Hugh was born in the parish of Northwold in Norfolk, the son of Peter and Emma. He became a monk at Abbey of Bury St Edmunds

Bury St. Edmunds Abbey

The Abbey of Bury St Edmunds was once among the richest Benedictine monasteries in England. Its ruins lie in Bury St Edmunds, a town in the county of Suffolk, England.-History:...

 in 1202.

Hugh was elected Abbot of Bury St. Edmunds

Abbot of Bury St. Edmunds

Abbot of Bury St. Edmunds was the title used by the head of the Benedictine monastery Bury St. Edmunds Abbey in the county of Suffolk, England. The following table lists the abbots from the foundation of the abbey in 1020 until 1216....

 on 7 August 1213. King John of England

John of England

John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...

, however, contested the election, and for three years it was contested until on 10 June 1215, when the king finally accepted Hugh's election.

Hugh was elected to the see of Ely about 3 February 1229. He was consecrated on 19 June 1229 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....

.