Simon of Sudbury: Victim or Villain?

At St Gregory’s Church we are preparing to honour one of Sudbury’s most remarkable — and most controversial — sons: Simon Theobald, better known to history as Simon of Sudbury. Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Chancellor of England, pastor, scholar, diplomat, and ultimately a man whose life ended violently in the Tower of London during the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381. Was Simon a victim of political fury, scapegoated for decisions far beyond any one man’s control? Or was he a villain, too closely tied to the machinery of power in a turbulent age?

On Friday 12th June, St Gregory’s will be transformed for a Medieval Buffet, complete with a menu crafted by Michelin‑trained chef Carl Shillingford. After dinner, we will hear from Alfred R. J. Hawkins, Curator of Historic Buildings at the Tower of London, who will guide us into the world of the White Tower in the tense days before the revolt — a world of prayer, politics, fear, and faith. And yes, Simon’s own preserved head, will be displayed with care and reverence, illuminated for those who wish to reflect on the cost of leadership in a broken world.

Tickets £43.36 (£40.00 + £3.36 booking fee) includes a glass of wine from www.stgregorychurchsudbury.co.uk/simon-of-sudbury-festival .

Across the weekend, we have free short talks at 2pm on Simon’s years in Avignon and his deep roots here in Sudbury, where the Theobald family rose from clothiers to national influence. Their insights help us see Simon not as a distant figure in a history book, but as a local boy shaped by the same streets, fields, and water meadows.

Our pop‑up coffee shop will serve freshly baked cakes and single origin coffee direct from the foothills of Mount Elgon, Uganda to help raise money for a flushing toilet for our link school there.

Banners, songs, and displays around the church tell Simon’s story in ways accessible to all ages. It is a chance not only to learn, but to belong — to gather, to wonder, and to ask the big questions together.

Should politics and religion mix? Simon’s life forces us to wrestle with that tension — a tension still alive today. As Christians, we are called to seek justice, peace, and the common good. Yet we are also called to humility, compassion, and truth. Simon’s legacy invites us into that conversation with honesty and grace.

Blessings

Revd Andrew Doarks.