Answer to SLHS Christmas Quiz Q2 "On the East face of St John's Church are (two) busts of Queen Elizabeth I and Bishop Oglethorp. Why?"
Bishop Oglethorp had been Rector of Slimbridge before he officiated at the Coronation of “Good Queen Bess” in 1559.
Owen Oglethorp was Rector of Slimbridge from 1540 to 1544. He was appointed Bishop of Carlisle in 1557 and in 1558 he upset Queen Elizabeth 1 who walked out during a service.
Nevertheless, he was the only Bishop prepared to officiate at her Coronation in 1559 in Westminster Abbey. He upset her again and she walked out of her own Coronation!