Lyfing of Winchester

Lyfing of WinchesterTemplate:Efn (died March 1046) was an Anglo-Saxon prelate who served as Bishop of Worcester, Bishop of Crediton and Bishop of Cornwall.

Life

Lyfing's uncle was Burhweald, Bishop of Cornwall,<ref name=Cnut116>Lawson Cnut pp. 116–117</ref> according to the medieval chronicler William of Malmesbury.<ref name=King124>King "Ealdred" Anglo-Norman Studies XVIII p. 124</ref> He was probably a monk either at Winchester Abbey<ref name=DNB>Barlow "Lyfing (d. 1046)" Oxford Dictionary of National Biography</ref> or at Glastonbury Abbey. In 1009, he became Abbot of Tavistock,<ref name=Heads72>Knowles Heads of Religious Houses pp. 72, 255</ref> and that was always his favourite of the offices he held.Template:Citation needed In 1027, he became the Bishop of Crediton, and about the same time he became Bishop of Cornwall on the death of his uncle Brihtwold, so he united those two sees, with the seat at Crediton.<ref name=Handbook215>Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 215</ref><ref name=Church73>Barlow English Church 1000–1066 p. 73</ref> His elevation probably was due both to his family and to his assistance to Cnut in Rome.<ref name=Cnut137>Lawson Cnut p. 137</ref> There is also some indication he may have been a protégé of Godwin, Earl of Wessex.<ref name=DNB/>

In 1038 or 1039, Lyfing also became Bishop of Worcester, but was deprived of the see in 1040.<ref name=Handbook224>Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 224</ref> King Harold Harefoot gave Worcester to Lyfing because of Lyfing's support of Harold.<ref name=Cnut116/> His deprivation was due to King Harthacnut's belief that Lyfing was involved in the death of Harthacnut's half brother Alfred Atheling.<ref name=Stenton422>Stenton Anglo-Saxon England p. 422-423</ref> Lyfing was accused by Aelfric Puttoc, the archbishop of York, who briefly replaced Lyfing at Worcester.<ref name=Stafford80>Stafford Unification and Conquest p. 80</ref> Lyfing seems to have claimed that he was merely following the orders of Harold Harefoot.<ref name=Mason41>Mason House of Godwine p. 41</ref> However, he was restored to Worcester in 1041 and held the three sees until his death on 20, 23 or 25 March 1046.<ref name=Handbook224/>

Lyfing was a close friend and trusted counsellor of King Canute the Great<ref name=DNB/> and accompanied him on a pilgrimage to Rome in 1027.<ref name=Heads72/> Florence of Worcester, the medieval chronicler, claims that Lyfing, along with Godwin, was instrumental in securing the succession of Edward the Confessor to the throne of England on Harthacnut's death.<ref name=Stafford86>Stafford Unification and Conquest p. 86</ref> A tradition at Worcester also recorded that it was Lyfing, along with Archbishop Eadsige of Canterbury, who forced Sweyn Godwinson to release Eadgifu, the abbess of Leominster whom Sweyn had kidnapped.<ref name=Godwins53>Barlow Godwins p. 53</ref> In revenge, Sweyn raided the lands of the diocese of Worcester.<ref name=Church58>Barlow English Church 1000–1066 p. 58</ref>

Before Lyfing's death, Aldred, who succeeded him at Worcester, had probably been acting as his suffragan or co-bishop.<ref name=Confessor86>Barlow Edward the Confessor p. 86</ref> When Lyfing died, he chose to be buried at Tavistock Abbey.<ref name=DNB/> Lyfing was a pluralist and never enjoyed a good reputation. However, the D version of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle describes him as "the eloquent bishop", which may imply that he was noted as an important preacher.<ref name=Cnut66>Lawson Cnut p. 66</ref> Tavistock monks also remembered him as a great benefactor to their monastery.<ref name=Church74>Barlow English Church 1000–1066 p. 74</ref>

References

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Further reading

• Conner, Patrick W. (1993) Anglo-Saxon Exeter: a Tenth-century Cultural History Woodbridge : Boydell Template:ISBN

External links

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