Thomas de Cantilupe

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Thomas de Cantilupe
Denomination Roman Catholic
Senior posting
See Diocese of Hereford
Title Bishop of Hereford
Period in office 1275 - 1282
Predecessor John de Breton
Successor Richard Swinefield
Personal
Date of birth about 1218
Place of birth Hambledon, Buckinghamshire
Date of death 25 August 1282
Place of death Ferento, Montefiascone, Italy
Thomas of Hereford
Bishop
Born c 1218, Hambledon, Buckinghamshire
Died 25 August 1282, Ferento, Montefiascone, Italy
Venerated in Roman Catholic Church; Anglican Communion
Canonized 1320
Major shrine Hereford Cathedral
Feast 25 August, 2 October
Attributes dressed as a bishop
Saints Portal

Thomas de Cantilupe (c. 1218 – 25 August 1282), was an English saint and prelate.

Contents

[edit] Early years

He was a son of William de Cantilupe, the 2nd baron (d. 1251), one of King John's ministers, and a nephew of Walter de Cantilupe, Bishop of Worcester (d.1266). He was born at Hambleden in Buckinghamshire and was educated in Paris and Orleans.

[edit] Career

Thomas became a teacher of canon law at Oxford and Chancellor of the University in 1261.[1]

During the Barons' War Thomas favoured Simon de Montfort and the baronial party. He represented the barons before St Louis of France at Amiens in 1264.

He was made Chancellor of England on February 25, 1264,[2] but was deprived of this office after Montfort's death at Evesham, and lived out of England for some time. Returning to England, he was again Chancellor of Oxford University, lectured on theology, and held several ecclesiastical appointments.[1]

[edit] Bishop of Hereford

In 1274 he attended the second council of Lyons,[citation needed] and about June 14, 1275 he was appointed Bishop of Hereford and was consecrated on September 8, 1275.[3]

Cantilupe was now a trusted adviser of Edward I and lived at Earley in Berkshire when attending royal councils in Windsor or Westminster. Even when differing from the King's opinions, he did not forfeit his favour.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Kilwardby, was also his friend; but after Kilwardby's death in 1279 a series of disputes arose between the bishop and the new archbishop, John Peckham, and this drove Cantilupe to visit the Pope.[1]

[edit] Death, burial and canonisation

He died at Ferento, near Orvieto, in Italy on the 25 August 1282.[3][1] He was buried in Hereford Cathedral and, with his canonisation in 1320,[1] his shrine became a popular place of pilgrimage. The base can still be seen there today. Since 1881, a reliquary containing his skull has been held at Downside Abbey in Somerset.

[edit] Legacy

Cantilupe appears to have been an exemplary Bishop both in spiritual and secular affairs. His charities were large and his private life blameless; he was constantly visiting his diocese, correcting offenders and discharging other episcopal duties; and he compelled neighboring landholders to restore estates which rightly belonged to the see of Hereford.

In 1905 the Cantilupe Society was founded to publish the episcopal registers of Hereford, of which Cantilupe's is the first in existence.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e Walsh A New Dictionary of Saints p. 598
  2. ^ Fryde Handbook of British Chronology p. 85
  3. ^ a b Fryde Handbook of British Chronology p. 250

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Political offices
Preceded by
John Chishull		 Lord Chancellor
1264–1265		 Succeeded by
Ralph Sandwich
(Keeper of the Great Seal)
Religious titles
Preceded by
John de Breton		 Bishop of Hereford
1275–1282		 Succeeded by
Richard Swinefield
Academic offices
Preceded by
Richard de S. Agatha		 Chancellor of the University of Oxford
1262–1264		 Succeeded by
Henry de Cicestre
Persondata
NAME de Cantilupe, Thomas
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION Bishop of Hereford; Saint
DATE OF BIRTH
PLACE OF BIRTH
DATE OF DEATH August 25, 1282
PLACE OF DEATH