John Warren

Who was John Warren?

John Warren was Bishop of St David's 1779-1783, and Bishop of Bangor from 1783 until his death.

Warren was born at Cavendish, Suffolk. He was educated in Bury St Edmunds and at Caius College, Cambridge, graduating BA in 1751.

Before his promotion to bishop, Warren was Archdeacon of Worcester. During the bishop's time at Bangor, he was involved in two major controversies. In October 1793, he became involved in a dispute with the Parys and Mona Mine companies over the demolition and rebuilding of Amlwch parish church. The bishop claimed that the mining companies had promised to rebuild the church; they denied this, but eventually agreed to make a financial contribution.

In 1796 the bishop was involved in another dispute, which resulted in a court case. Warren had appointed his own nephew Registrar of the diocese of Bangor, even though the latter was under age. When the bishop attempted to sack the Deputy Registrar, Samuel Grindley, Grindley refused to leave his office, and a tussle ensued in which the bishop was threatened with a pistol and had to be dragged away by his wife.