Walter Branscombe
Encyclopedia
Walter Branscombe was Bishop of Exeter
from 1258 to 1280.
, as well as a number of other benefices. He also was archdeacon of Surrey. In 1250, he acted as King Henry III of England
's representative at the papal curia
, and was appointed the king's proctor
the next year. Besides being a royal clerk, he was often named as a papal chaplain also. Before 1254 he became a canon
of Exeter Cathedral
.
Branscombe was elected to the see of Exeter
on 23 February 1258 and consecrated on 10 March 1258. He was ordained a priest on 10 March 1258, with both rites being performed by Boniface of Savoy, the Archbishop of Canterbury
. He was enthroned at Exeter on 14 April 1258.
Maurice Powicke's opinion was that, having been trained in the royal service, Branscombe settled down to become an assiduous diocesan bishop. He faced some problems at the start of his time as bishop, for right after the death of the previous bishop, Richard Blund
, a number of Blund's officials and clerks had used Blund's seal to forge letters giving away benefices as well as Blund's property. This left Branscombe with debts and administrative issues. He undertook building work on the Lady Chapel
and choir in Exeter Cathedral. He also continued to perform diplomatic missions for the king, as he was at Paris in 1258 and 1263. He attended a general council of the church held at Lyons in the summer of 1274.
Branscombe's register of his diocesan administration is the earliest episcopal one surviving from Exeter. He was a founder of a number of churches in his diocese, and issued sets of instructions for his cathedral church as well as others in his diocese. His last years were occupied with a dispute with Edmund
the Earl of Cornwall
over the earl's infringement of ecclesiastical rights.
Branscombe died on 22 July 1280 at Bishopsteignton
. He was buried in Exeter Cathedral, where his tomb, with the bishop's effigy, still survives.
Bishop of Exeter
The Bishop of Exeter is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Exeter in the Province of Canterbury. The incumbent usually signs his name as Exon or incorporates this in his signature....
from 1258 to 1280.
Life
Nothing is known of Branscombe's ancestry or education, but he was born in Exeter about 1220. He held a prebend in of St Nicholas's College at Wallingford CastleWallingford Castle
Wallingford Castle was a major medieval castle situated in Wallingford in the English county of Oxfordshire , adjacent to the River Thames...
, as well as a number of other benefices. He also was archdeacon of Surrey. In 1250, he acted as King Henry III of England
Henry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
's representative at the papal curia
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
, and was appointed the king's proctor
Proctor
Proctor, a variant of the word procurator, is a person who takes charge of, or acts for, another. The word proctor is frequently used to describe someone who oversees an exam or dormitory.The title is used in England in three principal senses:...
the next year. Besides being a royal clerk, he was often named as a papal chaplain also. Before 1254 he became a canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of Exeter Cathedral
Exeter Cathedral
Exeter Cathedral, the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter at Exeter, is an Anglican cathedral, and the seat of the Bishop of Exeter, in the city of Exeter, Devon in South West England....
.
Branscombe was elected to the see of Exeter
Diocese of Exeter
The Diocese of Exeter is a Church of England diocese covering the county of Devon. It is one of the largest dioceses in England. The Cathedral Church of Saint Peter in Exeter is the seat of the diocesan bishop, the Right Reverend Michael Langrish, Bishop of Exeter. It is part of the Province of...
on 23 February 1258 and consecrated on 10 March 1258. He was ordained a priest on 10 March 1258, with both rites being performed by Boniface of Savoy, 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...
. He was enthroned at Exeter on 14 April 1258.
Maurice Powicke's opinion was that, having been trained in the royal service, Branscombe settled down to become an assiduous diocesan bishop. He faced some problems at the start of his time as bishop, for right after the death of the previous bishop, Richard Blund
Richard Blund
-Life:Blund's family was an important family in the city of Exeter, as his brother Hilary was mayor of Exeter twice, from 1224 to 1230 and from about 1234 to 1235. Because Richard is given the title of magister or master, it is assumed that he attended a university, but which one is unknown...
, a number of Blund's officials and clerks had used Blund's seal to forge letters giving away benefices as well as Blund's property. This left Branscombe with debts and administrative issues. He undertook building work on the Lady Chapel
Lady chapel
A Lady chapel, also called Mary chapel or Marian chapel, is a traditional English term for a chapel inside a cathedral, basilica, or large church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary...
and choir in Exeter Cathedral. He also continued to perform diplomatic missions for the king, as he was at Paris in 1258 and 1263. He attended a general council of the church held at Lyons in the summer of 1274.
Branscombe's register of his diocesan administration is the earliest episcopal one surviving from Exeter. He was a founder of a number of churches in his diocese, and issued sets of instructions for his cathedral church as well as others in his diocese. His last years were occupied with a dispute with Edmund
Edmund, 2nd Earl of Cornwall
Edmund of Cornwall of Almain was the 2nd Earl of Cornwall of the 7th creation.-Early life:Edmund was born at Berkhamsted Castle on 26 December 1249, the second and only surviving son of Richard, 1st Earl of Cornwall and his wife Sanchia of Provence, daughter of Ramon Berenguer, Count of Provence,...
the Earl of Cornwall
Earl of Cornwall
The title of Earl of Cornwall was created several times in the Peerage of England before 1337, when it was superseded by the title Duke of Cornwall, which became attached to heirs-apparent to the throne.-Earl of Cornwall:...
over the earl's infringement of ecclesiastical rights.
Branscombe died on 22 July 1280 at Bishopsteignton
Bishopsteignton
Bishopsteignton is a village in South Devon, England between Newton Abbot and Teignmouth, close to the Teign Estuary. The village is on a steep hill, and has a post office, small pharmacy and a small, family-run supermarket...
. He was buried in Exeter Cathedral, where his tomb, with the bishop's effigy, still survives.
Further reading
- Robinson, O. F. (ed.) The Register of Walter Bronescombe, Bishop of Exeter, 1258–1280, 3 vols. Canterbury & York Society, from 1995
External links
- George OliverGeorge Oliver (historian)George Oliver was an English Roman Catholic priest and historian of the Exeter area.-Life:He was born at Newington, Surrey, on 9 February 1781, and was educated, first at Sedgley Park School, Staffordshire, and afterwards at Stonyhurst College...
, Lives of the Bishops of Exeter: Walter Bronescombe - The Cathedral Church of St. Peter in Exeter: Bishop Bronescombe's Tomb