Robert Woodlark (also spelled Wodelarke) was an English academic and priest. He was the

Provost Provost may refer to: Officials Ecclesiastic * Provost (religion), a high-ranking church official * Prince-provost, a high-ranking church official Government * Provost (civil), an officer of local government, including the equivalent ...

King's College, Cambridge King's College, formally The King's College of Our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge, is a List of colleges of the University of Cambridge, constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college lies beside the River Cam and faces ...

, and the founder of

St Catharine's College, Cambridge St Catharine's College is a Colleges of the University of Cambridge, constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. Founded in 1473 as Katharine Hall, it adopted its current name in 1860. The college is nicknamed "Catz". The colle ...

. He was also a professor of

sacred theology Theology is the study of religious belief from a religious perspective, with a focus on the nature of divinity. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of an ...

at the

University A university () is an educational institution, institution of tertiary education and research which awards academic degrees in several Discipline (academia), academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase , which roughly ...

. He was the son of Richard Woodlark of

Wakerley Wakerley is a linear village and civil parish in the county of Northamptonshire, England. Forming part of North Northamptonshire, Wakerley is close to, and south of, the River Welland that forms the boundary with Rutland; its nearest neighbo ...

, Northamptonshire. Robert Woodlark was one of the founding Fellows of King's College in 1441. He was appointed Provost of King's in 1452, eventually being succeeded in 1479, by Walter Field. He was surveyor of

King's College Chapel King's College Chapel is the chapel of King's College in the University of Cambridge. It is considered one of the finest examples of late Perpendicular Gothic English architecture and features the world's largest fan vault. The Chapel was bu ...

during its building and master of the works there, 1452–5. While Provost of King's, Woodlark began the preparations for the foundation of a new college, which he established in 1473. He drew up the original statutes for the governance of the college and obtained a charter from Edward IV, 16 August 1475. His vision for the college was one populated by a small society of priests. Indeed, Woodlark's original statutes expressly excluded the teaching of medicine or law. Woodlark did not contemplate undergraduates at the college, instead desiring a small community of senior scholars of

theology Theology is the study of religious belief from a Religion, religious perspective, with a focus on the nature of divinity. It is taught as an Discipline (academia), academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itse ...

and

philosophy Philosophy ('love of wisdom' in Ancient Greek) is a systematic study of general and fundamental questions concerning topics like existence, reason, knowledge, Value (ethics and social sciences), value, mind, and language. It is a rational an ...

. Woodlark served as Chancellor of the University of Cambridge from 1459 to 1460, and again from 1462 to 1463. Woodlark never served as

Master Master, master's or masters may refer to: Ranks or titles In education: *Master (college), head of a college *Master's degree, a postgraduate or sometimes undergraduate degree in the specified discipline *Schoolmaster or master, presiding office ...

of St Catharine's, instead appointing

Richard Roche Richard Roche was Master of St Catharine's College, Cambridge from 1475 until 1480. Roche was born in Taunton and educated at Eton College. After graduating MA he was ordained in 1457. He became a Fellow of King's College, Cambridge in 1469; and ...

as the college's first true master in 1475.

References

Bibliography

* * Jones, William Henry Samuel, "A History of St. Catharine's College, Cambridge: Once Catharine Hall, Cambridge"

Cambridge University Press Cambridge University Press was the university press of the University of Cambridge. Granted a letters patent by King Henry VIII in 1534, it was the oldest university press in the world. Cambridge University Press merged with Cambridge Assessme ...

(Cambridge, 1936/2010) {{DEFAULTSORT:Woodlark, Robert 15th-century births 15th-century deaths Chancellors of the University of Cambridge Masters of St Catharine's College, Cambridge Provosts of King's College, Cambridge Founders of English schools and colleges People from North Northamptonshire Year of birth unknown Year of death unknown