Lyfing of Winchester
Encyclopedia
Lyfing of Winchester also known as Livingus or Lifing, was an Anglo-Saxon
prelate
who served as Bishop of Worcester
, Bishop of Crediton
and Bishop of Cornwall
.
, Bishop of Cornwall
, according to the medieval chronicler William of Malmesbury
. He was probably a monk either at Winchester
Abbey or at Glastonbury Abbey
. In 1009, he became Abbot of Tavistock
, and that was always his favourite of the offices he held. In 1027, he became the Bishop of Crediton
, and about the same time he became Bishop of Cornwall
on the death of his uncle Brihtwold
, so he united those two sees, with the seat at Crediton
. His elevation probably was due both to his family and to his assistance to Cnut in Rome. There is also some indication he may have been a protege of Godwin, Earl of Wessex
.
In 1038 or 1039, Lyfing also became Bishop of Worcester
, but was deprived of the see in 1040. King Harold Harefoot
gave Worcester to Lyfing because of Lyfing's support of Harold. His deprivation was due to King Harthacnut's belief that Lyfing was involved in the death of Harthacnut's half brother Alfred Atheling
. Lyfing was accused by Aelfric Puttoc
, the archbishop of York
, who briefly replaced Lyfing at Worcester. Lyfing seems to have claimed that he was merely following the orders of Harold Harefoot. However, he was restored to Worcester in 1041 and held the three sees until his death on either March 20, March 23 or March 25, 1046.
Bishop Lyfing was a close friend and trusted counsellor of King Canute the Dane
and accompanied him on a pilgrimage to Rome
in 1027. Florence of Worcester
, the medieval chronicler, claims that Lyfing, along with Godwin, was instrumental in securing the succession of Edward the Confessor
to the throne of England on Harthacnut's death. A tradition at Worcester also recorded that it was Lyfing, along with Archbishop Eadsige of Canterbury, who forced Sweyn to release Eadgifu
, the abbess of Leominster
who Sweyn had kidnapped. In revenge, Sweyn raided the lands of the diocese of Worcester.
Before Lyfing's death, Aldred
, who succeeded him at Worcester, had probably been acting as his suffragan or co-bishop. When Lyfing died, he chose to be buried at Tavistock Abbey
. Lyfing was a pluralist
and never enjoyed a good reputation. However, the D version of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
describes him as "the eloquent bishop", which may imply that he was noted as an important preacher. Tavistock monks also remembered him as a great benefactor to their monastery.
Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
who served as Bishop of Worcester
Bishop of Worcester
The Bishop of Worcester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury, England. He is the head of the Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury...
, Bishop of Crediton
Bishop of Crediton
The Bishop of Crediton was originally a prelate who administered an Anglo-Saxon diocese in the 10th and 11th centuries, and is presently a suffragan bishop who assists the diocesan bishop.-Diocesan Bishops of Crediton:...
and Bishop of Cornwall
Bishop of Cornwall
The Bishop of Cornwall was an episcopal title which was used by Anglo Saxons between the 9th and 11th centuries. The bishop's seat was located at the village of St Germans, Cornwall. Later bishops of Cornwall were sometimes referred to as the bishops of St Germans...
.
Life
His uncle was BurhwealdBurhweald
Burhweald was a medieval Bishop of Cornwall.He was consecrated between 1002 and 1018. He died after 1019 and was succeeded by his nephew Lyfing.-References:...
, Bishop of Cornwall
Bishop of Cornwall
The Bishop of Cornwall was an episcopal title which was used by Anglo Saxons between the 9th and 11th centuries. The bishop's seat was located at the village of St Germans, Cornwall. Later bishops of Cornwall were sometimes referred to as the bishops of St Germans...
, according to the medieval chronicler William of Malmesbury
William of Malmesbury
William of Malmesbury was the foremost English historian of the 12th century. C. Warren Hollister so ranks him among the most talented generation of writers of history since Bede, "a gifted historical scholar and an omnivorous reader, impressively well versed in the literature of classical,...
. He was probably a monk either at Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
Abbey or at Glastonbury Abbey
Glastonbury Abbey
Glastonbury Abbey was a monastery in Glastonbury, Somerset, England. The ruins are now a grade I listed building, and a Scheduled Ancient Monument and are open as a visitor attraction....
. In 1009, he became Abbot of Tavistock
Abbot of Tavistock
Abbot of Tavistock was the title of the abbot of Tavistock Abbey in Devon, England. The name of the first abbot is unknown, but the abbey was founded between 975 and 980. Unless otherwise specified the details in the following table are from Heads of Religious Houses: England & Wales 940–1216....
, and that was always his favourite of the offices he held. In 1027, he became the Bishop of Crediton
Bishop of Crediton
The Bishop of Crediton was originally a prelate who administered an Anglo-Saxon diocese in the 10th and 11th centuries, and is presently a suffragan bishop who assists the diocesan bishop.-Diocesan Bishops of Crediton:...
, and about the same time he became Bishop of Cornwall
Bishop of Cornwall
The Bishop of Cornwall was an episcopal title which was used by Anglo Saxons between the 9th and 11th centuries. The bishop's seat was located at the village of St Germans, Cornwall. Later bishops of Cornwall were sometimes referred to as the bishops of St Germans...
on the death of his uncle Brihtwold
Brihtwold
Brihtwold was a medieval Bishop of Cornwall.He was the uncle of his successor, Lyfing and died in 1027.-References:...
