Wulfstan, Bishop of Worcester

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Saint Wulfstan
Bishop
Born 1008, Long Itchington, Warwickshire
Died 1095, Worcester, Worcestershire
Venerated in Roman Catholic Church; Anglican Communion
Canonized May 14, 1203 by Pope Innocent III
Major shrine Worcester Cathedral (destroyed)
Feast 19 January
Attributes Bishop
Patronage vegetarians and dieters
Saints Portal
Wulfstan
Denomination Catholic
Senior posting
See Diocese of Worcester
Title Bishop of Worcester
Period in office 1062–1095
Predecessor Ealdred
Successor Samson
Religious career
Previous post Prior of Worcester
Personal
Date of birth 1008
Place of birth Long Itchington, Warwickshire
Date of death January 1095

Saint Wulfstan (sometimes Wulfstan II, also known as Wolstan, Wulstan and Ulfstan), Bishop of Worcester, was the lone bishop to be kept in his post by William the Conqueror after the Norman conquest. Wulfstan is a Christian saint.

Contents

[edit] Denomination

His denomination as Wulfstan II is to indicate that he is the second Bishop Wulfstan of Worcester. This, however, does not prevent confusion, since the first Bishop Wulfstan is also called Wulfstan II to denote that he was the second Archbishop of York called Wulfstan. To make matters worse, Wulfstan II, Archbishop of York, was the maternal uncle of Wulfstan II, Bishop of Worcester.

[edit] Life

Wulfstan was born about 1008 at Long Itchington in the English county of Warwickshire.[1] His family lost their lands around the time King Cnut of England came to the throne.[2] He was probably named after his uncle, Wulfstan II, Archbishop of York. Through his uncle's influence, he studied at monasteries in Evesham and Peterborough, before becoming a clerk at Worcester. During this time, his superiors, noting his reputation for dedication and chastity, urged him to join the priesthood. Wulfstan was ordained shortly thereafter, in 1038, and soon joined a monastery of Benedictines at Worcester.

Wulfstan served as treasurer and then prior of Worcester.[3] Considering how well financially and spiritually the monastery did under his care,[citation needed] Wulfstan was consecrated Bishop of Worcester on September 8, 1062.[4] He was a confidant of Harold Godwinson, who helped secure the bishopric for Wulfstan.[5] Something of a social reformer, Wulfstan struggled to bridge the gap between the old and new regimes, and to alleviate the suffering of the poor. After the Norman conquest of England, Wulfstan was the only bishop allowed to keep his old post by William I of England, noting that pastoral care of his diocese was Wulfstan's principal interest.

In 1072 he signed the Accord of Winchester. In 1075, Wulfstan and the Worcestershire levy put down the rebellion known as 'The Bridal of Norwich' of Ralph de Guader, Earl of Norfolk, Roger de Breteuil, 2nd Earl of Hereford and the Saxon Waltheof, Earl of Northumbria, against William the Conqueror.

He is responsible for the founding of Great Malvern Priory, and undertook much large scale rebuilding work including Worcester Cathedral, Hereford Cathedral, Tewkesbury Abbey, and many other churches in the Worcester, Hereford and Gloucester areas.

Wulfstan died 20 January of 1087 after a protracted illness.[6] After his death, he had an altar dedicated to him in Great Malvern Priory alongside Cantilupe of Hereford and King Edward the Confessor.

At Easter of 1158, Henry II and his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine visited Worcester Cathedral and placed their crowns on the shrine of Wulfstan, vowing not to wear them again.

Wulfstan was canonized on May 14, 1203 by Pope Innocent III.[3] One of the miracles attributed to Wulfstan was the curing of King Harold's daughter.

[edit] Notable dedications

St Wul(f)stan's is the name of several notable churches:

Saint Wulstan's name has also been given to a former psychiatric hospital near Malvern and a nature reserve on the site of this former hospital.

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Walsh A New Dictionary of Saints p. 631
  2. ^ Fleming Kings & Lords p. 41
  3. ^ a b British History Online Bishops of Worcester accessed on November 3, 2007
  4. ^ Powicke Handbook of British Chronology p. 260
  5. ^ Fleming Kings & Lords p. 79
  6. ^ William of Malmesbury, Saints' lives: Lives of SS. Wulfstan, Dunstan, Patrick, Benignus and Indract. 2002. pp 141-3.

[edit] References

  • Attwater, Donald and Catherine Rachel John. The Penguin Dictionary of Saints. 3rd edition. New York: Penguin Books, 1993. ISBN 0-140-51312-4.
  • British History Online Bishops of Worcester accessed on November 3, 2007
  • Fleming, Robin (2004). Kings & Lords in Conquest England, Reprint, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-52694-9. 
  • Mason, Emma St. Wulfstan of Worcester, 1008-95
  • Powicke, F. Maurice and E. B. Fryde Handbook of British Chronology 2nd. ed. London:Royal Historical Society 1961
  • Walsh, Michael A New Dictionary of Saints: East and West London: Burns & Oates 2007 ISBN 08601-2438-X
  • William of Malmesbury. The Life of St Wulstan

[edit] External links

Religious titles
Preceded by
Ealdred		 Bishop of Winchester
1062–1095		 Succeeded by
Samson
Saints Portal
Persondata
NAME Wulfstan
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Wulfstan II; Wolstan; Wulstan; Ulfstan
SHORT DESCRIPTION Bishop of Worcester; Saint
DATE OF BIRTH 1008
PLACE OF BIRTH Long Itchington, Warwickshire
DATE OF DEATH January 1095
PLACE OF DEATH