William Byngham

William Byngham was the founder of the first secondary school training college in Britain [ Article to commemorate the 500th anniversary of his death "William Byngham: A Medieval Protagonist of the Training of Teachers" W. H. G. Armytage in “History of Education Journal”, Vol. 2, No. 4 (Summer, 1951), pp. 107-110] . He became vicar of St John Zachary in the City of London on May 25 1424 where along with other prominent clergy such as Worthyngton St Andrew, Holborn , Lychefield (St Mary Magdalene, Old Fish Street and Cote (St Peter-upon-Cornhill] he petitioned wealthy aldermen, and indeed the King himself [ Biographical article in "Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Brown- Catley" Davenport, R.B: Oxford, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004 ISBN 019861411X] , to restore the grammar schools. The foundation of Godshouse [Later incorporated into Christ’s College] in Cambridge in 1437 (with financial backing from a former Lord Mayor of London John Brokley) should have been a triumphant conclusion to his long campaign, but it took a further decade before his foundation was finally given the royal seal of approval ["Social history of Education in England" Lawson, J:London, Methuen,1973 ISBN 0416086705] . He died on 17 November 1451.

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