© P.E. Blanche 1998

ARCHBISHOP WILLIAM COURTENAY [1381 - 1396]

© P.E. Blanche In the above picture, it is interesting to note the vibrant red colouring in the folds of the cape which cannot normally be seen when standing beside the tomb. Also, where I have placed circles, there are also traces of other colours. I suspect thatat one time, the effigy was as highly coloured as the effigy of Archbishop Chichele. I doubt whether the loss of colour was the result of fading otherwise the red in the folds would be gone. Therefore, I'm assuming that the colours were deliberately removed although I don't know whether it was by the Puritans in the 17th Century or the Victorians in the 19th Century. Also, the hands have been removed as they have on other tombs - I will have more to add about this later.

Following the sudden and violent death of Simon of Sudbury in 1381, William Courtenay became Archbishop during a time which turned out to be less turbulent that it had been. At the end of the 14th Century and very early 15th Century there was considerable rebuilding being carried out on various parts of the Cathedral and the Cloisters. Certainly, a large part of the energy and drive for this reconstruction came from Dom Thomas Chillenden, originally the Treasurer of the Monastery and eventually in 1391, Prior. However, this rebuilding and improvements certainly had the support of William Courtenay, who left the sum of £200.00 when he died for additional work on the Great Cloisters. Also, it was as a result of his "fund raising" abilities that work was continued on the improvements to the Nave that was started and extensively funded by his predecessor. Much of this money was obtained from the then King, Richard II, with whom Courtenay seemed to have a special affinity. In fact, Richard II was in Canterbury when the Archbishop died in 1396 and attended his funeral. It was as a result of his intervention that Courtenay was buried in this particular place at the Eastern end of The Trinity Chapel. The tomb chest is made of alabaster, as is the effigy of the Archbishop.