, so he united those two sees, with the seat at Crediton
Crediton
Crediton is a town and civil parish in the Mid Devon district of Devon in England. It stands on the A377 Exeter to Barnstaple road at the junction with the A3072 road to Tiverton, about north west of Exeter. It has a population of 6,837...
. His elevation probably was due both to his family and to his assistance to Cnut in Rome. There is also some indication he may have been a protege of Godwin, Earl of Wessex
Godwin, Earl of Wessex
Godwin of Wessex , was one of the most powerful lords in England under the Danish king Cnut the Great and his successors. Cnut made him the first Earl of Wessex...
.
In 1038 or 1039, Lyfing also became Bishop of Worcester
Bishop of Worcester
The Bishop of Worcester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury, England. He is the head of the Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury...
, but was deprived of the see in 1040. King Harold Harefoot
Harold Harefoot
Harold Harefoot was King of England from 1037 to 1040. His cognomen "Harefoot" referred to his speed, and the skill of his huntsmanship. He was the son of Cnut the Great, king of England, Denmark, and Norway by Ælfgifu of Northampton...
gave Worcester to Lyfing because of Lyfing's support of Harold. His deprivation was due to King Harthacnut's belief that Lyfing was involved in the death of Harthacnut's half brother Alfred Atheling
Alfred Atheling
Alfred Atheling or Aetheling was the son of Aethelred II and his second wife Emma of Normandy. He was a brother of Edward the Confessor. King Canute became their stepfather when he married Aethelred's widow...
. Lyfing was accused by Aelfric Puttoc
Aelfric Puttoc
Ælfric Puttoc , sometimes modernized Alfric Puttock, was a medieval Archbishop of York and Bishop of Worcester.-Early:Ælfric first appears in the historical record as the provost of New Minster, Winchester. He was probably a native of Wessex...
, the archbishop of York
Archbishop of York
The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man...
, who briefly replaced Lyfing at Worcester. Lyfing seems to have claimed that he was merely following the orders of Harold Harefoot. However, he was restored to Worcester in 1041 and held the three sees until his death on either March 20, March 23 or March 25, 1046.
Bishop Lyfing was a close friend and trusted counsellor of King Canute the Dane
Canute the Great
Cnut the Great , also known as Canute, was a king of Denmark, England, Norway and parts of Sweden. Though after the death of his heirs within a decade of his own and the Norman conquest of England in 1066, his legacy was largely lost to history, historian Norman F...
and accompanied him on a pilgrimage to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in 1027. Florence of Worcester
Florence of Worcester
Florence of Worcester , known in Latin as Florentius, was a monk of Worcester, who played some part in the production of the Chronicon ex chronicis, a Latin world chronicle which begins with the creation and ends in 1140....
, the medieval chronicler, claims that Lyfing, along with Godwin, was instrumental in securing the succession of Edward the Confessor
Edward the Confessor
Edward the Confessor also known as St. Edward the Confessor , son of Æthelred the Unready and Emma of Normandy, was one of the last Anglo-Saxon kings of England and is usually regarded as the last king of the House of Wessex, ruling from 1042 to 1066....
to the throne of England on Harthacnut's death. A tradition at Worcester also recorded that it was Lyfing, along with Archbishop Eadsige of Canterbury, who forced Sweyn to release Eadgifu
Eadgifu
Eadgifu is an Anglo-Saxon female name which may appear as Edgiva. It sometimes appears as Edith and can therefore be confused with Eadgyth. It might refer to:* Eadgifu of Kent Eadgifu is an Anglo-Saxon female name which may appear as Edgiva. It sometimes appears as Edith and can therefore be...
, the abbess of Leominster
Leominster
Leominster is a market town in Herefordshire, England, located approximately north of the city of Hereford and south of Ludlow, at...
who Sweyn had kidnapped. In revenge, Sweyn raided the lands of the diocese of Worcester.
Before Lyfing's death, Aldred
Aldred
Ealdred was Abbot of Tavistock, Bishop of Worcester, and Archbishop of York in Anglo-Saxon England. He was related to a number of other ecclesiastics of the period. After becoming a monk at the monastery at Winchester, he was appointed Abbot of Tavistock Abbey in around 1027. In 1046 he was named...
, who succeeded him at Worcester, had probably been acting as his suffragan or co-bishop. When Lyfing died, he chose to be buried at Tavistock Abbey
Tavistock Abbey
Tavistock Abbey, also known as the Abbey of Saint Mary and Saint Rumon, is a ruined Benedictine abbey in Tavistock, Devon. Nothing remains of the abbey except the refectory, two gateways and a porch. The abbey church, dedicated to Our Lady and St Rumon, was destroyed by Danish raiders in 997 and...
. Lyfing was a pluralist
Religious pluralism
Religious pluralism is a loosely defined expression concerning acceptance of various religions, and is used in a number of related ways:* As the name of the worldview according to which one's religion is not the sole and exclusive source of truth, and thus that at least some truths and true values...
and never enjoyed a good reputation. However, the D version of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is a collection of annals in Old English chronicling the history of the Anglo-Saxons. The original manuscript of the Chronicle was created late in the 9th century, probably in Wessex, during the reign of Alfred the Great...
describes him as "the eloquent bishop", which may imply that he was noted as an important preacher. Tavistock monks also remembered him as a great benefactor to their monastery.
Further reading
- Conner, Patrick W. (1993) Anglo-Saxon Exeter: a Tenth-century Cultural History Woodbridge : Boydell ISBN 0851153070