Alfwold
Encyclopedia
Alfwold (d 1058) was a saint
and Bishop of Sherborne in Dorset
.
. He was at first a monk of Winchester
, then was consecrated Bishop of Sherborne in 1045, succeeding his own brother Brithwyn
(or Brihtwine). His frugality of life served as a powerful contrast to the contemporary custom of riotous banqueting after the example of the Danish monarchs.
He showed great devotion to Saint Swithun
, his old patron of Winchester, and also to Saint Cuthbert
, to whose shrine at Durham
he made a pilgrimage. He died while singing the antiphon
of Saint Cuthbert. He was in a sense the last Bishop of Sherborne, as after his death the see of Sherborne was united to that of Ramsbury
.
He died in 1058.
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
and Bishop of Sherborne in Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
.
Life
Little is known of him apart from the information given by William of MalmesburyWilliam of Malmesbury
William of Malmesbury was the foremost English historian of the 12th century. C. Warren Hollister so ranks him among the most talented generation of writers of history since Bede, "a gifted historical scholar and an omnivorous reader, impressively well versed in the literature of classical,...
. He was at first a monk of Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
, then was consecrated Bishop of Sherborne in 1045, succeeding his own brother Brithwyn
Brithwyn
Brithwyn was a medieval Bishop of Sherborne.He was consecrated between 1014 and 1017. He died between 1014 and 1017.-References:...
(or Brihtwine). His frugality of life served as a powerful contrast to the contemporary custom of riotous banqueting after the example of the Danish monarchs.
He showed great devotion to Saint Swithun
Saint Swithun
Swithun was an Anglo-Saxon bishop of Winchester and subsequently patron saint of Winchester Cathedral. His historical importance as bishop is overshadowed by his reputation for posthumous miracle-working...
, his old patron of Winchester, and also to Saint Cuthbert
Cuthbert
- People :*Cuthbert , Anglo-Saxon saint, bishop, monk and hermit*Cuthbert of Canterbury , Archbishop of Canterbury*Cuthbert Bardsley , Anglican Bishop of Coventry*Cuthbert Brodrick , British architect...
, to whose shrine at Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
he made a pilgrimage. He died while singing the antiphon
Antiphon
An antiphon in Christian music and ritual, is a "responsory" by a choir or congregation, usually in Gregorian chant, to a psalm or other text in a religious service or musical work....
of Saint Cuthbert. He was in a sense the last Bishop of Sherborne, as after his death the see of Sherborne was united to that of Ramsbury
Ramsbury
Ramsbury is a village in Ramsbury and Axford civil parish in the English county of Wiltshire. The village is in the Kennet Valley near the Berkshire boundary. The nearest towns are Hungerford about east and Marlborough about west. The much larger town of Swindon is about to the north.The civil...
.
He died in 1058.