Richard Swinefield
Encyclopedia
Richard Swinefield was a medieval Bishop of Hereford
. He earned a doctor of divinity degree as well as holding a number of ecclesiastical offices, including Archdeacon of London
, before being named bishop. While bishop, he worked to secure the canonization of Thomas de Cantilupe, his predecessor, whom he had worked for previously. Although he was active in his diocese, he spent little time in politics. He died in 1317, and was buried in Hereford Cathedral
where a memorial to his memory still stands.
. His father was Stephen of Swinfield, who died in 1282, and his brother Stephen remained a layman. Other information about his family and upbringing is unknown, nor is his day or year of birth. He earned a doctor of divinity degree, but the location of his university studies is unknown.
By 1264 Swinefield was a member of the household
of Thomas de Cantilupe, who went on to become Bishop of Hereford in 1275. Swinefield held the prebend
of Hampton in the diocese of Hereford
, before 1279 and held that prebend until his election as bishop. Shortly after 17 April 1280 he was named Archdeacon of London
, having previously held an unknown prebend in the diocese of London.
, or bishopric, on 1 October 1282. The election was confirmed by John Peckham
, the Archbishop of Canterbury
on 31 December 1282, and Swinefield was given custody of the spiritualities
and temporalities
, or the ecclesiastical and lay income producing properties, of the see by 8 January 1293. He was consecrated on 7 March 1283.
During Swinefield's time as bishop, he was not involved in politics, and spent most of his time in his diocese. He rarely attended Parliament
, usually excusing himself on the grounds of urgent diocesan business or his own bad health. He inherited a number of lawsuits from his predecessor, which he managed to settle. Swinefield also resolved a dispute over the boundary between the diocese of Hereford and the diocese of St Asaph
, a Welsh bishopric, with the settlement being not entirely to the Welsh bishop's liking. The town of Hereford also had disagreements with Swinefield, and on one occasion the bishop threated excommunication against the town unless they submitted.
Swinefield was concerned to ensure that his clergy were well treated. He worked to ensure that churches within his diocese were not misappropriated through the granting of custody to unworthy candidates, as well as trying to keep order in the monasteries. His main efforts though went toward securing the canonization of his predecessor Thomas de Cantilupe. This did not however take place until 1320, after Swinefield's death.
, where a memorial in the transept's north wall shows Swinefield dressed as a bishop and holding a building. Two of his nephews were given offices within the diocese, with John given the precentorship in Hereford Cathedral, and Gilbert made the chancellor there. Another possible relative was Richard Swinfield, who also held a prebend in the diocese.
A record of Swinefield's expenses as bishop has survived for the years 1289 and 1290. The accounts offer a rare glimpse of the organization and expenses of a major household in the time period. During the 296 days covered by the record, his household moved 81 times, with 38 of these stops associated with him visiting his diocese during April through June. The record also shows that he supported two scholars at Oxford University
. The record has been printed a number of times, including by the Camden Society
in 1853 though 1855.
Bishop of Hereford
The Bishop of Hereford is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Hereford in the Province of Canterbury.The see is in the City of Hereford where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of Saint Mary and Saint Ethelbert which was founded as a cathedral in 676.The Bishop's residence is...
. He earned a doctor of divinity degree as well as holding a number of ecclesiastical offices, including Archdeacon of London
Archdeacon of London
The Archdeacon of London is an archdiaconal post in the Church of England. It covers one of two archdeaconries within the London and Westminster episcopal area of the Diocese of London - that episcopal area's bishop is the Bishop of London.-List:*William de Beaumais, 12th century *William of...
, before being named bishop. While bishop, he worked to secure the canonization of Thomas de Cantilupe, his predecessor, whom he had worked for previously. Although he was active in his diocese, he spent little time in politics. He died in 1317, and was buried in Hereford Cathedral
Hereford Cathedral
The current Hereford Cathedral, located at Hereford in England, dates from 1079. Its most famous treasure is Mappa Mundi, a mediæval map of the world dating from the 13th century. The cathedral is a Grade I listed building.-Origins:...
where a memorial to his memory still stands.
Rise in the Church
Swinefield's last name may come from Swingfield located near Folkestone, KentFolkestone
Folkestone is the principal town in the Shepway District of Kent, England. Its original site was in a valley in the sea cliffs and it developed through fishing and its closeness to the Continent as a landing place and trading port. The coming of the railways, the building of a ferry port, and its...
. His father was Stephen of Swinfield, who died in 1282, and his brother Stephen remained a layman. Other information about his family and upbringing is unknown, nor is his day or year of birth. He earned a doctor of divinity degree, but the location of his university studies is unknown.
