Ralph de Luffa

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Ralph de Luffa
Denomination Catholic
Senior posting
See Diocese of Chichester
Title Bishop of Chichester
Period in office 1091–1123
Predecessor Godfrey
Successor Seffrid
Personal
Date of death December 14, 1123

Ralph de Luffa or Ralph Luffa (died 1123) was an English bishop of Chichester, from 1091 to 1123.[1]

Contents

[edit] Life

He was consecrated on January 6, 1091[2] by Thomas Archbishop of York.[3] He had previously been a chaplain for King William II of England, nicknamed "Rufus", and was also the king's friend.[4] He had also served Rufus as a justiciar.[5] He was largely responsible for the building of Chichester Cathedral, the current fabric of which is "fundamentally the same church erected" by him.[6] He also built at Amberley, West Sussex.[7] William of Malmesbury had high praise for Ralph's actions as bishop, where he is said to have toured his diocese three times a year on preaching tours, as well as only accepting gifts from his flock.[4] William of Malmesbury also praised Ralph's piety.[8] During the crisis between the king and Archbishop Anselm of Canterbury in 1095 and 1096, Ralph managed to support Anselm while retaining the king's respect.[9][4] In 1106 during the height of the Investiture Crisis in England, Ralph signed a letter to Anselm written by William Giffard Bishop of Winchester-elect that begged the archbishop to return to England from his exile.[10]

After his cathedral church was burned down in 1114, Ralph managed to secure King Henry I of England's financial help in rebuilding the church. Ralph also gained Henry's respect because Ralph was the lone bishop to resist Henry's financial extortion from the clergy. It was during Ralph's tenure of the see that the first disputes between the bishop and Battle Abbey started, although they were not large. Mainly they had to do with the right of the bishop to be entertained by the abbey and the requirement that the abbot attend the diocesan councils. Ralph also supported Anselm's attempts to assert Canterbury's primacy over the Archbishop of York in 1108 and 1109.[11]

On his deathbed, he gave away all his belongings, including his sheets and underclothes.[4] He died on December 14, 1123.[2]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ 1911 Britannica Online article on Chichester accessed on August 25, 2007
  2. ^ a b Fryde Handbook of British Chronology p. 238
  3. ^ British History Online Bishops of Chichester accessed on October 20, 2007
  4. ^ a b c d Barlow The English Church p. 68
  5. ^ Cantor Church, Kingship and Lay Investiture p. 33 footnote 102
  6. ^ A Visitor Guide to West Sussex: Chichester accessed on August 25, 2007
  7. ^ Amberley Castle History accessed on August 25, 2007
  8. ^ Barlow William Rufus p. 180
  9. ^ Cantor Church, Kingship and Lay Investiture p. 81
  10. ^ Cantor Church, Kingship and Lay Investiture p. 256
  11. ^ Mayr-Harting "Ralph [Ralph Luffa] (d. 1123)" Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Online Edition accessed November 24, 2007

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Roman Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Godfrey		 Bishop of Chichester
1091–1123		 Succeeded by
Seffrid
Persondata
NAME Ralph de Luffa
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Ralph Luffa
SHORT DESCRIPTION Bishop of Chichester
DATE OF BIRTH
PLACE OF BIRTH
DATE OF DEATH December 14, 1123
PLACE OF DEATH