Ralph Brideoake
Ralph Brideoake was an English clergyman, who became Bishop of Chichester.
Born in Cheetham Hill, Manchester, Lancashire and baptised on 31 January 1612 at the Collegiate Church, Manchester, Brideoake graduated from Brasenose College, Oxford with a BA in 1634, and made a MA by Charles I of England in 1636. During the 1630s, Brideoake attempted to write poetry.
Beginning in 1638, Brideoake was High Master at Manchester Free School, but lost the position because of his Royalist affiliation. He became chaplain to James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby, a Royalist leader, and was besieged at Lathom House with Stanley's family in 1644. He interceded, unsuccessfully, with William Lenthall, Speaker of Parliament, for a stay of the execution of the captured Earl, in 1651. Brideoake then became chaplain to Lenthall.
Brideoake was Vicar of Witney, from 1654. On the Restoration, he became Rector of Standish in 1660, Dean of Salisbury in 1667, and Bishop of Chichester in 1675. In 1660 he was appointed Canon of the eleventh stall at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, a position he held until 1678. He died on 5 October 1678 and is buried in St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.
