William of Sainte-Mère-Eglise
Encyclopedia
William of Sainte-Mère-Eglise (or William de St Mariæ Ecclesiâ or William of Saint Mere Eglise) was a medieval Bishop of London
.
in France, and he held the prebend of Ealdstreet in the diocese of London
as well as being dean
of St Martin le Grand in London. He also held a prebend in the diocese of York
.
In 1193, William, along with the bishop of Salisbury Hubert Walter
, found King Richard I of England
where he was being held captive at Ochsenfurt
in Germany. He was also named the clerk of the exchequer who was responsible for overseeing the Jewish moneylenders, and worked in Walter's new system of supervision to reduce fraud.
William was elected to the see of London on 16 September 1198 and consecrated on 23 May 1199. He resigned the see on 25 January 1221 and retired to the Augustinian priory of St Osyth's
. He died on 27 March 1224.
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...
.
Life
William's family originated in MancheManche
Manche is a French department in Normandy named after La Manche , which is the French name for the English Channel.- History :Manche is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
in France, and he held the prebend of Ealdstreet in the diocese of London
Diocese of London
The Anglican Diocese of London forms part of the Province of Canterbury in England.Historically the diocese covered a large area north of the Thames and bordered the dioceses of Norwich and Lincoln to the north and west. The present diocese covers and 17 London boroughs, covering most of Greater...
as well as being dean
Dean (religion)
A dean, in a church context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.-Anglican Communion:...
of St Martin le Grand in London. He also held a prebend in the diocese of York
Diocese of York
The Diocese of York is an administrative division of the Church of England, part of the Province of York. It covers the city of York, the eastern part of North Yorkshire, and most of the East Riding of Yorkshire....
.
In 1193, William, along with the bishop of Salisbury Hubert Walter
Hubert Walter
Hubert Walter was an influential royal adviser in the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries in the positions of Chief Justiciar of England, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Lord Chancellor. As chancellor, Walter began the keeping of the Charter Roll, a record of all charters issued by the...
, found King Richard I of England
Richard I of England
Richard I was King of England from 6 July 1189 until his death. He also ruled as Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Lord of Cyprus, Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Count of Nantes, and Overlord of Brittany at various times during the same period...
where he was being held captive at Ochsenfurt
Ochsenfurt
Ochsenfurt is a town in the district of Würzburg, in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated on the left bank of the River Main, here crossed by a stone bridge, 13 miles south from Würzburg by the railway to Munich, and at the junction of a line to Röttingen. Pop. 11,600...
in Germany. He was also named the clerk of the exchequer who was responsible for overseeing the Jewish moneylenders, and worked in Walter's new system of supervision to reduce fraud.
William was elected to the see of London on 16 September 1198 and consecrated on 23 May 1199. He resigned the see on 25 January 1221 and retired to the Augustinian priory of St Osyth's
St. Osyth's Abbey
St. Osyth's Abbey was a house of Augustinian canons in the parish of St. Osyth, Chich, in Essex, England. Founded by the Richard de Belmeis, Bishop of London, circa 1121, it became one of the largest monasteries in Essex and was dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul as well as St. Osyth. Bishop...
. He died on 27 March 1224.