Gilbert of St Leonard
Encyclopedia
Gilbert of St Leonard was a medieval Bishop of Chichester
.
. He was trained as a canon lawyer and first appears in England in 1254, perhaps having come to England because of the suspension of the University of Paris
in 1253. He taught at Oxford University until 1256, when he probably started working for the bishop of Ely. He was a canon
of Chichester Cathedral
by 28 December 1264. He shared the views of his bishop, Stephen Bersted
, in the baronial party that was led by Simon de Montfort
. He served the papal legate
Ottobon in 1266. In 1268, Walter Giffard
, Archbishop of York
, was employing him as an official, but in the late 1270s he returned to Chichester, probably before Walter Giffard's death in 1279. By 5 April 1279 he was Treasurer of Chichester. He was elected to the see of Chichester on 30 January 1288, and consecrated on 5 September 1288 at Canterbury
.
While bishop Gilbert spent lavishly on expanding his cathedral and on gifts to King Edward I of England
. It was Gilbert that baptised Edward's youngest son Edmund
in 1301 at Woodstock
. He died on 12 February 1305 at Amberley
. He was buried in the lady chapel
of Chichester Cathedral
, where his tomb was destroyed in 1538.
Bishop of Chichester
The Bishop of Chichester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Chichester in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese covers the Counties of East and West Sussex. The see is in the City of Chichester where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity...
.
Life
Gilbert was probably a native of France, deriving his name from the college of St Liphard at Meung-sur-Loire near OrléansOrléans
-Prehistory and Roman:Cenabum was a Gallic stronghold, one of the principal towns of the Carnutes tribe where the Druids held their annual assembly. It was conquered and destroyed by Julius Caesar in 52 BC, then rebuilt under the Roman Empire...
. He was trained as a canon lawyer and first appears in England in 1254, perhaps having come to England because of the suspension of the University of Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
in 1253. He taught at Oxford University until 1256, when he probably started working for the bishop of Ely. He was a canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of Chichester Cathedral
Chichester Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, otherwise called Chichester Cathedral, is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Chichester. It is located in Chichester, in Sussex, England...
by 28 December 1264. He shared the views of his bishop, Stephen Bersted
Stephen Bersted
Stephen Bersted was a medieval Bishop of Chichester.-Life:Bersted was from a humble background, and came from Bersted, Sussex which at the time was part of the archbishop of Canterbury's estate at Pagham. He studied at Oxford University, and was a regent of theology there for a time...
, in the baronial party that was led by Simon de Montfort
Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester
Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, 1st Earl of Chester , sometimes referred to as Simon V de Montfort to distinguish him from other Simon de Montforts, was an Anglo-Norman nobleman. He led the barons' rebellion against King Henry III of England during the Second Barons' War of 1263-4, and...
. He served the papal legate
Papal legate
A papal legate – from the Latin, authentic Roman title Legatus – is a personal representative of the pope to foreign nations, or to some part of the Catholic Church. He is empowered on matters of Catholic Faith and for the settlement of ecclesiastical matters....
Ottobon in 1266. In 1268, Walter Giffard
Walter Giffard
Walter Giffard was Lord Chancellor of England and Archbishop of York.-Family:Giffard was the son of Hugh Giffard, of Boyton in Wiltshire; his mother was Sibyl, the daughter and co-heiress of Walter de Cormeilles. Walter was born about 1225, and may have been the oldest son. Hugh and Sybil were...
, Archbishop of York
Archbishop of York
The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man...
, was employing him as an official, but in the late 1270s he returned to Chichester, probably before Walter Giffard's death in 1279. By 5 April 1279 he was Treasurer of Chichester. He was elected to the see of Chichester on 30 January 1288, and consecrated on 5 September 1288 at Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
.
While bishop Gilbert spent lavishly on expanding his cathedral and on gifts to King Edward I of England
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
. It was Gilbert that baptised Edward's youngest son Edmund
Edmund of Woodstock, 1st Earl of Kent
Edmund of Woodstock, 1st Earl of Kent was a member of the English Royal Family.-Early life:He was born at Woodstock in Oxfordshire, the son of Edward I Longshanks, King of England and his second wife, Margaret of France. He was 62 years younger than his father, who died when Edmund of Woodstock...
in 1301 at Woodstock
Woodstock, Oxfordshire
Woodstock is a small town northwest of Oxford in Oxfordshire, England. It is the location of Blenheim Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Winston Churchill was born in Blenheim Palace in 1874 and is buried in the nearby village of Bladon....
. He died on 12 February 1305 at Amberley
Amberley, West Sussex
Amberley is a village and civil parish in the Horsham District of West Sussex, England.Amberley is situated at the foot of the South Downs. Its neighbours are Storrington, West Chiltington and Arundel. The village is noted for its many thatched cottages...
. He was buried in the lady chapel
Lady chapel
A Lady chapel, also called Mary chapel or Marian chapel, is a traditional English term for a chapel inside a cathedral, basilica, or large church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary...
of Chichester Cathedral
Chichester Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, otherwise called Chichester Cathedral, is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Chichester. It is located in Chichester, in Sussex, England...
, where his tomb was destroyed in 1538.