Edwin Sandys (bishop)

Edwin Sandys (1519 – 1588) was an English churchman who held high office in the Church of England during the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I. He served as Bishop of Worcester (1559–1570), Bishop of London (1570–1576), and Archbishop of York (1576–1588).

Born in Hawkshead, Lancashire, Sandys was educated at St John's College, Cambridge, where he later became Master. A staunch Protestant, he was imprisoned during the reign of Mary I for his religious beliefs. Upon Elizabeth's accession, he was released and quickly rose through the ranks of the Church.

As a bishop, Sandys was a strong advocate for Puritan reforms within the Church of England, although he remained committed to episcopacy. He was a skilled administrator and preacher, and played a significant role in shaping the religious landscape of Elizabethan England. He was involved in several controversies, particularly regarding the discipline of the clergy and the regulation of ecclesiastical affairs.

Sandys was married twice. His first wife was a woman named Mary Sandys; she died in 1558. His second wife was Cecily Wilford, with whom he had several children, including Sir Edwin Sandys, a prominent figure in the Virginia Company. Edwin Sandys died in 1588 and was buried in Southwell Minster. His legacy is complex, remembered both for his commitment to the Protestant faith and for the controversies that marked his career.