Introduction
William Downham, D.D.(1511–1577) was bishop of Chester.
Downham was educated at Magdalen College, Oxford, becoming a Fellow in 1543.He held livings at Datchworth, Ayot St Peter, Needingworth and Brington. Under Mary I of England, he was chaplain to her sister Princess Elizabeth.He was appointed a Canon of Westminster Cathedral in 1559; and Archdeacon of Brecon in 1560.He became bishop of Chester in 1561, shortly after Elizabeth's accession.
As bishop, he was considered rather ineffectual against the Roman Catholics, preferring not to offend the gentry. The reformer Christopher Goodman attacked him in 1571, as supine, on a pretext of the continuing Whitsun plays.
He had further problems with the diocesan finances, being dependent on rents that could prove hard to collect. He also had very few university graduates among his candidates for ordination.
He died on 3 December 1577.
Family
George Downame and John Downame were his sons.