Walter de Cantilupe
Encyclopedia
Walter de Cantilupe (anciently Cantelow, Cantelou, Canteloupe, etc, Latinised to de Cantilupo) was a medieval Bishop of Worcester
.
among the evil counsellors of King John of England
, apparently for no better reason than that they were consistently loyal to an unpopular master.
and acting as an itinerant Justice in the early years of Henry III
.
But he also took minor holy orders
, and, in 1236, although not yet a deacon
, received the see of Worcester. He was elected on 30 August 1236 and was consecrated on 3 May 1237. He was ordained a deacon
on 4 April 1237 and a priest on 18 April 1237.
and Robert Grosseteste
. Like his leaders he was sorely divided between his theoretical belief in the papacy as a divine institution and his instinctive condemnation of the policy which Pope Gregory IX
and Pope Innocent IV
pursued in their dealings with the English church. At first a court favorite, the Bishop came at length to the belief that the evils of the time arose from the unprincipled alliance of Crown and Papacy.
In 1240 he conducted the significant Synod of Worcester
, advancing many reforms for the church.
He raised his voice against Papal demands for money, and after the death of Grosseteste in 1253 was the chief spokesman of the nationalist clergy. At the parliament of Oxford
in 1258 he was elected by the popular party as one of their representatives on the committee of twenty-four which undertook to reform the administration; from that time until the outbreak of civil war he was a man of mark in the councils of the baronial party. During the war he sided with Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester
and, through his nephew, Thomas de Cantilupe, who was then Chancellor
of Oxford University, brought over the university to the popular side.
and blessed the Montfortians before they joined battle with the army of the King; he entertained de Montfort on the night before the final rout and defeat of the Battle of Evesham
.
During Simon's dictatorship, the Bishop
appeared only as a mediating influence; in the triumvirate of Electors who controlled the administration, the clergy were represented by the Bishop of Chichester
.
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...
.
Life
He came of a family which had risen by devoted service to the crown. His father, William I de Cantilupe, and his elder brother William II de Cantilupe were named by Roger of WendoverRoger of Wendover
Roger of Wendover , probably a native of Wendover in Buckinghamshire, was an English chronicler of the 13th century.At an uncertain date he became a monk at St Albans Abbey; afterwards he was appointed prior of the cell of Belvoir, but he forfeited this dignity in the early years of Henry III,...
among the evil counsellors of King John of England
John of England
John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
, apparently for no better reason than that they were consistently loyal to an unpopular master.
Early career
Walter at first followed in his father's footsteps, entering the service of the ExchequerExchequer
The Exchequer is a government department of the United Kingdom responsible for the management and collection of taxation and other government revenues. The historical Exchequer developed judicial roles...
and acting as an itinerant Justice in the early years of Henry III
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...
.
But he also took minor holy orders
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
, and, in 1236, although not yet a deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
, received the see of Worcester. He was elected on 30 August 1236 and was consecrated on 3 May 1237. He was ordained a deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
on 4 April 1237 and a priest on 18 April 1237.
Bishop of Worcester
As Bishop, he identified himself with the party of ecclesiastical reform, which was then led by Edmund RichEdmund Rich
Edmund Rich was a 13th century Archbishop of Canterbury in England...
and Robert Grosseteste
Robert Grosseteste
Robert Grosseteste or Grossetete was an English statesman, scholastic philosopher, theologian and Bishop of Lincoln. He was born of humble parents at Stradbroke in Suffolk. A.C...
. Like his leaders he was sorely divided between his theoretical belief in the papacy as a divine institution and his instinctive condemnation of the policy which Pope Gregory IX
Pope Gregory IX
Pope Gregory IX, born Ugolino di Conti, was pope from March 19, 1227 to August 22, 1241.The successor of Pope Honorius III , he fully inherited the traditions of Pope Gregory VII and of his uncle Pope Innocent III , and zealously continued their policy of Papal supremacy.-Early life:Ugolino was...
and Pope Innocent IV
Pope Innocent IV
Pope Innocent IV , born Sinibaldo Fieschi, was pope from June 25, 1243 until his death in 1254.-Early life:...
pursued in their dealings with the English church. At first a court favorite, the Bishop came at length to the belief that the evils of the time arose from the unprincipled alliance of Crown and Papacy.
In 1240 he conducted the significant Synod of Worcester
Synod of Worcester
The Synod of Worcester was conducted by the Bishop of Worcester, England, Walter de Cantilupe on July 26, 1240. The diocesan synod was held in his cathedral. A number of statutes were settled regarding godparents, the life of the clergy and lay people. Among these were that godparents must be three...
, advancing many reforms for the church.
He raised his voice against Papal demands for money, and after the death of Grosseteste in 1253 was the chief spokesman of the nationalist clergy. At the parliament of Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
in 1258 he was elected by the popular party as one of their representatives on the committee of twenty-four which undertook to reform the administration; from that time until the outbreak of civil war he was a man of mark in the councils of the baronial party. During the war he sided with Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester
Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester
Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, 1st Earl of Chester , sometimes referred to as Simon V de Montfort to distinguish him from other Simon de Montforts, was an Anglo-Norman nobleman. He led the barons' rebellion against King Henry III of England during the Second Barons' War of 1263-4, and...
and, through his nephew, Thomas de Cantilupe, who was then Chancellor
Chancellor
Chancellor is the title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the Cancellarii of Roman courts of justice—ushers who sat at the cancelli or lattice work screens of a basilica or law court, which separated the judge and counsel from the...
of Oxford University, brought over the university to the popular side.
The Barons Wars
He was present at the Battle of LewesBattle of Lewes
The Battle of Lewes was one of two main battles of the conflict known as the Second Barons' War. It took place at Lewes in Sussex, on 14 May 1264...
and blessed the Montfortians before they joined battle with the army of the King; he entertained de Montfort on the night before the final rout and defeat of the Battle of Evesham
Battle of Evesham
The Battle of Evesham was one of the two main battles of 13th century England's Second Barons' War. It marked the defeat of Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester, and the rebellious barons by Prince Edward – later King Edward I – who led the forces of his father, King Henry III...
.
During Simon's dictatorship, the 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...
appeared only as a mediating influence; in the triumvirate of Electors who controlled the administration, the clergy were represented by the Bishop of Chichester
Bishop of Chichester
The Bishop of Chichester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Chichester in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese covers the Counties of East and West Sussex. The see is in the City of Chichester where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity...
.