Goodwin, William (1555-03-25 - 1620-06-11)

William Goodwin was educated at St Peter’s College (Westminster School) before matriculating from Christ Church, Oxford in 1573; he graduated B.A. in 1577 and proceeded M.A. in 1580 and D.D in 1602. He was made rector of Upton Scudmore and canon of Salisbury in 1587, and in 1590 became a prebendary of York, taking up the position of sub-almoner to Queen Elizabeth the same year. He was made rector of the Yorkshire livings of Stonegrave (1590), Etton (1591), Escrick (1603), and Wheldrake (1606), and held the chancellorship of the York diocese from 1605 to 1611. He became dean of Christ Church in 1611. He was briefly rector of All Hallows-the-Great, London and archdeacon of Middlesex, but spent his later life in Oxfordshire, where he held the livings of Stanton St John from 1616 and Chalgrove from 1617. From 1614 to 1618 he also served as vice-chancellor of Oxford University. Goodwin acted as chaplain to James I and preached at several high-profile funerals; however, only his anti-Catholic sermon delivered to the king at Woodstock in 1614 was published. He was most likely married, although his wife’s name is not known. He died at Christ Church on 11 June 1620 and was buried in Christ Church Cathedral.