In pre-Covid times, this coming weekend would see the gathering of members of the South West section of the Old Mancunian’s Association to lay a wreath at the tomb of Hugh Oldham in Exeter Cathedral. Despite his Mancunian roots, our founder’s tomb is a long way from Manchester, due to his final role as Bishop of Exeter.
Bishop Hugh Oldham died in June 1519 and had very specific ideas about his final resting place. His will stated that if he died outside the diocese of Exeter, he should be buried in Corpus Christi College, Oxford. Oldham had played a major part in the financing of Corpus Christi, in addition to his founding of MGS. However, if he died within the diocese of Exeter, then he wished to be buried in “in the southe parte of Seint Peters Church in Exettr in the chapel that I have caused there to be made”. He did die within the diocese, and so took up residence in the chantry chapel of St. Saviour and St. Boniface, in Exeter Cathedral.
The chantry chapel was one of two built by Oldham during his time as Bishop as extensions to the cathedral. The other chapel, dedicated to St. George, became the mortuary chapel for Sir John Speke. Both chapels were built in local stone, and recesses were created to house later tombs. The walls and ceiling of the chapel are decorated with stone owl rebuses in honour of Oldham, and the effigial monument to Hugh takes centre stage, brightly coloured and wearing full episcopal robes and mitre.
Part of the tomb was defaced during the Reformation and fell into a state of general disrepair. However, it was restored in 1763 with money from the president and fellows of Corpus Christi College in Oxford. The links with Corpus Christi date back to the foundation of the school. Hugh Oldham had given £600 towards the foundation of Corpus, having been good friends with its founder Richard Fox. The president of Corpus has, since 1525, been an ex officio governor of MGS and until 1877 was tasked with appointing new high masters.
The South West section of the Old Mancunians Association attend an annual service of commemoration to Oldham in Exeter Cathedral and a wreath of flowers is placed at his tomb. The custom of the OMA sending a wreath to the tomb started in 1907 and the addition of a commemorative service began in 1967 and has continued to the present day.
Rachel Kneale
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