Alexander Nowell (c. 1517 – 13 February 1602), also known as Alexander Noel, was an Anglican priest and theologian who served as Dean of St Paul's during much of Elizabeth I's reign, and is now remembered for his catechisms, written in Latin.
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Early life
Alexander Nowell was the eldest son of John Nowell of Read Hall, Read, Lancashire, by his second wife Elizabeth Kay of Rochdale, and was the brother of Laurence Nowell, who became Dean of Lichfield. His sister Beatrice was the mother of John Hammond; Another brother, Robert Nowell, became Attorney of the Court of Wards.
Nowell was educated at Middleton, near Rochdale, Lancashire and at Brasenose College, Oxford where he is said to have shared rooms with John Foxe the martyrologist. He was awarded his B.A. in 1536, M.A. in 1540, later a D.D. in 1578 and was elected fellow of Brasenose in 1526, spending some 13 years in Oxford.