List of Abbots of Glastonbury
Encyclopedia
The Abbot of Glastonbury was the head (or abbot
) of Anglo-Saxon
and eventually Benedictine
house of Glastonbury Abbey
.
The following is a list of abbots of Glastonbury:
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
) of Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxon may refer to:* Anglo-Saxons, a group that invaded Britain** Old English, their language** Anglo-Saxon England, their history, one of various ships* White Anglo-Saxon Protestant, an ethnicity* Anglo-Saxon economy, modern macroeconomic term...
and eventually Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
house of Glastonbury Abbey
Glastonbury Abbey
Glastonbury Abbey was a monastery in Glastonbury, Somerset, England. The ruins are now a grade I listed building, and a Scheduled Ancient Monument and are open as a visitor attraction....
.
The following is a list of abbots of Glastonbury:
Abbots
| Name | Dates | Works | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Benignus | ?458-469 | (reputed) | |
| ’Worgret’ | c.601-? | ||
| ’Lademund’ | c.663-c.667 | ||
| ’Bregored’ | c.667 | ||
| Beorhtwald Bertwald Berhtwald was the ninth Archbishop of Canterbury in England. The medieval writer Bede claims that he served as the Abbot of Glastonbury, and documentary evidence names Berhtwald as abbot at Reculver before his election as archbishop... |
c.667-676/7 | Archbishop of Canterbury 693–731 | |
| Haemgils Kingisel Kingisel is the name of two non-consecutive Roman Catholic abbots who ruled Glastonbury abbey in the seventh and eighth centuries respectively.*Kingisel I, whose name also appears as Hemgisel, Hengislus, and Hanigestus, became abbot in 678... |
676/7-701/2 | ||
| Beorhtwald | 701/2-709/10 | ||
| Ealdberht | 709/10-718/9 | Church of SS Peter & Paul built by King Ine Ine of Wessex Ine was King of Wessex from 688 to 726. He was unable to retain the territorial gains of his predecessor, Cædwalla, who had brought much of southern England under his control and expanded West Saxon territory substantially... |
|
| Ecgfrith | 718/19-? | ||
| Wealhstod | 729 | (rejected by some sources) | |
| Coengils | ?-737 | ||
| Tunberht | 737-? | ||
| Tyccea | 754-760 | ||
| Guba | 760-762 | ||
| Wealdhun | 762-794 | ||
| Beaduwulf | 794-800 | ||
| Muca | 802-824 | ||
| Guthlac | 824-851 | ||
| Ealhmund | 851-867 | ||
| Hereferth | 867-891 | (now thought probably to come before Ealhmund) | |
| Stithheard | 891-922 | ||
| Aldhun | 922-? | ||
| Cuthred | |||
| Ælfric? | |||
| Ecgwulf | |||
| St Dunstan Dunstan Dunstan was an Abbot of Glastonbury Abbey, a Bishop of Worcester, a Bishop of London, and an Archbishop of Canterbury, later canonised as a saint. His work restored monastic life in England and reformed the English Church... |
940-957+ | Lengthened Ine's church and added a tower. Raised the level of the cemetery and constructed various monastic buildings. | later Archbishop of Canterbury |
| ?Ælfric | occurs after Dunstan in some lists | (probably spurious) | |
| Ælfstan | occurs in some lists after Ælfric | (probably spurious) | |
| Sigar Sigar of Wells Sigar was an Anglo-Saxon Bishop of Wells.Sigar was a monk at Winchester before becoming abbot of Glastonbury Abbey about 970. He was consecrated in 975 and died 28 June in either 996 or 997.-External links:*... |
c. 970–975(?) | later Bishop of Wells 975–997 | |
| Ælfweard | c. 975–1009 | ||
| Brihtred (Beorhtred) | from 1009 to ? | ||
| Brihtwig (Brihtwine Brihtwine Brihtwine was an Anglo-Saxon Bishop of Wells. He was consecrated in 1013, was expelled to restore his predecessor Aethelwine, but was restored and died thirteen days after Aethelwine.-References:... ) |
c. 1017 to 1024 | later Bishop of Wells | |
| Æthelweard (Aegelweard) | c1024–1053 | ||
| Æthelnoth | 1053–1078 | deposed by Lanfranc Lanfranc Lanfranc was Archbishop of Canterbury, and a Lombard by birth.-Early life:Lanfranc was born in the early years of the 11th century at Pavia, where later tradition held that his father, Hanbald, held a rank broadly equivalent to magistrate... |
|
| Thurstan | c1077–after 1096 | Began a new church | 1091. Translation of relics of St Benignus from Meare |
| Herluin | 1100-1118 | Rebuilt Thurstan's church on a grander scale | |
| Seffrid Pelochin Seffrid I Seffrid I, sometimes known as Seffrid Pelochin, was a medieval Bishop of Chichester.-Life:Seffrid was the son of Seffrid d'Escures and Guimordis, and was a half brother to Ralph d'Escures, Archbishop of Canterbury from 1114 to 1122. He was a native of Escures, near Sées, and his father was a... |
1120/1-1125 | Bishop of Chichester from 1125 to 1145 | |
| Henry of Blois Henry of Blois Henry of Blois , often known as Henry of Winchester, was Abbot of Glastonbury Abbey from 1126, and Bishop of Winchester from 1129 to his death.-Early life and education:... |
1126-1171 | Built a bell tower, chapter house, cloister, lavatory, refectory, dormitory, infirmary, the 'castellum', an outer gate, a brewery and stables | also Bishop of Winchester from 1129 |
