Æthelgar
Encyclopedia
Æthelgar was Archbishop of Canterbury
, and previously Bishop of Selsey.
before he was the discipulus of Aethelwold
the Bishop of Winchester
. He then continued as a monk at Abingdon Abbey
, until 964 when he was appointed Abbot of the newly reformed monastery of New Minster, Winchester
, by Bishop Aethelwold. He was consecrated Bishop of Selsey on 2 May 980. He succeeded Dunstan as Archbishop of Canterbury, but "lived for a short time after that – no more than a year and three months". He was transferred to Canterbury in 988. He may have continued to hold his abbacy along with his bishopric and archbishopric until his death. Æthelgar died on 13 February 990.
While archbishop, Æthelgar received two letters from monasteries in Flanders, seeking support and prayers from Æthelgar. One was from the Falrad, the abbot of Saint Vaast Abbey, which requested that relations between the abbey and Canterbury remain good, as they had in Dunstan's time, and implies that Falrad had given verbal instructions to the messenger carrying the letter to seek further support on other issues. The second letter was from Odbert, the abbot of Saint Bertin Abbey
, and congratulates Æthelgar on becoming archbishop and solicits financial aid for his monastery.
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...
, and previously Bishop of Selsey.
Biography
Æthelgar was a monk at Glastonbury AbbeyGlastonbury 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....
before he was the discipulus of Aethelwold
Æthelwold of Winchester
Æthelwold of Winchester , was Bishop of Winchester from 963 to 984 and one of the leaders of the tenth century monastic reform movement in Anglo-Saxon England....
the Bishop of Winchester
Bishop of Winchester
The Bishop of Winchester is the head of the Church of England diocese of Winchester, with his cathedra at Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire.The bishop is one of five Church of England bishops to be among the Lords Spiritual regardless of their length of service. His diocese is one of the oldest and...
. He then continued as a monk at Abingdon Abbey
Abingdon Abbey
Abingdon Abbey was a Benedictine monastery also known as St Mary's Abbey located in Abingdon, historically in the county of Berkshire but now in Oxfordshire, England.-History:...
, until 964 when he was appointed Abbot of the newly reformed monastery of New Minster, Winchester
New Minster, Winchester
The New Minster, Winchester was a royal Benedictine abbey founded in 901 in Winchester in the English county of Hampshire.Alfred the Great had intended to build the monastery, but only got around to buying the land. His son, Edward the Elder, finished the project according to Alfred's wishes, with...
, by Bishop Aethelwold. He was consecrated Bishop of Selsey on 2 May 980. He succeeded Dunstan as Archbishop of Canterbury, but "lived for a short time after that – no more than a year and three months". He was transferred to Canterbury in 988. He may have continued to hold his abbacy along with his bishopric and archbishopric until his death. Æthelgar died on 13 February 990.
While archbishop, Æthelgar received two letters from monasteries in Flanders, seeking support and prayers from Æthelgar. One was from the Falrad, the abbot of Saint Vaast Abbey, which requested that relations between the abbey and Canterbury remain good, as they had in Dunstan's time, and implies that Falrad had given verbal instructions to the messenger carrying the letter to seek further support on other issues. The second letter was from Odbert, the abbot of Saint Bertin Abbey
Abbey of Saint Bertin
The Abbey of St. Bertin was a Benedictine abbey in Saint-Omer, France, now in ruins and open to the public...
, and congratulates Æthelgar on becoming archbishop and solicits financial aid for his monastery.