Robert of Holy Island
Encyclopedia
Robert of Holy Island was a medieval Bishop of Durham.
Robert was the son of crofters and was a native of the island of Lindisfarne
. He had a brother, Henry, who became Robert's executor. He became a Benedictine
monk
at Durham, where he served as sacrist from 1265 to 1269. He was prior
of Durham's dependent monastic cell at Finchale by 1272. Robert was sent as a representative of the Durham cathedral chapter
to the Second Council of Lyon
in 1274. He was elected to the see of Durham on 24 September 1274. He was consecrated on 9 December 1274 at York.
While Robert was bishop, in 1281, the Archbishop of York
William Wickwane
declared that he was going to inspect the cathedral chapter at Durham. The monks claimed an exemption from oversight by the archbishops of York, and were supported by Robert as bishop. When the archbishop attempted to enter the cathedral chapter in June of 1281, he found the doors shut and locked. Both sides sued each other, and the resulting litigation dragged on for years. In fact, it was never technically resolved, and is one of the longest law cases on record.
Robert died on 7 June 1283 at Bishop Middleham
. He was buried in the chapter house at Durham Cathedral
on 10 June 1283. In the 19th century, a grave identified as his was excavated in the chapter house.
Robert was the son of crofters and was a native of the island of Lindisfarne
Lindisfarne
Lindisfarne is a tidal island off the north-east coast of England. It is also known as Holy Island and constitutes a civil parish in Northumberland...
. He had a brother, Henry, who became Robert's executor. He became a 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...
monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
at Durham, where he served as sacrist from 1265 to 1269. He was prior
Prior
Prior is an ecclesiastical title, derived from the Latin adjective for 'earlier, first', with several notable uses.-Monastic superiors:A Prior is a monastic superior, usually lower in rank than an Abbot. In the Rule of St...
of Durham's dependent monastic cell at Finchale by 1272. Robert was sent as a representative of the Durham cathedral chapter
Cathedral chapter
In accordance with canon law, a cathedral chapter is a college of clerics formed to advise a bishop and, in the case of a vacancy of the episcopal see in some countries, to govern the diocese in his stead. These councils are made up of canons and dignitaries; in the Roman Catholic church their...
to the Second Council of Lyon
Second Council of Lyon
The Second Council of Lyon was the fourteenth ecumenical council of the Catholic Church, convoked on 31 March 1272 and convened in Lyon, France, in 1274. Pope Gregory X presided over the council, called to act on a pledge by Byzantine emperor Michael VIII to reunite the Eastern church with the West...
in 1274. He was elected to the see of Durham on 24 September 1274. He was consecrated on 9 December 1274 at York.
While Robert was bishop, in 1281, the Archbishop of York
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...
William Wickwane
William Wickwane
-Life:Wickwane's background is unknown, as is his place of education, but he was referred to as magister so he probably attended a university. He was prebendary of North Newald in Yorkshire by 1265 and also held the prebend of Ripon. He was elected Archbishop of York on 22 June 1279, and...
declared that he was going to inspect the cathedral chapter at Durham. The monks claimed an exemption from oversight by the archbishops of York, and were supported by Robert as bishop. When the archbishop attempted to enter the cathedral chapter in June of 1281, he found the doors shut and locked. Both sides sued each other, and the resulting litigation dragged on for years. In fact, it was never technically resolved, and is one of the longest law cases on record.
Robert died on 7 June 1283 at Bishop Middleham
Bishop Middleham
Bishop Middleham is a village in County Durham, in England. It is close to Sedgefield.-History:Bishop Middleham lies in a valley about 9 miles south-west of Durham. Although much of County Durham had probably first been settled in the Mesolithic period, the first evidence for occupation in the...
. He was buried in the chapter house at Durham Cathedral
Durham Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of Christ, Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of Durham is a cathedral in the city of Durham, England, the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Durham. The Bishopric dates from 995, with the present cathedral being founded in AD 1093...
on 10 June 1283. In the 19th century, a grave identified as his was excavated in the chapter house.