William of Bitton II
Encyclopedia
William of Bitton, usually known as William of Bitton II (or William Button; died 1274) was a medieval Bishop of Bath and Wells.
and the brother of Thomas Bitton
who was precentor
, archdeacon of Wells and Dean of Wells
and Bishop of Exeter
. His uncle was William of Bitton I
, Bishop of Bath and Wells
. He was rector
of Buckland from 1257 and rector of Congresbury
in Somerset
from 1252. Before 13 December 1262 he was a canon
of Bath and Wells, and was archdeacon
of Wells as well as rector of Middlezoy
in Somerset by 20 April 1263.
William was elected as bishop on 10 February 1267 and consecrated after 17 April 1267. He was not active in political or governmental events, although he did go to a council in 1269 that objected to ecclesiastical taxation. He, like his uncle, mainly worked in his diocese, and regulated the liturgical life of his cathedral and endowed the cathedral with some property.
William died 4 December 1274 and was buried in Bath Cathedral. Some veneration was given to him after his death, but no formal canonization ever occurred. He should not be confused with his uncle the first William of Bitton
who was also Bishop of Bath and Wells, but who died in 1264.
Life
William was a son of Sir Adam of Bitton in GloucestershireGloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
and the brother of Thomas Bitton
Thomas Bitton
Thomas Bitton was a medieval Bishop of Exeter.-Life:Bitton was the nephew of William of Bitton I, who was Bishop of Bath from 1248 to 1264. His brother was William of Bitton II, Bishop of Bath from 1267 to 1274....
who was precentor
Precentor
A precentor is a person who helps facilitate worship. The details vary depending on the religion, denomination, and era in question. The Latin derivation is "præcentor", from cantor, meaning "the one who sings before" ....
, archdeacon of Wells and Dean of Wells
Dean of Wells
The Dean of Wells is the head of the Chapter of Wells Cathedral in the Mendip district of Somerset, England. The current Dean is the Very Revd John Clarke, who lives in The Dean's Lodging, 25 The Liberty, Wells.-List of the Deans of Wells:*1140–1164 Ivo...
and Bishop of Exeter
Bishop of Exeter
The Bishop of Exeter is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Exeter in the Province of Canterbury. The incumbent usually signs his name as Exon or incorporates this in his signature....
. His uncle was William of Bitton I
William of Bitton I
William of Bitton, usually known as William of Bitton I was a medieval English Bishop of Bath and Wells.-Life:...
, Bishop of Bath and Wells
Bishop of Bath and Wells
The Bishop of Bath and Wells heads the Church of England Diocese of Bath and Wells in the Province of Canterbury in England.The present diocese covers the vast majority of the county of Somerset and a small area of Dorset. The Episcopal seat is located in the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew in...
. He was rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of Buckland from 1257 and rector of Congresbury
Congresbury
Congresbury is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England. It is situated in the Unitary authority of North Somerset, and in 2001 had a population of 3,400. It lies on the A370, roughly equidistant between Junction 21 of the M5 and Bristol Airport, approximately south of Bristol city centre,...
in Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
from 1252. Before 13 December 1262 he was a canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of Bath and Wells, and was archdeacon
Archdeacon
An archdeacon is a senior clergy position in Anglicanism, Syrian Malabar Nasrani, Chaldean Catholic, and some other Christian denominations, above that of most clergy and below a bishop. In the High Middle Ages it was the most senior diocesan position below a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church...
of Wells as well as rector of Middlezoy
Middlezoy
Middlezoy is a village and civil parish on the River Parrett as it crosses the Somerset Levels in the Sedgemoor district of Somerset, England.-History:...
in Somerset by 20 April 1263.
William was elected as bishop on 10 February 1267 and consecrated after 17 April 1267. He was not active in political or governmental events, although he did go to a council in 1269 that objected to ecclesiastical taxation. He, like his uncle, mainly worked in his diocese, and regulated the liturgical life of his cathedral and endowed the cathedral with some property.
William died 4 December 1274 and was buried in Bath Cathedral. Some veneration was given to him after his death, but no formal canonization ever occurred. He should not be confused with his uncle the first William of Bitton
William of Bitton I
William of Bitton, usually known as William of Bitton I was a medieval English Bishop of Bath and Wells.-Life:...
who was also Bishop of Bath and Wells, but who died in 1264.