Godfrey Ludham
Encyclopedia
Godfrey Ludham was Archbishop of York
from 1258 to 1265.
, Norfolk
, and he had a brother Thomas who was also a priest. Matthew Paris
gives him the name Godfrey Kineton, but without any explanation of why that was his name. He attended a university, for he bore the title of magister but the exact university is unknown.
Ludham was a clerk of Archbishop Walter de Gray
before 17 June 1226 and was the rector of the moiety of Pengston by 26 August 1228. He was named Precentor
of York by September 1249, and may have held that office by 1244.
Ludham served as Dean of York
from 1256 to 1258 before being elected as Archbishop of York about 25 July 1258. He was consecreated on 22 September 1258 by Pope Alexander IV
at Viterbo
. His brother Thomas was papal chaplain, and held prebends
at York Minster
and Southwell Minster
. He was enthroned at York Minster sometime around Christmas of 1258.
While archbishop, Ludham visited monasteries, and issued a set of synodal decrees for York were issued in 1259. He excommunicated the monks of Beverley because they had intruded into archiepiscopal property. In 1261 he put an interdict on the city of York for unspecified offenses against the cathedral chapter and himself. Unfortunately, no register of his acts survives, so no detailed study of his time as archbishop is possible. He, however, does not seem to have played any part in the political life of the kingdom.
In 1191 John, Count of Mortain, (later King John of England
) had granted the church of Walesby
and its chapelry of Haughton
to the church of St Mary, Rouen
, and in 1257, Ludham confirmed Rouen's authority to present Walesby's vicar, and specified among his dues and duties the chapel of Hockton with its tithes, and the joint funding with Rouen of repairs, rebuilding, books, vestments and other alterages.
Ludham died on 12 January 1265, and was buried in the south transept
of York Minster. In 1968 his tomb was opened and studied because of construction work in the cathedral, and his body had evidently been embalmed. A mitre
was on his head, and he had his pallium
as well as a crozier and silver chalice and paten.
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...
from 1258 to 1265.
Life
Ludham's parents were Richard and Eda of LudhamLudham
Ludham is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk, in The Broads, at the end of a dyke leading to Womack Water and flowing into the River Thurne...
, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, and he had a brother Thomas who was also a priest. Matthew Paris
Matthew Paris
Matthew Paris was a Benedictine monk, English chronicler, artist in illuminated manuscripts and cartographer, based at St Albans Abbey in Hertfordshire...
gives him the name Godfrey Kineton, but without any explanation of why that was his name. He attended a university, for he bore the title of magister but the exact university is unknown.
Ludham was a clerk of Archbishop Walter de Gray
Walter de Gray
Walter de Gray was an English prelate and statesman who rose to be Archbishop of York and Lord Chancellor.-Life:Gray was the son of John de Gray the Elder of Eaton in Norfolk and nephew of John de Gray , Bishop of Norwich. His sister, Hawise, married the Justiciar of England, Philip Basset...
before 17 June 1226 and was the rector of the moiety of Pengston by 26 August 1228. He was named Precentor
Precentor
A precentor is a person who helps facilitate worship. The details vary depending on the religion, denomination, and era in question. The Latin derivation is "præcentor", from cantor, meaning "the one who sings before" ....
of York by September 1249, and may have held that office by 1244.
Ludham served as Dean of York
Dean of York
The Dean of York is the member of the clergy who is responsible for the running of the York Minster cathedral.-11th–12th centuries:* 1093–c.1135: Hugh* c.1138–1143: William of Sainte-Barbe...
from 1256 to 1258 before being elected as Archbishop of York about 25 July 1258. He was consecreated on 22 September 1258 by Pope Alexander IV
Pope Alexander IV
Pope Alexander IV was Pope from 1254 until his death.Born as Rinaldo di Jenne, in Jenne , he was, on his mother's side, a member of the de' Conti di Segni family, the counts of Segni, like Pope Innocent III and Pope Gregory IX...
at Viterbo
Viterbo
See also Viterbo, Texas and Viterbo UniversityViterbo is an ancient city and comune in the Lazio region of central Italy, the capital of the province of Viterbo. It is approximately 80 driving / 80 walking kilometers north of GRA on the Via Cassia, and it is surrounded by the Monti Cimini and...
. His brother Thomas was papal chaplain, and held prebends
Prebendary
A prebendary is a post connected to an Anglican or Catholic cathedral or collegiate church and is a type of canon. Prebendaries have a role in the administration of the cathedral...
at York Minster
York Minster
York Minster is a Gothic cathedral in York, England and is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe alongside Cologne Cathedral. The minster is the seat of the Archbishop of York, the second-highest office of the Church of England, and is the cathedral for the Diocese of York; it is run by...
and Southwell Minster
Southwell Minster
Southwell Minster is a minster and cathedral, in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, England. It is six miles away from Newark-on-Trent and thirteen miles from Mansfield. It is the seat of the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham and the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham.It is considered an outstanding...
. He was enthroned at York Minster sometime around Christmas of 1258.
While archbishop, Ludham visited monasteries, and issued a set of synodal decrees for York were issued in 1259. He excommunicated the monks of Beverley because they had intruded into archiepiscopal property. In 1261 he put an interdict on the city of York for unspecified offenses against the cathedral chapter and himself. Unfortunately, no register of his acts survives, so no detailed study of his time as archbishop is possible. He, however, does not seem to have played any part in the political life of the kingdom.
In 1191 John, Count of Mortain, (later King John of England
John of England
John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
) had granted the church of Walesby
Walesby, Nottinghamshire
Walesby is a village and civil parish in Nottinghamshire, England. At the time of the 2001 census it had a population of 1,255. It is located north of Newark. The parish church of St Edmund is Perpendicular in style The village is famous for its forest, part of which forms a Scout camp...
and its chapelry of Haughton
Haughton, Nottinghamshire
Haughton is a hamlet in the English county of Nottinghamshire.Haughton lies on the south bank of the River Maun about one mile south west from Bothamsall...
to the church of St Mary, Rouen
Rouen
Rouen , in northern France on the River Seine, is the capital of the Haute-Normandie region and the historic capital city of Normandy. Once one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe , it was the seat of the Exchequer of Normandy in the Middle Ages...
, and in 1257, Ludham confirmed Rouen's authority to present Walesby's vicar, and specified among his dues and duties the chapel of Hockton with its tithes, and the joint funding with Rouen of repairs, rebuilding, books, vestments and other alterages.
Ludham died on 12 January 1265, and was buried in the south transept
Transept
For the periodical go to The Transept.A transept is a transverse section, of any building, which lies across the main body of the building. In Christian churches, a transept is an area set crosswise to the nave in a cruciform building in Romanesque and Gothic Christian church architecture...
of York Minster. In 1968 his tomb was opened and studied because of construction work in the cathedral, and his body had evidently been embalmed. A mitre
Mitre
The mitre , also spelled miter, is a type of headwear now known as the traditional, ceremonial head-dress of bishops and certain abbots in the Roman Catholic Church, as well as in the Anglican Communion, some Lutheran churches, and also bishops and certain other clergy in the Eastern Orthodox...
was on his head, and he had his pallium
Pallium
The pallium is an ecclesiastical vestment in the Roman Catholic Church, originally peculiar to the Pope, but for many centuries bestowed by him on metropolitans and primates as a symbol of the jurisdiction delegated to them by the Holy See. In that context it has always remained unambiguously...
as well as a crozier and silver chalice and paten.