Background
Lynch was born on 5 December 1697 at Staple (Kent), son of John Lynch (d 1733) and his wife, Sarah, daughter of Francis Head of Rochester.
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John Lynch
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Education
He was educated at the King"s School, Canterbury, and then Street John"s College, Cambridge, (1714. Bachelor 1718; Master of Arts 1721; Doctor of Divinity 1728).
Career
He was Dean of Canterbury from 1734 to 1760. He was ordained deacon in Norwich (1721). In 1723 his patron, Archbishop William Wake, appointed him to the Chapter of Canterbury Cathedral (Stall IV) and as rector of All Hallows, Bread Street, London.
He was rector of Sundridge (Kent) from 1725 to 1733 and a Chaplain to the King from 1727 to 1734.
On the death of Elias Sydall, he was appointed Dean of Canterbury. Dean Lynch was criticised in his lifetime as a notorious pluralist.
An anonymous satirical pamphlet (The Life of Dean L---nch, 1748) was published attacking him. In exoneration, H.J. Todd in his Some account of the deans of Canterbury (1793) comments: "Large as his Income may appear, yet his expenses were equal to his revenues.
On his Prebendal and Deanery Houses he had expended no less than £3000.
And his private charities were known to equal his public spirit". Todd notes that Lynch had been an early supporter of the Society for the Support of the Widows and Orphans of the Clergy.
