| John the Chanter | |
| Religion: | Catholic |
| Bishop of Exeter | |
| Appointed: | 1184 |
| Consecration: | 5 October 1186 |
| Ended: | 1 June 1191 |
| Predecessor: | Bartholomew Iscanus |
| Successor: | Henry Marshal |
| Death Date: | 1 June 1191 |
| Buried: | Exeter Cathedral |
John the Chanter (died 1 June 1191) was a medieval Bishop of Exeter.
John's exact background is unclear, though biographer John Prince refers to him as "a native" of Devon.[1] Liskeard lawyer Frederick Caunter states that he was born in Exeter, and was said to be a great-grandson of Condor, Earl of Cornwall.[2] He may be the same person as the John Planeta, who was a clerk of Thomas Becket's during Becket's exile, but the connection is not proven. Antiquaries Thomas Duffus Hardy and John Le Neve say he was originally Sub-Dean of Salisbury,[2] though all that is known for certain is that he was elderly when he was consecrated as Bishop.[3]
According to antiquary Richard Izacke, John was installed Bishop of Exeter in 1184 and served for six years.[2] He was consecrated on 5 October 1186. According to Caunter, "he appears to have been of good repute" and carried out a number of repairs to the cathedral during his short time as bishop.[2] He was present at King Richard I's coronation in 1189.[3]
John died on 1 June 1191.[4] He was buried in an altar tomb under the south tower of Exeter Cathedral, which survives to this day.[5] The Caunter family traditionally claim a connection to John, though Frederick Caunter considered this unlikely.[2]