Roger Weseham (also Roger de Weseham; died 1257) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ...

medieval Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield. Weseham was probably a native of Weasenham, Norfolk,Either Weasenham All Saints or Weasenham St Peter and was educated at

Oxford University Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...

. He graduated with a master's in arts before 1233.Franklin "Wesham, Roger of" ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' He was then a lecturer at Oxford University.Moorman ''Church Life in England'' p. 163 He was

Archdeacon of Oxford The Archdeacon of Oxford is a senior ecclesiastical officer in the Diocese of Oxford, England. The office responsibility includes the care of clergy and church buildings within the area of the ''Archdeaconry of Oxford.'' History The first arch ...

by May 1237 until 1240, when he was appointed

Dean of Lincoln The Dean of Lincoln is the head of the Chapter of Lincoln Cathedral in the city of Lincoln, England in the Church of England Diocese of Lincoln. Christine Wilson was installed as Dean on 22 October 2016.

Robert Grosseteste Robert Grosseteste, ', ', or ') or the gallicised Robert Grosstête ( ; la, Robertus Grossetesta or '). Also known as Robert of Lincoln ( la, Robertus Lincolniensis, ', &c.) or Rupert of Lincoln ( la, Rubertus Lincolniensis, &c.). ( ; la, Rob ...

, who had made Roger a protégé. He was nominated as a bishop and consecrated between 17 May and 4 July 1245.Fryde, et al. ''Handbook of British Chronology'' p. 253 While bishop, Weseham wrote an ''Instituta'' for his clergy, in order to teach them Christian doctrine and help them select sermon topics.Moorman ''Church Life in England'' p. 181 One of the subjects he wanted his clergy to cover the basics tenets of the Christian faith. To do this, he listed all the doctrines in the

Apostles' Creed The Apostles' Creed ( Latin: ''Symbolum Apostolorum'' or ''Symbolum Apostolicum''), sometimes titled the Apostolic Creed or the Symbol of the Apostles, is a Christian creed or "symbol of faith". The creed most likely originated in 5th-century ...

, and covered possible sermon themes relating to each doctrine.Swanson ''Religion and Devotion'' p. 67 He also gathered learned men around him, including the

Franciscan , image = FrancescoCoA PioM.svg , image_size = 200px , caption = A cross, Christ's arm and Saint Francis's arm, a universal symbol of the Franciscans , abbreviation = OFM , predecessor = , ...

Brother Vincent,

John of Basingstoke John of Basingstoke (died 1252), also called John Basing, was an Archdeacon of Leicester in the 13th century. Basingstoke was an advocate of Greek literacy and seems to have been instrumental in introducing the apocryphal ''Testament of the Twelve ...

, a Greek scholar, and

Ralph de Sempringham Ralph de Sempringham (also Sempryngham, Semplyngham, or Sempyngham) was an English medieval churchman, theologist, university chancellor, and dean. Between 1252 and 1255, Ralph de Sempringham was Chancellor of Oxford University. In 1254, he wa ...

, who became

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. Weseham resigned the see in November or December 1256 and died about 20 May 1257. He resigned due to paralysis.Moorman ''Church Life in England'' p. 183 He was buried in

Lichfield Cathedral Lichfield Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in Lichfield, Staffordshire, England, one of only three cathedrals in the United Kingdom with three spires (together with Truro Cathedral and St Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh), and the only medie ...

Citations

References

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Weseham, Roger Year of birth unknown 1257 deaths People from Breckland District Alumni of the University of Oxford Academics of the University of Oxford Deans of Lincoln Bishops of Lichfield 13th-century English Roman Catholic bishops Burials at Lichfield Cathedral