| Robert of Winchester | 1173-1180 | Built a chamber and chapel | previously Prior of Winchester |
| Peter de Marcy | 1186. New St Mary's Chapel consecrated. Work on Great Church begun. | 1184 (25 May). Great Fire | |
| Henry of Sully Henry de Sully Henry de Sully was a medieval monk, Bishop of Worcester and Abbot of Glastonbury.-Life:Henry became prior of Bermondsey Abbey in 1186. In September 1189, following the death of Henry II of England, Richard I of England appointed him Abbot of Glastonbury... |
1189-1193 | supposed tomb of King Arthur King Arthur King Arthur is a legendary British leader of the late 5th and early 6th centuries, who, according to Medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and... and Queen Guinevere Guinevere Guinevere was the legendary queen consort of King Arthur. In tales and folklore, she was said to have had a love affair with Arthur's chief knight Sir Lancelot... discovered in the cemetery c. 1190 Later Bishop of Worcester Bishop of Worcester The Bishop of Worcester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury, England. He is the head of the Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury... 1193–1195 |
|
| Savaric FitzGeldewin Savaric FitzGeldewin Savaric fitzGeldewin was an Englishman who became Bishop of Bath and Glastonbury in England. Related to his predecessor as well as to the German Emperor Henry VI, he was elected bishop on the urging of his predecessor, who urged his election on the cathedral chapter of Bath... |
1193-1205 | also Bishop of Bath and Glastonbury | |
| (Master William Pica) | (1198–1200) | (elected 1198 but election quashed 1200) | |
| Jocelin of Wells Jocelin of Wells Jocelin of Wells, also known as Jocelinus Thoteman or Jocelin Troteman, was a medieval Bishop of Bath and Wells. He was the brother of Hugh de Wells, who became Bishop of Lincoln. Jocelin became a canon of Wells Cathedral before 1200, and was elected bishop in 1206... |
1206-1219 | also Bishop of Bath and Glastonbury from 1206–1242 | |
| William of St Vigor | 1219-1223 | ||
| Robert of Bath | 1223-1235 | Deposed 29 March 1235 | |
| Michael of Amesbury | 1235-c1252 | Carried work on the choir forward | |
| Roger of Ford | 1252-1261 | died 2 October 1261, buried at Westminster | |
| Robert of Petherton | 1261-1274 | Built abbot's chamber | died 31 March 1274 |
| John of Taunton | 1274-1291 | Choir completed; west end of nave and galilee built. King Arthur's remains transferred to new tomb 1278. | died 7 October 1291 |
| John of Kent | 1291-1303 | ||
| Geoffrey Fromond | 1303-1322 | Spent £1,000 on buildings: completed various parts of the Great Church | |
| Walter of Taunton | 1322-1323 | Built pulpitum at west end of choir | died 23 January 1323 |
| Adam of Sodbury | 1323-1334 | Completed vaulting of nave of Great Church; worked on great hall and built a new chapel on the Tor | |
| John of Breynton | 1334-1342 | Completed abbot's great hall and worked on various other related buildings including prior's hall | |
| Walter de Monington | 1342-1375 | Extended choir by 40 feet, adding 2 bays. Completed abbot's chapel and infirmary. King Arthur's tomb transferred 1368. | |
| John Chinnock (John Chynnock) | 1375-1420 | 1382. Restored chapel and rededicated it to SS Michael & Joseph; rebuilt cloisters, erected or repaired the dormitory and fratry. | |
| Nicholas Frome | 1420–1456 | Finished chapter house, rebuilt misericord house and great chamber; constructed bishop's quarters and a wall around abbey precincts. Probably responsible for abbot's kitchen. | |
| John Selwood | 1456–1493 | Built parish church of St John Baptist. Erected pilgrims' inn. | |
| Richard Beere Richard Beere Richard Beere was an English Benedictine abbot of Glastonbury, known as a builder for his abbey, as a diplomat and scholar, and a friend of Erasmus.-Life:... |
1493–1524 | Began Edgar Chapel; built crypt under Lady Chapel and dedicated it to St Joseph; built a chapel of the Holy Sepulchre at south end of nave; built the Loretto chapel; added vaulting under central tower and flying buttresses at east end of choir; built St Benignus' Church and rebuilt Tribunal | |
| Richard Whiting Richard Whiting (the Blessed Richard Whiting) Blessed Richard Whiting was an English clergyman and the last Abbot of Glastonbury. He presided over Glastonbury Abbey at the time of the Dissolution of the Monasteries under King Henry VIII of England, and was executed for unclear reasons in 1539... |
1525–1539 | Completed Edgar Chapel | Hanged on Glastonbury Tor Glastonbury Tor Glastonbury Tor is a hill at Glastonbury, Somerset, England, which features the roofless St. Michael's Tower. The site is managed by the National Trust. It has been designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument .... , 15 November 1539 |
Sources
- James P. Carley (1988), Glastonbury Abbey, St Martin’s Press, New York