1,000 years? Less than half of that, really. Two of the best known clergy in the sixteenth century were both married, Cardinal Thomas Wolsey and his successor, Thomas More.
I'm actually a direct descendent of the former.
Thomas More was never a priest.
Thomas More was never clergy - what are you talking about?!?
Mistress and issue[edit]
Wolsey lived in a “noncanonical” marriage for around a decade with a woman called Joan Larke (born circa 1490) of Yarmouth, Norfolk. The edict that priests, regardless of their functions or the character of their work, should remain celibate had not been wholeheartedly accepted in England. Wolsey subsequently had two children, both born before he was made bishop. These were a son, Thomas Wynter (born circa 1510)[21] and a daughter, Dorothy (born circa 1512),[22] both of whom lived to adulthood. The son was sent to live with a family in Willesden and was tutored in his early years by Maurice Birchinshaw. He later married and had children of his own. Dorothy was adopted by John Clansey, and was in due course placed in Shaftesbury Nunnery, which had a fine reputation as a “finishing school”. Following the dissolution of the monasteries (under Thomas Cromwell) she was awarded a pension.[23] Following rapid promotion, Larke became a source of embarrassment to Wolsey who arranged for her marriage to George Legh of Adlington, in Cheshire, circa 1519. He himself provided the dowry.[21] Henry VIII had a mansion built for Legh at Cheshunt Great House.
He wasn’t allowed to marry but did it anyway. How come I seem to know more about your ancestor than you do?
“A butcher’s son, and looks it?”
Leni
That’s a lot of ignorance to cram into such a short post.