Thomas Thirlby

Thomas Thirlby (* 1500, † 1570 in Lambeth Palace, London ) was an English bishop and diplomat. He was appointed under Henry VIII Bishop of Westminster - a newly created office within the released of Rome Church of England with Westminster Abbey Cathedral, which was no longer occupied by Thirlby. Under Mary I he wore with their Rekatholisierungspolitik and therefore was deposed by Elizabeth I..

From 1550 to 1554 was Thirlby bishop of Norwich, and afterwards Bishop of Ely.

On the advice of Cardinal Reginald Pole sent Philip II of Spain and Mary I of England in February 1555 an embassy to the Pope in Rome. The three royal ambassadors, one of whom was Thomas Thirlby, was instructed to inform the Pope about the tense situation in the country.

Thomas Thirlby was deposed on July 5, 1559 as Bishop of Ely by the new Queen Elizabeth I of England. He was one of eleven confessor - bishops, who were imprisoned by the Queen.