A ‘mitre’ is a type of ceremonial headdress, generally worn by bishops in certain traditions of Christianity.
This seventeenth-century funerary mitre belonged to Peter Mews, Bishop of Winchester from 1684 to 1706. Made of iron, there is little which remains today.
Bishop Mews was born in 1619 and educated at Merchant Taylors’ School, London, and St. John’s College, Oxford. At the beginning of the English Civil War in 1642, he joined the Royalist forces and fought on behalf of King Charles I. In 1645, he was captured and taken prisoner at the battle of Naseby.
After the war, during the Commonwealth years of 1653-1660, Mews lived as an exile in Europe. Yet with the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660, he was able at last to return to England and subsequently acquired a number of important appointments, including Dean of Rochester from 1670, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University, 1669-1673, and, following the death of his predecessor, George Morley, in 1684, Bishop of Winchester.
Mews served as Bishop of Winchester for many years, and yet he wasn’t universally admired. In a petition submitted to Queen Anne after his death, Mews was criticised as “entirely careless of discharging the duty of his function”. The petition continued with an entreaty to the Queen that, with the passing of one bishop, a better successor to Mews were now selected.
Following his death, Mews was buried at Winchester Cathedral. Up until the late 20th century, his mitre was displayed, together with his crozier, above the memorial to him on the north wall of the Guardian Angels Chapel – this memorial is still visible to visitors today.
