Ranulf of Wareham
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| Denomination | Catholic |
|---|---|
| Senior posting | |
| See | Diocese of Chichester |
| Title | Bishop of Chichester |
| Period in office | 1217–1222 |
| Predecessor | Richard Poore |
| Successor | Ralph Neville |
| Religious career | |
| Previous post | Prior of Norwich |
| Personal | |
| Date of death | September 1222 |
Ranulf of Wareham or Ranulph de Wareham or Ralph Wareham was a medieval Bishop of Chichester.
[edit] Life
He was a monk of Norwich Cathedral before becoming prior of that foundation by 1217.[1] Nothing else is known of his ancestry or origins except that he either came from Wareham, Dorset or Warham, Norfolk. He is referred to as magister, showing that he had a university education. He acted as Bishop John de Gray of Norwich's agent during Gray's frequent absences from his see, and after Gray died in 1214, King John of England appointed him the royal custodian of the diocese during the vacancy. With the election of Pandulph to Norwich in 1215, Ranulf was once more left in charge of the diocese while the bishop went to Rome.[2]
He was captured by the baronial forces in May of 1216, and was not released until August of 1217. He owed his capture to his service to one of the main supporters of King John. However, at some point in 1217 he was elected by the cathedral chapter of Norwich to the office of prior. It is unclear if he was ever formally installed as prior before his election as bishop of Chichester. His elevation to the episcopate was due to the influence of the papal legate Cardinal Guala Bicchieri.[2]
He was nominated to the see of Chichester about December 17, 1217, and was consecrated on January 7, 1218.[3] His election was a rare example of a monk being chosen as bishop by a non-monastic cathedral chapter.[4] He mainly occupied himself with diocesan affairs, although he did journey to Rome in 1218 to negotiate about the payment of tribute on the king's behalf.[2]
He died on September 14 or September 15 in 1222,[3] after having been paralyzed for some time before his death.[2] His death was commenorated on September 15.[5] His bones may have been found in 1829 in Chichester Cathedral.[2]
[edit] Notes
- ^ British History Online Priors of Norwich accessed on October 21, 2007
- ^ a b c d e Hoskin "Wareham, Ranulf of (d. 1222)" Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Online Edition revised in October 2007 accessed November 26, 2007
- ^ a b Fryde Handbook of British Chronology p. 239
- ^ Moorman Church Life in England in the Thirteenth Century p. 161 footnote 3
- ^ British History Online Bishops of Chichester accessed on October 21, 2007
[edit] References
- British History Online Bishops of Chichester accessed on October 21, 2007
- British History Online Priors of Norwich accessed on October 21, 2007
- Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I. (1996). Handbook of British Chronology, Third Edition, revised, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-56350-X.
- Hoskin, Philippa "Wareham, Ranulf of (d. 1222)" Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford University Press, October 2007 Online Edition revised in October 2007 accessed November 26, 2007
- Moorman, John R. H. Church Life in England in the Thirteenth Century Revised Edition Cambridge:Cambridge University Press 1955
| Roman Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Richard Poore |
Bishop of Chichester 1217–1222 |
Succeeded by Ralph Neville |
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Ranulf of Wareham |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Wareham, Ranulph de; Wareham, Ralph |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Bishop of Chichester |
| DATE OF BIRTH | |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | |
| DATE OF DEATH | September 1222 |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |
