Arundell, John d. 1504, successively bishop of Lichfield and Coventry and of Exeter, was the younger son of Humphry Arundell of Lanherne, by Joanna, sister and heir of Sir John Coleshill of Tremoderet. After having enjoyed the first taste of the liberal arts and sciences in a college of Augustine monks at St. Columb, Cornwall, he remained at Exeter College, Oxford, until he took the degree of M.A., when he was immediately presented by his father to the rich rectory of St. Columb, and during his residence there built a parsonage house and moated it round with rivers and fish-ponds. A variety of preferments quickly followed his presentation to this family living. He became treasurer of Hereford in 1464, and chancellor and prebendary in 1476; rector of Duloe in Cornwall in 1474, and of Sutton Courtney about 1479, when he was appointed to a canonry at Windsor; and a few years later prebendary of York and Salisbury. From 1483 to 1496 he held the deanery of Exeter, when he vacated it to become bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, a bishopric which he resigned for that of Exeter in 1502. His death took place in the episcopal palace within the parish of St. Clement Danes, London, on 15 March 1504, and he was buried on the south side of the altar of the parish church, under a tomb of marble inlaid with brass. A fragment of the inscription to his memory is printed in Weever's Ancient Funeral Monuments (p. 444). Bishop Arundell is said to have been conspicuous for his love of learning and his hospitality towards the poor.

Sources:
     Wood's Athenę Oxon. (ed. Bliss), ii. 692-3
     Oliver's Bishops of Exeter, pp. 116-17
     Bibliotheca Cornub. iii. 1038.

Contributor: W. P. C. [William Prideaux Courtney]

Published: 1885