Thomas II of York
Encyclopedia
Thomas was a medieval archbishop of York
. To distinguish him from his uncle, also a Thomas who was archbishop of York, Thomas is usually known as Thomas II or Thomas the Younger.
. He was a royal chaplain, and then provost
of Beverley
in 1092, both appointments he owed to his uncle. He was raised in the cathedral chapter
at York, and the clergy of York trusted him, and he proved himself devoted to York's cause against the primacy of Canterbury. Thomas' brother Richard became Bishop of Bayeux in about 1108 until Richard's death in 1133. Thomas and Richard's sister, Isabelle of Douvres, was the mistress of Robert of Gloucester
, and their son Richard was Bishop of Bayeux from 1135 to 1142.
Thomas became archbishop in May 1108 at the request of the dean and cathedral chapter of York. Because he refused to profess obediance to the Archbishop of Canterbury
, his consecration was delayed and formed part of the Canterbury-York dispute
. Thomas said that the chapter would not allow him to make a written profession, and the chapter wrote as a body to Archbishop Anselm
confirming this. Meanwhile, the dean of York went to Rome to procure the pallium
for Thomas, which was sent with a papal legate. Anselm died in April 1109 without any resolution to the dispute between the two archbishops. Anselm had told the bishops before his death that he felt that Thomas must make a profession of obedience, and obediently the bishops appealed to the king's court to make Thomas do so. Henry I
and his bishops finally decided against Thomas, who capitulated and was consecrated in London
on 27 June 1109 by Richard de Beaumis
, Bishop of London
. He received his pallium from Cardinal Ulrich, the legate, on 1 August 1109.
Thomas worked to extend York's metropolitan
authority over Scotland, and consecrated Michael of Glasgow
as Bishop of Glasgow
. Michael made a written profession of obedience to York before his consecration. Thomas also consecrated Thurgot
as Bishop of St Andrews
, although Thurgot seems to have managed to insert a reservation of his rights into his oath. Other Scottish bishops he consecrated were Radulf Novell
as Bishop of Orkney
and Wimund
to as Bishop of Man and the Isles
.
In the diocese of York, the archbishop founded the Hospital of St. John the Baptist at Ripon
. He also created more prebends in his diocese, extending the work of his two predecessors in introducing the Norman system of ecclesiastical government. He is said have only been stopped from approrpiating the relics of Saint Eata by a vision of the saint. He also endowed the Augustinian priory
of Hexham with lands and books. He had helped found the priory at Hexham when he expelled the hereditary priest from the church and settled canons there from Huntingdon.
Thomas died at Beverley on 24 February 1114. He was noted for his chastity, but equally noted for his gluttony, and died of overeating. Thomas was buried in York Minster
near his uncle. Hugh the Chantor relates the story that Thomas one time when ill was told by his doctors that he would only be cured by intercourse with a young girl. Some of Thomas' friends then attempted to introduce a young woman into his household, but Thomas instead prayed to a saint, John of Beverley
, and recovered.
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...
. To distinguish him from his uncle, also a Thomas who was archbishop of York, Thomas is usually known as Thomas II or Thomas the Younger.
Life
Thomas was the nephew of Thomas of Bayeux, archbishop of York, and the son of the elder Thomas' brother Samson, Bishop of WorcesterSamson, Bishop of Worcester
Samson was a medieval English clergyman.-Life:Samson was a Royal Chaplain and a canon and Treasurer of the diocese of Bayeux....
. He was a royal chaplain, and then provost
Provost (religion)
A provost is a senior official in a number of Christian churches.-Historical Development:The word praepositus was originally applied to any ecclesiastical ruler or dignitary...
of Beverley
Beverley
Beverley is a market town, civil parish and the county town of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, located between the River Hull and the Westwood. The town is noted for Beverley Minster and architecturally-significant religious buildings along New Walk and other areas, as well as the Beverley...
in 1092, both appointments he owed to his uncle. He was raised in the cathedral chapter
Cathedral chapter
In accordance with canon law, a cathedral chapter is a college of clerics formed to advise a bishop and, in the case of a vacancy of the episcopal see in some countries, to govern the diocese in his stead. These councils are made up of canons and dignitaries; in the Roman Catholic church their...
at York, and the clergy of York trusted him, and he proved himself devoted to York's cause against the primacy of Canterbury. Thomas' brother Richard became Bishop of Bayeux in about 1108 until Richard's death in 1133. Thomas and Richard's sister, Isabelle of Douvres, was the mistress of Robert of Gloucester
Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester
Robert Fitzroy, 1st Earl of Gloucester was an illegitimate son of King Henry I of England. He was called "Rufus" and occasionally "de Caen", he is also known as Robert "the Consul"...
, and their son Richard was Bishop of Bayeux from 1135 to 1142.
Thomas became archbishop in May 1108 at the request of the dean and cathedral chapter of York. Because he refused to profess obediance to the Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
, his consecration was delayed and formed part of the Canterbury-York dispute
Canterbury-York dispute
The Canterbury–York dispute was a long-running conflict between the archdioceses of Canterbury and York in medieval England. It began shortly after the Norman Conquest of England and dragged on for many years. The main point of the dispute was over whether Canterbury would have jurisdiction, or...
