Croydon Connections

John Whitgift was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1553 until his death in 1604. Events were held in Croydon last year to commemorate the 400 years since his passing.

He was actually born in Grimsby but educated in London at St Anthony's School in the City. He went on to Cambridge and after holding various positions eventually became Master of Trinity College. It was as Master that he came to the notice of Queen Elizabeth I and eventually became one of her favourite people, so much so that she requested he be present as she lay dying.

John Whitgift's name lives on today in the well known 'Whitgift Shopping Centre' and visible reminders from the past are the school and hospital he left Croydon. The school, now in two parts known as Whitgift and Trinity, and the Hospital of the Holy Trinity is still providing shelter for the less fortunate. John Whitgift laid the Hospital's Foundation Stone in 1596.