William of Bitton I
Encyclopedia
William of Bitton, usually known as William of Bitton I (or William Button; died 1264) was a medieval English Bishop of Bath and Wells.
in Gloucestershire
. He was a relative of Walter Giffard
and uncle of William of Bitton II
, his two successors in the office of Bishop of Bath and Wells. He was also uncle of Thomas of Bitton, precentor, archdeacon and dean of Wells, and Bishop of Exeter
.
William was an official of Jocelin of Wells
in 1231 and was subdean of Wells in 1233. He was named Archdeacon of Wells by 7 May 1238 and held the office until he was elected bishop. During the election of his predecessor, he championed the cause of the canon
s of Wells, who had been excluded from the election of Roger of Salisbury
in 1244.
William was elected about 24 February 1248 and consecrated 14 June 1248. In 1251 he signed the proclamation of excommunication against any who did not observe the clauses of Magna Carta
dealing with ecclesiastical rights. He served King Henry III of England
by going to Spain in 1253 to bring back a prospective daughter-in-law for the king. In 1257, the bishops made specific reference to William's conflict with the Abbot of Glastonbury in their communications with the king. But mainly, he worked in his diocese, as he issued rules and regulations in the diocese dealing with liturgical and judicial matters for both the laity and clergy. However, he lost a long fight with the abbot of Glastonbury Roger Forde over the right of the bishop to visit and regulate the affairs of Glastonbury Abbey
, and by the end of his term as bishop, the abbey was independent of the diocese in all but name.
William died on 3 April 1264. He was buried in the Lady Chapel at Wells Cathedral
on 8 April 1264. His tomb had disappeared by the 18th century. He should not be confused with his nephew the second William of Bitton
who was also Bishop of Bath and Wells, but who died in 1274.
Life
William was probably born in BittonBitton
Bitton is a village and civil parish in South Gloucestershire, England, in the Greater Bristol area on the River Boyd.It is in the far south of the South Gloucestershire district, near the border with Bath and North East Somerset...
in Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
. He was a relative of Walter Giffard
Walter Giffard
Walter Giffard was Lord Chancellor of England and Archbishop of York.-Family:Giffard was the son of Hugh Giffard, of Boyton in Wiltshire; his mother was Sibyl, the daughter and co-heiress of Walter de Cormeilles. Walter was born about 1225, and may have been the oldest son. Hugh and Sybil were...
and uncle of William of Bitton II
William of Bitton II
William of Bitton, usually known as William of Bitton II was a medieval Bishop of Bath and Wells.-Life:...
, his two successors in the office of Bishop of Bath and Wells. He was also uncle of Thomas of Bitton, precentor, archdeacon and dean of Wells, and Bishop of Exeter
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....
.
William was an official of Jocelin of Wells
Jocelin of Wells
Jocelin of Wells, also known as Jocelinus Thoteman or Jocelin Troteman, was a medieval Bishop of Bath and Wells. He was the brother of Hugh de Wells, who became Bishop of Lincoln. Jocelin became a canon of Wells Cathedral before 1200, and was elected bishop in 1206...
in 1231 and was subdean of Wells in 1233. He was named Archdeacon of Wells by 7 May 1238 and held the office until he was elected bishop. During the election of his predecessor, he championed the cause of the 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 ....
s of Wells, who had been excluded from the election of Roger of Salisbury
Roger of Salisbury, bishop of Bath and Wells
Roger of Salisbury was a Bishop of Bath and Wells.-Life:Roger was a canon of Salisbury by 3 July 1223 and was a theology lecturer at Salisbury by 30 September 1225. In late 1226 or early 1227 he acquired the prebend of Netheravon in the diocese of Salisbury...
in 1244.
William was elected about 24 February 1248 and consecrated 14 June 1248. In 1251 he signed the proclamation of excommunication against any who did not observe the clauses 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...
dealing with ecclesiastical rights. He served 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...
by going to Spain in 1253 to bring back a prospective daughter-in-law for the king. In 1257, the bishops made specific reference to William's conflict with the Abbot of Glastonbury in their communications with the king. But mainly, he worked in his diocese, as he issued rules and regulations in the diocese dealing with liturgical and judicial matters for both the laity and clergy. However, he lost a long fight with the abbot of Glastonbury Roger Forde over the right of the bishop to visit and regulate the affairs of 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....
, and by the end of his term as bishop, the abbey was independent of the diocese in all but name.
William died on 3 April 1264. He was buried in the Lady Chapel at Wells Cathedral
Wells Cathedral
Wells Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral in Wells, Somerset, England. It is the seat of the Bishop of Bath and Wells, who lives at the adjacent Bishop's Palace....
on 8 April 1264. His tomb had disappeared by the 18th century. He should not be confused with his nephew the second William of Bitton
William of Bitton II
William of Bitton, usually known as William of Bitton II was a medieval Bishop of Bath and Wells.-Life:...
who was also Bishop of Bath and Wells, but who died in 1274.