. Thomas said that the chapter would not allow him to make a written profession, and the chapter wrote as a body to Archbishop Anselm
Anselm of Canterbury
Anselm of Canterbury , also called of Aosta for his birthplace, and of Bec for his home monastery, was a Benedictine monk, a philosopher, and a prelate of the church who held the office of Archbishop of Canterbury from 1093 to 1109...
confirming this. Meanwhile, the dean of York went to Rome to procure the pallium
Pallium
The pallium is an ecclesiastical vestment in the Roman Catholic Church, originally peculiar to the Pope, but for many centuries bestowed by him on metropolitans and primates as a symbol of the jurisdiction delegated to them by the Holy See. In that context it has always remained unambiguously...
for Thomas, which was sent with a papal legate. Anselm died in April 1109 without any resolution to the dispute between the two archbishops. Anselm had told the bishops before his death that he felt that Thomas must make a profession of obedience, and obediently the bishops appealed to the king's court to make Thomas do so. Henry I
Henry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
and his bishops finally decided against Thomas, who capitulated and was consecrated in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on 27 June 1109 by Richard de Beaumis
Richard de Beaumis
Richard de Beaumis was a medieval Bishop of London.-Life:Beaumis' family came from Beaumais-sur-Dive in the Calvados region of Normandy. He was elected to the see of London on 24 May 1108. His ordination as a priest took place on 14 June 1108, a little over a month before he was consecrated as a...
, Bishop of London
Bishop of London
The Bishop of London is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of London in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers 458 km² of 17 boroughs of Greater London north of the River Thames and a small part of the County of Surrey...
. He received his pallium from Cardinal Ulrich, the legate, on 1 August 1109.
Thomas worked to extend York's metropolitan
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
authority over Scotland, and consecrated Michael of Glasgow
Michael of Glasgow
Michael of Glasgow is the earliest known bishop of Glasgow of the 12th century. Records of his episcopate do not survive from the records of the Kingdom of Scotland, however a bishop and a bishop with the name Michael is recorded in foreign records...
as Bishop of Glasgow
Archbishop of Glasgow
The Bishop of Glasgow, from 1492 Archbishop of Glasgow, was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Glasgow and then, as Archbishop of Glasgow, the Archdiocese of Glasgow...
. Michael made a written profession of obedience to York before his consecration. Thomas also consecrated Thurgot
Thurgot
Thorgaut or Turgot was Archdeacon and Prior of Durham, and the first English or Anglo-Norman Bishop of Saint Andrews ....
as Bishop of St Andrews
Archbishop of St Andrews
The Bishop of St. Andrews was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of St Andrews and then, as Archbishop of St Andrews , the Archdiocese of St Andrews.The name St Andrews is not the town or church's original name...
, although Thurgot seems to have managed to insert a reservation of his rights into his oath. Other Scottish bishops he consecrated were Radulf Novell
Radulf Novell
Radulf Novell was a 12th century Anglo-Norman prelate. He was a native of York, and according to writings produced by the Archbishopric of York, was elected as Bishop of Orkney at St Peter's church in York by some representatives of the community of Orkney....
as Bishop of Orkney
Bishop of Orkney
The Bishop of Orkney was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Orkney, one of thirteen medieval bishoprics within the territory of modern Scotland. It included both Orkney and Shetland. It was based for almost all of its history at St...
and Wimund
Wimund
Wimund was a bishop who became a sea-faring war-lord adventurer in the years after 1147. His story is passed down to us by 12th-century English historian William of Newburgh in his Historia rerum anglicarum, Book I, Chapter 24 entitled "Of bishop Wimund, his life unbecoming a bishop, and how he was...
to as Bishop of Man and the Isles
Bishop of Sodor and Man
The Bishop of Sodor and Man is the Ordinary of the Diocese of Sodor and Man in the Province of York in the Church of England. The diocese covers the Isle of Man. The see is in the town of Peel where the bishop's seat is located at the Cathedral Church of St German, elevated to cathedral status on 1...
.
In the diocese of York, the archbishop founded the Hospital of St. John the Baptist at Ripon
Ripon
Ripon is a cathedral city, market town and successor parish in the Borough of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England, located at the confluence of two streams of the River Ure in the form of the Laver and Skell. The city is noted for its main feature the Ripon Cathedral which is architecturally...
. He also created more prebends in his diocese, extending the work of his two predecessors in introducing the Norman system of ecclesiastical government. He is said have only been stopped from approrpiating the relics of Saint Eata by a vision of the saint. He also endowed the Augustinian priory
Priory
A priory is a house of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the Premonstratensians, and the...
of Hexham with lands and books. He had helped found the priory at Hexham when he expelled the hereditary priest from the church and settled canons there from Huntingdon.
Thomas died at Beverley on 24 February 1114. He was noted for his chastity, but equally noted for his gluttony, and died of overeating. Thomas was buried in York Minster
York Minster
York Minster is a Gothic cathedral in York, England and is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe alongside Cologne Cathedral. The minster is the seat of the Archbishop of York, the second-highest office of the Church of England, and is the cathedral for the Diocese of York; it is run by...
near his uncle. Hugh the Chantor relates the story that Thomas one time when ill was told by his doctors that he would only be cured by intercourse with a young girl. Some of Thomas' friends then attempted to introduce a young woman into his household, but Thomas instead prayed to a saint, John of Beverley
John of Beverley
John of Beverley was an English bishop active in the kingdom of Northumbria. He was the Bishop of Hexham and then the Bishop of York which was the most important religious designation in the area. He went on to found the town of Beverley by building the first structure there, a monastery...
, and recovered.