Lyfing, Abbot Of Tavistock

Lyfing of Winchester (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,Lawson ''Cnut'' pp. 116–117 according to the medieval chronicler William of Malmesbury.King "Ealdred" ''Anglo-Norman Studies XVIII'' p. 124 He was probably a monk either at Winchester AbbeyBarlow "Lyfing (d. 1046)" ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' or at Glastonbury Abbey. In 1009, he became Abbot of Tavistock,Knowles ''Heads of Religious Houses'' pp. 72, 255 and that was always his favourite of the offices he held. 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.Fryde, et al. ''Handbook of British Chronology'' p. 215Barlow ''English Church 1000–1066'' p. 73 His elevation probably was due both to his family and to his assistance to Cnut in Rome.Lawson ''Cnut'' p. 137 There is also some indication he may have been a protégé of Godwin, Earl of Wessex.

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

Lyfing was a close friend and trusted counsellor of King Canute the Great and accompanied him on a pilgrimage to Rome in 1027. 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.Stafford ''Unification and Conquest'' p. 86 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.Barlow ''Godwins'' p. 53 In revenge, Sweyn raided the lands of the diocese of Worcester.Barlow ''English Church 1000–1066'' p. 58

Before Lyfing's death, Aldred, who succeeded him at Worcester, had probably been acting as his suffragan or co-bishop.Barlow ''Edward the Confessor'' p. 86 When Lyfing died, he chose to be buried at Tavistock Abbey. 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.Lawson ''Cnut'' p. 66 Tavistock monks also remembered him as a great benefactor to their monastery.Barlow ''English Church 1000–1066'' p. 74

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Further reading

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

External links

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Burials in Devon
Year of birth unknown
11th-century English Roman Catholic bishops
11th-century Christian abbots