January Utenhove

1516 (age 50)

Ghent, Arrondissement of Ghent, Belgium

His relation Karel Utenhove, who worked as amanuensis to Erasmus, was from another branch (Van Markegen). Utenhove left Flanders in 1544. A morality play, written by him in 1532, was ill-received when performed in 1543. From this time, he had a peripatetic existence, and would travel all over Europe. In the summer of 1548 Utenhove came to England from Strasbourg in advance of Laski, and co-operated with him in the organisation of the strangers" churches in London and Canterbury. Poullain organised an offshoot from this community at Glastonbury, under the patronage of Lord Protector Somerset. To Glastonbury Utenhove sent Flemish and Walloon weavers, who introduced the manufacture of broadcloth and blankets in the west of England. John Hooper employed Utenhove on a mission to Heinrich Bullinger in Switzerland, in April 1549. He left England with Laski in 1553. From 1559, at the accession of Elizabeth I of England, Utenhove once more took up residence in London, where he remained until his death in 1566. He took a leading part in affairs as ‘first elder’ of the Dutch church.

January Utenhove

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theologian writer

Background

Utenhove was born into a Flemish patrician family in Ghent. He belonged to the Van der Gracht branch.

Career

His relation Karel Utenhove, who worked as amanuensis to Erasmus, was from another branch (Van Markegen). Utenhove left Flanders in 1544. A morality play, written by him in 1532, was ill-received when performed in 1543.

From this time, he had a peripatetic existence, and would travel all over Europe.

In the summer of 1548 Utenhove came to England from Strasbourg in advance of Laski, and co-operated with him in the organisation of the strangers" churches in London and Canterbury. Poullain organised an offshoot from this community at Glastonbury, under the patronage of Lord Protector Somerset.

To Glastonbury Utenhove sent Flemish and Walloon weavers, who introduced the manufacture of broadcloth and blankets in the west of England. John Hooper employed Utenhove on a mission to Heinrich Bullinger in Switzerland, in April 1549.

He left England with Laski in 1553.

From 1559, at the accession of Elizabeth I of England, Utenhove once more took up residence in London, where he remained until his death in 1566. He took a leading part in affairs as ‘first elder’ of the Dutch church.

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