Walter Reynolds
Encyclopedia
Walter Reynolds was Bishop of Worcester
and then Archbishop of Canterbury
(1313–1327) as well as Lord High Treasurer
and Lord Chancellor
.
in Berkshire
, and became a clerk, or chaplain, in the service of Edward I
.
Reynolds held several livings and, owing perhaps to his acting skill, he became a prime favourite
with the prince of Wales, afterwards Edward II
, whom he served as Keeper of the Wardrobe. Just after the prince became king, on 22 August 1307 Reynolds was appointed treasurer of England; on 13 November 1307 he was elected bishop of Worcester and consecrated on 13 October 1308. He was also on 6 July 1310 named Keeper of the Great Seal, or chancellor. Amongst his duties as Bishop of Worcester was to act as the parton and appoint the Headmaster of the school that later became the Royal Grammar School Worcester
.
Reynolds was one of the godfathers of the future Edward III
when the prince was christened on 17 November 1312.
When Robert Winchelsea
, Archbishop of Canterbury, died in May of 1313 Edward II prevailed upon Pope Clement V
to appoint his favourite to the vacant archbishopric, and Reynolds was enthroned at Canterbury Cathedral
in January of 1314 as the 51st Archbishop.
Although the private life of the new archbishop appears to have been the reverse of exemplary he attempted to carry out some very necessary reforms in his new official capacity; he also continued the struggle for precedence, which had been carried on for many years between the archbishops of Canterbury and of York
. In this connection in 1317 he laid London
under an interdict after William de Melton, the Archbishop of York, had passed through its streets with his cross borne erect before him.
Reynolds remained in general loyal to Edward II until 1324, when with all his suffragans he opposed the king in defence of the Bishop of Hereford
, Adam of Orlton. He then fought with Edward II over liturgical issues, and sent sums of money to Queen Isabella
in her rebellion against Edward II. Having fled for safety into Kent
he returned to London and declared for Edward III, whom he crowned on 1 February 1327. He was appointed as a member of the Regency Council for Edward III that was formed in February of 1327. He died at Mortlake
on 16 November 1327.
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...
and then 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...
(1313–1327) as well as Lord High Treasurer
Lord High Treasurer
The post of Lord High Treasurer or Lord Treasurer was an English government position and has been a British government position since the Act of Union of 1707. A holder of the post would be the third highest ranked Great Officer of State, below the Lord High Chancellor and above the Lord President...
and Lord Chancellor
Lord Chancellor
The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign...
.
Life
Reynolds was the son of a baker from WindsorWindsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
in Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, and became a clerk, or chaplain, in the service of Edward I
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
.
Reynolds held several livings and, owing perhaps to his acting skill, he became a prime favourite
Favourite
A favourite , or favorite , was the intimate companion of a ruler or other important person. In medieval and Early Modern Europe, among other times and places, the term is used of individuals delegated significant political power by a ruler...
with the prince of Wales, afterwards Edward II
Edward II of England
Edward II , called Edward of Caernarfon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed by his wife Isabella in January 1327. He was the sixth Plantagenet king, in a line that began with the reign of Henry II...
, whom he served as Keeper of the Wardrobe. Just after the prince became king, on 22 August 1307 Reynolds was appointed treasurer of England; on 13 November 1307 he was elected bishop of Worcester and consecrated on 13 October 1308. He was also on 6 July 1310 named Keeper of the Great Seal, or chancellor. Amongst his duties as Bishop of Worcester was to act as the parton and appoint the Headmaster of the school that later became the Royal Grammar School Worcester
Royal Grammar School Worcester
The Royal Grammar School Worcester is an independent coeducational school in Worcester, United Kingdom. Founded before 1291, it is one of the oldest British independent schools....
.
Reynolds was one of the godfathers of the future Edward III
Edward III of England
Edward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...
when the prince was christened on 17 November 1312.
When Robert Winchelsea
Robert Winchelsey
Robert Winchelsey was an English Christian theologian and Archbishop of Canterbury. He studied at the universities of Paris and Oxford, and later taught at both. Influenced by Thomas Aquinas, he was a scholastic theologian...
, Archbishop of Canterbury, died in May of 1313 Edward II prevailed upon Pope Clement V
Pope Clement V
Pope Clement V, born Raymond Bertrand de Got was Pope from 1305 to his death...
to appoint his favourite to the vacant archbishopric, and Reynolds was enthroned at Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, Kent, is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England and forms part of a World Heritage Site....
in January of 1314 as the 51st Archbishop.
Although the private life of the new archbishop appears to have been the reverse of exemplary he attempted to carry out some very necessary reforms in his new official capacity; he also continued the struggle for precedence, which had been carried on for many years between the archbishops of Canterbury and 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...
. In this connection in 1317 he laid London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
under an interdict after William de Melton, the Archbishop of York, had passed through its streets with his cross borne erect before him.
Reynolds remained in general loyal to Edward II until 1324, when with all his suffragans he opposed the king in defence of the Bishop of Hereford
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...
, Adam of Orlton. He then fought with Edward II over liturgical issues, and sent sums of money to Queen Isabella
Isabella of France
Isabella of France , sometimes described as the She-wolf of France, was Queen consort of England as the wife of Edward II of England. She was the youngest surviving child and only surviving daughter of Philip IV of France and Joan I of Navarre...
in her rebellion against Edward II. Having fled for safety into Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
he returned to London and declared for Edward III, whom he crowned on 1 February 1327. He was appointed as a member of the Regency Council for Edward III that was formed in February of 1327. He died at Mortlake
Mortlake
Mortlake is a district of London, England and part of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is on the south bank of the River Thames between Kew and Barnes with East Sheen inland to the south. Mortlake was part of Surrey until 1965.-History:...
on 16 November 1327.