Spearhafoc

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Spearhafoc was an eleventh century Abbot of Abingdon and Bishop-Elect of London.

Spearhafoc was a monk at Bury, and a skilled goldsmith. King Edward imposed him as Abbot of Abingdon following death of Æthelstan.

In 1051 King Edward tried to promote him to Bishop of London, but Robert of Jumièges refused to consecrate him, claiming that the Pope had forbidden it. After the fall of Earl Godwin, Spearhafoc was expelled from London, and fled abroad, taking with him the gold and gems intended for King Edward's crown (Barlow 1970; Kelly 2000).

[edit] References

• Barlow, Frank 1970. Edward the Confessor.
• Kelly, S. E. 2000. Charters of Abingdon, part 1. Anglo-Saxon Charters 7.