Henry Murdac

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Henry Murdac, abbot of Fountains Abbey (1144-1147) and archbishop of York (1147-1153), was a native of Yorkshire, but descended from a wealthy family from Compton Murdac (now Compton Verney), in Warwickshire. He was friendly with Archbishop Thurstan of York, who gave him preferment in the Cathedral of York, however he resigned soon afterwards when Bernard of Clairvaux invited him to become a Cistercian monk at Clairvaux. He was later appointed abbot of Vauclairs and in 1144 returned to Yorkshire to assume the abbacy at Fountains. Henry was a strict disciplinarian and a magnificent administrator, enforcing his rules by example, in living a life of great austerity and constantly wearing sackcloth next to his skin.

Henry was also at the forefront of opposition to the appointment of William FitzHerbert to the see of York, by King Stephen. William, who was the king’s nephew, was accused by some of simony and unchaste living; in a letter to Pope Innocent II, Bernard maintained that Fitzherbert was ‘rotten from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.’ FitzHerbert was at first suspended by the pope and in 1147 he was formally deposed by the Council of Rheims.

Murdac was installed as the new archbishop of York, however, the chapter of York refused to acknowledge his appointment, so he retired to Beverley. King Stephen refused to recognise him, sequestered the stalls of York and imposed a fine on the town of Beverley for harbouring him. In retaliation, Murdac excommunicated Hugh De Puisnet, Treasurer of York, and his other enemies and laid the city under interdict. Puisnet, in return, excommunicated the Archbishop and ordered the services to be conducted as usual, in which he was supported by Eustace, son of Stephen.

In 1153, Puisnet was elected Bishop of Durham, which greatly offended Murdac chiefly because he, as metropolitan of the province, had not been consulted. He excommunicated the Prior and Archdeacon of Durham, who came to York to implore mercy and absolution. The King and his son, Eustace, implored him to grant the rebels absolution, but he refused, until they came to Beverley, acknowledged their fault, and submitted to scourging at the entrance to the Minster when he did absolve them.

Murdac spent five of his six years as archbishop in Ripon. Despite everything, Henry retained his influence over Fountains and the three succeeding abbots, Maurice (1148), Thorald (1148-1150) and Richard (1150-1170), were suffragen abbots under him.

Following Henry’s death in 1153 William FitzHerbert was reinstalled as archbishop and made his peace with the community at Fountains.

Religious Posts
Preceded by William FitzHerbert	Archbishop of York 1147–1153	Succeeded by William FitzHerbert