Simon Lynche was born circa 1495 the eldest son of William Lynche and, probably, Cicily Morton, the first of his three wives. The Lynches were wealthy members of the Cranbrook area having made their fortune as clothiers. William Lynch had been charged by John Blubery in his will of 1518 "to found a frescole howse for all the pour children of Cranbroke" and on William's death in 1539 Simon took on this responsibility. By 1564, after legal proceedings, Simon "for a certain consideration him thereunto moving" conveyed certain property to trustees for the perpetual maintenance of a grammar school at Cranbrook. This included a house called Blewberryes and a farm at Horsemonden. In 1573 Queen Elizabeth I visited Cranbrook when she granted a Charter to establish the Grammar School of Queen Elizabeth in Cranbrook.

Simon Lynche had moved circa 1550 to Staple near Sandwich, which he represented in parliament in Queen Mary's reign, and afterwards to his seat at Groves. Simon married first Mary Roberts and then Joan Courthope with whom he had four sons and established the family and their descendants at Staple

Simon died in March 1573/4 and was buried in the Lynch Chancel at Staple on 5th March 1573/4.