By 1264 Swinefield was a member of the household
Medieval household
The medieval household was, like modern households, the centre of family life for all classes of European society. Yet in contrast to the household of today, it consisted of many more individuals than the nuclear family...
of Thomas de Cantilupe, who went on to become Bishop of Hereford in 1275. Swinefield held the prebend
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...
of Hampton in the diocese of Hereford
Diocese of Hereford
The Diocese of Hereford is a Church of England diocese based in Hereford, covering Herefordshire, southern Shropshire and a few parishes within Worcestershire in England; and a few parishes within Powys and Monmouthshire in Wales....
, before 1279 and held that prebend until his election as bishop. Shortly after 17 April 1280 he was named Archdeacon of London
Archdeacon of London
The Archdeacon of London is an archdiaconal post in the Church of England. It covers one of two archdeaconries within the London and Westminster episcopal area of the Diocese of London - that episcopal area's bishop is the Bishop of London.-List:*William de Beaumais, 12th century *William of...
, having previously held an unknown prebend in the diocese of London.
Episcopate
Swinefield was elected to the see of HerefordDiocese of Hereford
The Diocese of Hereford is a Church of England diocese based in Hereford, covering Herefordshire, southern Shropshire and a few parishes within Worcestershire in England; and a few parishes within Powys and Monmouthshire in Wales....
, or bishopric, on 1 October 1282. The election was confirmed by John Peckham
John Peckham
John Peckham was Archbishop of Canterbury in the years 1279–1292. He was a native of Sussex who was educated at Lewes Priory and became a Franciscan friar about 1250. He studied at Paris under Bonaventure, where he later taught theology. From his teaching, he came into conflict with Thomas...
, the Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
on 31 December 1282, and Swinefield was given custody of the spiritualities
Spiritualities
Spiritualities is a term, often used in the Middle Ages, that refers to the income sources of a diocese or other ecclesiastical establishment that came from tithes...
and temporalities
Temporalities
Temporalities are the secular properties and possessions of the Christian Church. It is most often used to describe those properties that were used to support a bishop or other religious person or establishment. Its opposite description would be the spiritualities.In the Middle Ages, the...
, or the ecclesiastical and lay income producing properties, of the see by 8 January 1293. He was consecrated on 7 March 1283.
During Swinefield's time as bishop, he was not involved in politics, and spent most of his time in his diocese. He rarely attended Parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
, usually excusing himself on the grounds of urgent diocesan business or his own bad health. He inherited a number of lawsuits from his predecessor, which he managed to settle. Swinefield also resolved a dispute over the boundary between the diocese of Hereford and the diocese of St Asaph
Diocese of St Asaph
The Diocese of Saint Asaph is a diocese in north-east Wales, named after Saint Asaph, its second bishop.-Geography:The Anglican Diocese of St Asaph in the north-east corner of Wales stretches from the borders of Chester in the east, to the Conwy valley in the west, to Bala in the south-west, and...
, a Welsh bishopric, with the settlement being not entirely to the Welsh bishop's liking. The town of Hereford also had disagreements with Swinefield, and on one occasion the bishop threated excommunication against the town unless they submitted.
Swinefield was concerned to ensure that his clergy were well treated. He worked to ensure that churches within his diocese were not misappropriated through the granting of custody to unworthy candidates, as well as trying to keep order in the monasteries. His main efforts though went toward securing the canonization of his predecessor Thomas de Cantilupe. This did not however take place until 1320, after Swinefield's death.
Death and legacy
Swinefield died on 15 March 1317, and was buried in Hereford CathedralHereford Cathedral
The current Hereford Cathedral, located at Hereford in England, dates from 1079. Its most famous treasure is Mappa Mundi, a mediæval map of the world dating from the 13th century. The cathedral is a Grade I listed building.-Origins:...
, where a memorial in the transept's north wall shows Swinefield dressed as a bishop and holding a building. Two of his nephews were given offices within the diocese, with John given the precentorship in Hereford Cathedral, and Gilbert made the chancellor there. Another possible relative was Richard Swinfield, who also held a prebend in the diocese.
A record of Swinefield's expenses as bishop has survived for the years 1289 and 1290. The accounts offer a rare glimpse of the organization and expenses of a major household in the time period. During the 296 days covered by the record, his household moved 81 times, with 38 of these stops associated with him visiting his diocese during April through June. The record also shows that he supported two scholars at Oxford University
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
. The record has been printed a number of times, including by the Camden Society
Camden Society
The Camden Society, named after the English antiquary and historian William Camden, was founded in 1838 in London to publish early historical and literary materials, both unpublished manuscripts and new editions of rare printed books....
in 1853 though 1855.