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Groome, John (1678/9-1760), Church of England clergyman and benefactor, was the son of John Groome of Norwich. After attending Norwich grammar school he entered Magdalene College, Cambridge, as a sizar on 14 October 1695, and graduated BA in 1699. In July 1709 he was presented to the vicarage of Childerditch, Essex, and became also chaplain to Robert, Earl of Holdernesse. Groome married Mary Moor of the parish of St James, Westminster, at Gray's Inn chapel on 28 June 1718. The couple did not have any children.

Groome was the author of several devotional works. The Golden Cordial (1705) provided prayers for every day of the week. The Sinner Convicted (1705) was an attack on atheism. In addition, grieved at what he saw as unjust reflections cast upon the clergy, Groome wrote The Dignity and Honour of the Clergy Represented in an Historical Collection (1710). This aimed to show the significant contribution which the clergy made to the nation 'by their universal learning, acts of charity, and the administration of civil offices'.

Groome died in the parish of St Mary, Whitechapel, on 31 July 1760, and was buried at Childerditch. By his will he bequeathed property for founding exhibitions at Magdalene College, preference to be given to clergymen's sons from Essex. He provided for the payment of £6 a year to the succeeding vicars of Childerditch for ever, that they might go to the college on St Mary Magdalen's day, 22 July, 'when the publick benefactions are read over' to see that his exhibitions were filled in, the profits of such as were vacant to go to the vicar. Groome also gave his library to Magdalene College.

From: Gordon Goodwin, 'Groome, John (1678/9-1760)', rev. Robert Brown, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008.