| Henry Holbeach | |
| Honorific-Prefix: | The Right Reverend |
| Bishop of Lincoln | |
| Church: | Church of England |
| Diocese: | Lincoln |
| Ended: | 1551 (death) |
| Predecessor: | John Longland |
| Successor: | John Taylor |
| Other Post: | Prior of Worcester (1536–1540) Bishop suffragan of Bristol (1538–1544) Dean of Worcester (1542–1544) Bishop of Rochester (1544–1547) |
| Consecration: | 24 March 1537 |
| Consecrated By: | John Hilsey |
| Birth Name: | Henry Rands |
| Birth Place: | Holbeach, Lincolnshire, England |
| Death Place: | Nettleham, Lincolnshire, England |
| Buried: | 7 August 1551, Nettleham |
| Nationality: | English |
| Religion: | Anglican |
Henry Holbeach (– 2 August 1551) was an English clergyman who served as the last Prior and first Dean of Worcester, a suffragan bishop, and diocesan bishop of two Church of England dioceses.
Born as Henry Rands (or Randes) in Holbeach, Lincolnshire, he assumed the name of his birthplace on becoming a monk at Crowland Abbey. He proceeded to Cambridge (Bachelor of Theology (BTh) 1527, Doctor of Theology (DTh) 1534), and became prior of Buckingham College, Cambridge.[1]
In 1536, he was elected the Prior of Worcester,[2] and two years later he also became the Bishop of Bristol, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Worcester.[3] Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1540, the priory was re-established as a cathedral with Holbeach becoming the first Dean of Worcester in 1542.[4] In 1544, he became Bishop of Rochester,[5] and finally in 1547 Bishop of Lincoln.[6]
He is believed to have been the first of the English (post reformation) bishops to have been married, his wife Joan proving his will on 5 October 1551 and he left a son Thomas Randes. According to his descendant, Cater Rand, he was "one of the compilers of the liturgy". Holbeach developed the sweating sickness and died on 2 August 1551 at Nettleham (some accounts give 6 August as date of death) and was buried there on 7 August 1551.