Gammer Gurton's Needle

John Still
Bishop John Still, effigy in Wells Cathedral
Religion	Church of England
Personal
Born	c. 1543 Grantham, Lincolnshire
Died	1607/8 (aged 64) Wells, Somerset
Resting place	Wells Cathedral
Senior posting
Based in	England
Title	Bishop of Bath and Wells
Period in office	1593-1608

John Still (c. 1543 – 26 February 1607/8), bishop of Bath and Wells, enjoyed considerable fame as a preacher and disputant. He was formerly reputed to be the author of the early English comedy drama Gammer Gurton's Needle (see below).

He was born 1543 at Grantham, Lincolnshire. After finishing his schooling at The King's School, Grantham he became a student at Christ's College, Cambridge, where he graduated with a BA in 1562, MA in 1565, and DD degree in 1575. In 1561 he became a fellow of his college and took holy orders.

He was appointed in 1570 Lady Margaret's Professor of Divinity, subsequently held livings in Suffolk (where he was Archdeacon of Sudbury from 1576 to 1593) and Yorkshire, and was master successively of St John's College (1574) and of Trinity College (1577). Still was vice-chancellor of his university in 1575/6 and again in 1592/3, and was raised to the bishopric of Bath and Wells in 1593. In 1604 he purchased the manor of Hutton, Somerset, east of Wells and to the west of the Mendip Hills, with its residence of Hutton Court. He died on 26 February 1608, leaving a large fortune from lead mines discovered in the Mendips. There is a fine monument to Still in the north transept of Wells Cathedral, erected by his son Nathaniel.

John Still married twice:

In Wells Cathedral a large canopied tomb with a recumbent effigy of the bishop is situated against the east wall of the chapel which leads from the north aisle to the Chapter House. It was erected by Nathaniel Still, the bishop's son. It was repainted in the 19th century. It bears the following Latin inscription: