Godfrey of Chichester
Encyclopedia
Godfrey was a medieval Bishop of Chichester
. The first Bishop of Chichester, was Stigand who died in 1087, it seems that he was followed by Godfrey. Confusion over the succession, was generated by William of Malmesbury
, who suggested that Stigand was succeeded by a Bishop William.
a text recorded in the 11th or 12th century. Godfreys death on 25 September 1088 is recorded in the Annales Cicestrensis, under 1088.
Little is known of his background, except he had been a royal chaplain. So little was known of him, that the medieval historians, William of Malmesbury and Florence of Worcester
mistakenly called him William instead of Godfrey, and had nothing else to say of him.
In 1830, some workmen, digging a drain in the medieval burial ground, known as Paradise, a part of the cathedral cloisters, discovered a lead cross.
Four years earlier a stone coffin had been found in the same area, it is believed that the two were linked. The cross had a Latin
inscription on it, the translation in English reads:
The first part of the text, as far as the amen, is a papal absolution relating to Godfrey.
were certainly in conflict for much of his reign.Starkey. Monarchy. p. 156. When bishoprics and abbeys became vacant William was able to take the revenues from them until the post was filled by a new bishop or abbot, William would often auction these positions off to the highest bidder.
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...
. The first Bishop of Chichester, was Stigand who died in 1087, it seems that he was followed by Godfrey. Confusion over the succession, was generated by William of Malmesbury
William 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,...
, who suggested that Stigand was succeeded by a Bishop William.
Life
Godfrey was nominated, by Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury, in 1087-1088; his nomination is recorded in the Acta LanfranciAnglo-Saxon Chronicle
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is a collection of annals in Old English chronicling the history of the Anglo-Saxons. The original manuscript of the Chronicle was created late in the 9th century, probably in Wessex, during the reign of Alfred the Great...
a text recorded in the 11th or 12th century. Godfreys death on 25 September 1088 is recorded in the Annales Cicestrensis, under 1088.
Little is known of his background, except he had been a royal chaplain. So little was known of him, that the medieval historians, William of Malmesbury and Florence of Worcester
Florence of Worcester
Florence of Worcester , known in Latin as Florentius, was a monk of Worcester, who played some part in the production of the Chronicon ex chronicis, a Latin world chronicle which begins with the creation and ends in 1140....
mistakenly called him William instead of Godfrey, and had nothing else to say of him.
The lead cross
In Christianity, it was unusual for the deceased to be interred with the accoutrements of life, the only exceptions were the vestments that some great men such as bishops were buried. According to Lanfranc's Constitutions a written absolution of sins would be placed on the chest of a dead monk in their tomb, while an inscribed lead cross served a similar purpose for prelates.In 1830, some workmen, digging a drain in the medieval burial ground, known as Paradise, a part of the cathedral cloisters, discovered a lead cross.
Four years earlier a stone coffin had been found in the same area, it is believed that the two were linked. The cross had a Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
inscription on it, the translation in English reads:
We absolve you, O Bishop Godfrey, in place of St. Peter, prince of the Apostles, to whom the Lord gave the power of binding and releasing, so that in so far as your accusation warrants and the remission pertains to us. God the omnipotent redeemer, the kind forgiver, may be to you the healing of all your sins. Amen. On 25th September, on the feast of St Fermin bishop and martyr, Bishop Godfrey of Chichester died. On the same day it was five days after the (new) moon.
The first part of the text, as far as the amen, is a papal absolution relating to Godfrey.
The vacant bishopric
After Godfrey's death, the see lay vacant until 1090 or 1091. The 19th century historian W.R.W. Stephens said that the cause of the vacancy was due to "the grasping avarice of the red king, who protracted episcopal vacancies to the utmost extent, that he might enrich his own treasury with the temporalities of the sees." The church and William IIWilliam II of England
William II , the third son of William I of England, was King of England from 1087 until 1100, with powers over Normandy, and influence in Scotland. He was less successful in extending control into Wales...
were certainly in conflict for much of his reign.Starkey. Monarchy. p. 156. When bishoprics and abbeys became vacant William was able to take the revenues from them until the post was filled by a new bishop or abbot, William would often auction these positions off to the highest bidder.