{{short description|British bishop}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}} {{Infobox Christian leader | name = Henry Holbeach | honorific-prefix = The Right Reverend | title = Bishop of Lincoln | church = Church of England | diocese = Lincoln | elected = {{circa|1547}} | enthroned = {{circa|1547}} | ended = 1551 (death) | predecessor = John Longland | successor = John Taylor | other_post = Prior of Worcester (1536–1540)<br />Bishop suffragan of Bristol (1538–1544)<br />Dean of Worcester (1542–1544)<br />Bishop of Rochester (1544–1547) <!---------- Orders ----------> | consecration = 24 March 1537 | consecrated_by = John Hilsey <!---------- Personal details ----------> | birth_name = Henry Rands | birth_date = {{circa|1477}} | birth_place = Holbeach, Lincolnshire, England | death_date = {{death date|1551|8|2|df=y}} | death_place = Nettleham, Lincolnshire, England | buried = 7 August 1551, Nettleham | nationality = English | religion = Anglican }} '''Henry Holbeach''' ({{circa|1477}} – 2 August 1551) was an English clergyman who served as the last Prior and first Dean of Worcester, a suffragan bishop, and diocesan bishop of two Church of England dioceses.

==Life== Born as '''Henry Rands''' (or '''Randes''') in Holbeach, Lincolnshire, he assumed the name of his birthplace on becoming a monk at Crowland Abbey. He proceeded to Cambridge (Bachelor of Theology (BTh) 1527, Doctor of Theology (DTh) 1534),<ref>{{acad|id=RNDS526H|name=Rands (or Holbeach), Henry}}</ref> and became prior of Buckingham College, Cambridge.<ref>[http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/13477 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography: Holbeach (formerly Rands), Henry. Retrieved 15 May 2015.]</ref>

In 1536, he was elected the Prior of Worcester,<ref>[http://british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=32733 Priors of Worcester: 1297-1538]. ''British History Online''. Retrieved on 18 December 2008.</ref> and two years later he also became the Bishop of Bristol, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Worcester.<ref>[http://british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=35301 Bishops of Bristol: 1538-1836]. ''British History Online''. Retrieved on 18 December 2008.</ref> Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1540, the priory was re-established as a cathedral with Holbeach becoming the first Dean of Worcester in 1542.<ref>[http://british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=35281 Deans of Worcester: 1540-1874]. ''British History Online''. Retrieved on 18 December 2008.</ref> In 1544, he became Bishop of Rochester,<ref>[http://british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=34603 Bishops of Rochester: 1540-1860]. ''British History Online''. Retrieved on 18 December 2008.</ref> and finally in 1547 Bishop of Lincoln.<ref>[http://british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=35150 Bishops of Lincoln: 1521-1868]. ''British History Online''. Retrieved on 18 December 2008.</ref>

==Marriage== He is believed to have been the first of the English (post reformation) bishops to have been married, his wife Joan proving his will on 5 October 1551 and he left a son Thomas Randes. According to his descendant, Cater Rand, he was "one of the compilers of the liturgy". Holbeach developed the sweating sickness and died on 2 August 1551 at Nettleham (some accounts give 6 August as date of death) and was buried there on 7 August 1551.

==References== {{reflist}}

{{s-start}} {{s-rel|en}} {{s-new|title}} {{s-ttl|title=Bishop of Bristol|years=1538–1544}} {{s-non|reason=Diocese of Bristol erected}} {{s-bef|before=Nicholas Heath}} {{s-ttl|title=Bishop of Rochester|years=1544–1547}} {{s-aft|after=Nicholas Ridley}} {{s-bef|before=John Longland}} {{s-ttl|title=Bishop of Lincoln|years=1547–1551}} {{s-aft|after=John Taylor}} {{s-end}}

{{Bishops of Lincoln}} {{Bishops of Rochester}} {{Bishops of Bristol}} {{Deans of Worcester}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Holbeach, Henry}} Category:1551 deaths Category:People from Holbeach Category:Bishops of Lincoln Category:Bishops suffragan of Bristol Category:Bishops of Rochester Category:16th-century English bishops Category:English Christian monks Category:Anglican monks Category:Deans of Worcester Category:People associated with the Dissolution of the Monasteries Category:Year of birth uncertain Category:Deaths from sweating sickness Category:Alumni of the University of Cambridge Category:Priors of Worcester Category:1477 births Category:1470s births