforms and accepted modifications to the first Book of Common Prayer.

Key Turning Points and Contributions

Heath's definitive break with the English Reformation occurred over the 1550 ordinal, a rejection that led to his imprisonment and deprivation of his bishopric in 1551. Following Mary I's accession, he was released, restored, and appointed President of the Council of Wales and the Marches. In 1555, he was promoted to the Archbishopric of York, an office he sought to enrich, notably by building York House on the Strand. After the death of Stephen Gardiner, he was appointed Lord Chancellor, likely on the recommendation of Cardinal Reginald Pole, with whom he shared a dislike for the Spanish faction in England. Unlike Pole, Heath seemed averse to the harsher aspects of Mary's reign, and no Protestants were burned in his diocese.

Later Years and Legacy

Upon Mary's death, Heath immediately proclaimed Elizabeth I. He held that national authority, represented by parliament, could determine succession. Although not reappointed Lord Chancellor, he remained on the privy council for a period. In 1559, he assisted the government in arranging the Westminster Conference, attempting to bridge the gap between Catholics and the emerging Elizabethan settlement. His refusal to crown Elizabeth, due to her objection to the elevation of the Host during the coronation service, underscored his conviction that ecclesiastical doctrine could not be altered by national authority alone. He steadily resisted Elizabeth's acts of supremacy and uniformity, having been convinced by events that the claims of the papacy and the Roman Catholic Church were valid. Consequently, he was deprived of his archbishopric in 1559. Heath remained loyal to Elizabeth and lived out the remaining nineteen years of his life in peace at his house in Chobham, Surrey, never attending public worship but sometimes hearing Mass privately. Queen Elizabeth I visited him on more than one occasion before his death in late 1578.