Richard Neile

The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Richard Neile
Archbishop of York
Installed	1631
Term ended	1640
Predecessor	Samuel Harsnett
Successor	John Williams
Personal details
Born	1562
Died	31 October 1640
Nationality	British
Denomination	Church of England
Alma mater	St. John's College, Cambridge

Richard Neile (1562 – 31 October 1640) was an English churchman, bishop successively of six English dioceses, more than any other man, including the Archdiocese of York from 1631 until his death. He was involved in the last burning at the stake for heresy in England, that of the Arian Edward Wightman in 1612.

He was son of a tallow-chandler, though his grandfather had been a courtier and official under Henry VIII, until he was deprived for non-compliance with the Six Articles. He was educated at Westminster School, under Edward Grant and William Camden. He was sent by Mildred, Lady Burghley, on the recommendation of Gabriel Goodman to St John's College, Cambridge, as a poor scholar, admitted scholar on 22 April 1580, and matriculated on 18 May. He continued to enjoy the patronage of the Burghley family, residing in their household, and became chaplain to Lord Burghley, and later to his son Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury. He took the degree of doctor in divinity in 1600.

He preached before Queen Elizabeth, and became vicar of Cheshunt, Hertfordshire (resigned in 1609), and in 1603 was appointed Clerk of the Closet, a position he would hold until 1632. On 5 November 1605 he was installed Dean of Westminster, resigning the deanery in 1610.

He held successively the bishoprics of Rochester (1608), Lichfield and Coventry (1610), Lincoln (1614), Durham (1617), and Winchester (1628), and the archbishopric of York (1631).

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