John Wickliffe became Vicar of Mayfield on the 12th August 1361. Four years later Simon Islip, Archbishop of Canterbury appointed John Wickliffe to head the new foundation of Canterbury Hall with the following endorsement - "in whose fidelity, circumspection, and industry he much confided, and whom he called to that office on account of the honesty of his life, his laudable conversation, and his knowledge of letters." The appointment never occurred as a result of the death of Islip and John Wickliffe returned to Mayfield until 1380 when he exchanged the living for that of Horsted Keynes, where he resided till his death in 1383.