Thomas Wallensis (died 1255) was a Welsh

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 = , ...

, archdeacon of Lincoln and then

bishop of St. David's The Bishop of St Davids is the ordinary of the Church in Wales Diocese of St Davids. The succession of bishops stretches back to Saint David who in the 6th century established his seat in what is today the city of St Davids in Pembrokeshire, ...

Life

Thomas was a canon of Lincoln Cathedral in 1235, when he witnessed a charter of

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 ...

's. He was one of Grosseteste's group of translators, with a knowledge of Greek. He entered the

Order of Friars Minor The Order of Friars Minor (also called the Franciscans, the Franciscan Order, or the Seraphic Order; postnominal abbreviation OFM) is a mendicant Catholic religious order, founded in 1209 by Francis of Assisi. The order adheres to the teachi ...

after their arrival in the country about 1237 and became one of the first four Franciscans to teach at the

University of Oxford , mottoeng = The Lord is my light , established = , endowment = £6.1 billion (including colleges) (2019) , budget = £2.145 billion (2019–20) , chancellor ...

. While he was regent master in theology at the

University of Paris , image_name = Coat of arms of the University of Paris.svg , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of Arms , latin_name = Universitas magistrorum et scholarium Parisiensis , motto = ''Hic et ubique terrarum'' (Latin) , mottoeng = Here and a ...

in 1238, Grosseteste offered him the archdeaconry of Lincoln with a prebend. In 1243 Thomas took an active part in the dispute which arose between Grosseteste and the abbot of Bardney.

Matthew Paris Matthew Paris, also known as Matthew of Paris ( la, Matthæus Parisiensis, lit=Matthew the Parisian; c. 1200 – 1259), was an English Benedictine monk, chronicler, artist in illuminated manuscripts and cartographer, based at St Albans Abbey ...

ascribes the origin of the suit against the abbot to the archdeacon. He was elected to the impoverished bishopric of St. David's on 16 July 1247, accepted it at Grosseteste's urging. He was consecrated on 26 July 1248 at

Canterbury Canterbury (, ) is a cathedral city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, situated in the heart of the City of Canterbury local government district of Kent, England. It lies on the River Stour. The Archbishop of Canterbury is the primate of ...

. He was present at the parliament in London, Easter 1253, and joined in excommunicating violators of Magna Carta. He died on 11 July 1255.

Notes

;Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas Wallensis Year of birth missing 1255 deaths Welsh Friars Minor Welsh translators Archdeacons of Lincoln Bishops of St Davids 13th-century English Roman Catholic bishops