John de Halton
Encyclopedia
John de Halton also called John de Halghton, was an English priest
and Bishop of Carlisle
from 1292 to 1324.
and cellerer in Carlisle Cathedral
. He was elected bishop
on 23 April 1292, and consecrated on 14 September 1292. He was not enthroned until January 1293, however, because after his consecration he was with King Edward I of England
in Scotland. He was present at Berwick
when Edward decided that the throne of Scotland should go to John Balliol. Halton spent much of the time between 1292 and 1295 in Scotland, for Pope Nicholas IV
had appointed Halton to collect the crusading tax that the pope had imposed. However, when England and Scotland went to war in 1296, Halton returned to his diocese and remained there.
In January 1298 Halton appeared at a meeting in York held by Roger Bigod
the Earl of Norfolk
and Humphrey de Bohun
the Earl of Hereford
and excommunicated all opponents of Magna Carta
. During the reign of King Edward II of England
his diocese was exposed to constant raids from the Scots, and much of his time was spent in trying to repair the damage from the raids. In 1309 he excommunicated Robert the Bruce for the murder of John Comyn three years earlier. He served as an envoy to Scotland again in 1320. He was an attendee of the gathering, or anti-Parliament, held at Sherburn and led by Thomas the Earl of Lancaster
in June 1321. This gathering was part of the baronial uprising against King Edward II and his favorites the Despensers, but Halton does not seem to have played any further role in the conflict.
Halton died on 1 November 1324 at his manor at Rose. He was probably buried in his cathedral, but his tomb no longer survives. His register of his acts, however, does survive, and is the first one from Carlisle to survive.
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
and Bishop of Carlisle
Bishop of Carlisle
The Bishop of Carlisle is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Carlisle in the Province of York.The diocese covers the County of Cumbria except for Alston Moor and the former Sedbergh Rural District...
from 1292 to 1324.
Life
Little is known of Halton's background, but he attended Oxford University. He was a canonCanon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
and cellerer in Carlisle Cathedral
Carlisle Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, otherwise called Carlisle Cathedral, is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Carlisle. It is located in Carlisle, in Cumbria, North West England...
. He was elected bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
on 23 April 1292, and consecrated on 14 September 1292. He was not enthroned until January 1293, however, because after his consecration he was with King Edward I of England
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
in Scotland. He was present at Berwick
Berwick-upon-Tweed
Berwick-upon-Tweed or simply Berwick is a town in the county of Northumberland and is the northernmost town in England, on the east coast at the mouth of the River Tweed. It is situated 2.5 miles south of the Scottish border....
when Edward decided that the throne of Scotland should go to John Balliol. Halton spent much of the time between 1292 and 1295 in Scotland, for Pope Nicholas IV
Pope Nicholas IV
Pope Nicholas IV , born Girolamo Masci, was Pope from February 22, 1288 to April 4, 1292. A Franciscan friar, he had been legate to the Greeks under Pope Gregory X in 1272, succeeded Bonaventure as Minister General of his religious order in 1274, was made Cardinal Priest of Santa Prassede and...
had appointed Halton to collect the crusading tax that the pope had imposed. However, when England and Scotland went to war in 1296, Halton returned to his diocese and remained there.
In January 1298 Halton appeared at a meeting in York held by Roger Bigod
Roger Bigod, 5th Earl of Norfolk
Roger Bigod was 5th Earl of Norfolk.He was the son of Hugh Bigod , and succeeded his uncle, Roger Bigod, 4th Earl of Norfolk as earl in 1270....
the Earl of Norfolk
Earl of Norfolk
Earl of Norfolk is a title which has been created several times in the Peerage of England. Created in 1070, the first major dynasty to hold the title was the 12th and 13th century Bigod family, and it then was later held by the Mowbrays, who were also made Dukes of Norfolk...
and Humphrey de Bohun
Humphrey de Bohun, 3rd Earl of Hereford
Humphrey de Bohun , 3rd Earl of Hereford and 2nd Earl of Essex, was an English nobleman known primarily for his opposition to King Edward I over the Confirmatio Cartarum. He was also an active participant in the Welsh Wars and maintained for several years a private feud with the earl of Gloucester...
the Earl of Hereford
Earl of Hereford
The title of Earl of Hereford was created six times in the Peerage of England. See also Duke of Hereford, Viscount Hereford. Dates indicate the years the person held the title for.-Earls of Hereford, First Creation :*Swegen Godwinson...
and excommunicated all opponents of Magna Carta
Magna Carta
Magna Carta is an English charter, originally issued in the year 1215 and reissued later in the 13th century in modified versions, which included the most direct challenges to the monarch's authority to date. The charter first passed into law in 1225...
. During the reign of King Edward II of England
Edward II of England
Edward II , called Edward of Caernarfon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed by his wife Isabella in January 1327. He was the sixth Plantagenet king, in a line that began with the reign of Henry II...
his diocese was exposed to constant raids from the Scots, and much of his time was spent in trying to repair the damage from the raids. In 1309 he excommunicated Robert the Bruce for the murder of John Comyn three years earlier. He served as an envoy to Scotland again in 1320. He was an attendee of the gathering, or anti-Parliament, held at Sherburn and led by Thomas the Earl of Lancaster
Earl of Lancaster
The title of Earl of Lancaster was created in the Peerage of England in 1267, merging in the crown in 1399. See also Duke of Lancaster.-Earls of Lancaster :...
in June 1321. This gathering was part of the baronial uprising against King Edward II and his favorites the Despensers, but Halton does not seem to have played any further role in the conflict.
Halton died on 1 November 1324 at his manor at Rose. He was probably buried in his cathedral, but his tomb no longer survives. His register of his acts, however, does survive, and is the first one from Carlisle to survive.