archbishop priest Archbishop of York
Savage was the second son of the many children of Sir John Savage, Knight Bachelor, of Clifton, Cheshire, by his wife Katherine, daughter of Thomas Stanley, 1st Baron Stanley, Knight of the Order of the Garter Sir John Savage, Knight of the Order of the Garter was his eldest brother.
He spent some years in study at Oxford University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree before 1474. He was then sent abroad, studying at the University of Bologna before July 1477, and then at the University of Padua, where he was admitted a Doctor of Canon Law, and acted as a jurist Rector 1481-1482. Savage was appointed Rector of Davenham, Cheshire, 1470.
Rector of Jacobstow, Devon, 1474.
Rector of Monks Risborough, Buckinghamshire, 1484 and Rector of Rosthorne, Cheshire. In 1490 he took part as a representative of England in the unsuccessful conference at Boulogne.
On 3 December 1492, Thomas Savage was nominated Bishop of Rochester. He was consecrated on 28 April 1493 and held the post until 1496 when he was translated to be Bishop of London.
He was translated from the see of London on 18 January 1501 to be Archbishop of York, a post he held until death.
While Archbishop he handled the marriage ceremony of Arthur, Prince of Wales to Catherine of Aragon. "A Lancastrian in politics, he was much trusted and employed by Henry VII..he was a courtier by nature, and took part in the great ceremonies of his time, the creation of Prince Henry as Duke of York, the meeting with the Archduke Philip, and the reception of Catherine of Aragon."
Savage"s body is buried in York Minster where his effigy remains. His heart was buried in the Savage Chapel in the church of Macclesfield, Cheshire.
