Æthelwold of Carlisle
Encyclopedia
Æthelwold was the first Bishop of Carlisle
in medieval England.
suggests that Athelwold was of English birth, and not a Norman
. He was an Augstinian canon
who first served King Henry I of England
as his confessor. Sometime about 1122, he persuaded Henry to help a group of clerics at Nostell
find a new site for their priory
. Athelwold then became prior
of the newly established Nostell Priory
. Some reports give Athelwold a role as an advisor to King Henry during the selection of William de Corbeil
as Archbishop of Canterbury
in 1123. While prior he built the crypt of the monastic church and represented King Henry at a papal council held at Rheims in 1131. He also founded daughter houses of Nostell at Scone
in Scotland.
Æthelwold was nominated to the see of Carlisle about June 1133, and consecrated in August 1133. Carlisle was a newly founded see, created by King Henry in Cumbria, in order to extend the rule of the English into areas in dispute between Scotland and England. Previously the area had been under the control of the bishop of Glasgow, but with the new foundation under the authority of the Archbishop of York
, English rule would be easier to assert in the area. The idea had been under discussion for about ten years prior to 1133. The see was established with the Augustinian priory of St. Mary's in Carlisle as the cathedral church. Æthelwold was a protege of Thurstan
, the Archbishop of York.
Æthelwold installed Augustinian canons into his newly founded cathedral, which was the only cathedral in England with a cathedral chapter
composed of that order of canons. The monastic rule in use in the cathedral was the Rule of Arrouaise
, a French Augustinian house noted for its austerity. Carlisle only kept the Arrouaisian Rule under Æthelwold, however. In 1135, King David I of Scotland
invaded and annexed the counties that comprised the see of Carlisle, and drove Athelwold out. Athelwold spent the next few years at King Stephen of England
's court. After the Battle of the Standard
in 1138, the papal legate
Alberic made peace between Athelwold and King David, and Athelwold spent time at the Scottish king's court after this. Æthelwold had accompanied Thurstan, who was attempting to secure a truce between Stephen and David after the battle, which was secured at Carlisle.
Athelwold signed the charter of liberties issued by King Stephen right after the king's coronation. He later was a supporter of Henry Murdac
for the see of York, against King Stephen's choice of William fitzHerbert. When Murdac was driven from his see in 1148, Athelwold welcomed him to Carlisle. He also set up the organization of the diocese on such a firm footing that the fifty year vacancy that transpired until the next bishop of Carlisle took office did little damage to the diocese. He retained the priorate of Nostell until 1153, when he resigned due to ill health. After the accession of King Henry II of England
, Athelwold attended the new king's court. He died on 16 June 1157 or on 25 May 1156.
Bishop of Carlisle
The Bishop of Carlisle is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Carlisle in the Province of York.The diocese covers the County of Cumbria except for Alston Moor and the former Sedbergh Rural District...
in medieval England.
Life
Æthelwold's name and the fact that he owned lands in YorkshireYorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
suggests that Athelwold was of English birth, and not a Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
. He was an Augstinian 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 ....
who first served King Henry I of England
Henry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
as his confessor. Sometime about 1122, he persuaded Henry to help a group of clerics at Nostell
Nostell
Nostell is a village in the City of Wakefield in West Yorkshire, England, near Hemsworth. It is in the civil parish of Huntwick with Foulby and Nostell, which has a population of 90, and is the site of an Augustinian priory which received its charter in 1121.Nostell Priory is an 18th century...
find a new site for their priory
Priory
A priory is a house of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the Premonstratensians, and the...
. Athelwold then became 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 the newly established Nostell Priory
Nostell Priory
Nostell Priory is a Palladian house located in Nostell, near Crofton close to Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England, approached by the Doncaster road from Wakefield...
. Some reports give Athelwold a role as an advisor to King Henry during the selection of William de Corbeil
William de Corbeil
William de Corbeil or William of Corbeil was a medieval Archbishop of Canterbury. Very little is known of William's early life or his family, except that he was born at Corbeil in the outskirts of Paris and that he had two brothers...
as 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...
in 1123. While prior he built the crypt of the monastic church and represented King Henry at a papal council held at Rheims in 1131. He also founded daughter houses of Nostell at Scone
Scone, Scotland
Scone is a village in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. The medieval village of Scone, which grew up around the monastery and royal residence, was abandoned in the early 19th century when the residents were removed and a new palace was built on the site by the Earl of Mansfield...
in Scotland.
Æthelwold was nominated to the see of Carlisle about June 1133, and consecrated in August 1133. Carlisle was a newly founded see, created by King Henry in Cumbria, in order to extend the rule of the English into areas in dispute between Scotland and England. Previously the area had been under the control of the bishop of Glasgow, but with the new foundation under the authority of 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...
, English rule would be easier to assert in the area. The idea had been under discussion for about ten years prior to 1133. The see was established with the Augustinian priory of St. Mary's in Carlisle as the cathedral church. Æthelwold was a protege of Thurstan
Thurstan
Thurstan or Turstin of Bayeux was a medieval Archbishop of York, the son of a priest. He served kings William II and Henry I of England before his election to the see of York in 1114. Once elected, his consecration was delayed for five years while he fought attempts by the Archbishop of Canterbury...
, the Archbishop of York.
Æthelwold installed Augustinian canons into his newly founded cathedral, which was the only cathedral in England with a 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...
composed of that order of canons. The monastic rule in use in the cathedral was the Rule of Arrouaise
Arrouaise (Abbey and Order)
The Abbey of Arrouaise was the centre of a form of the Augustinian monastic rule, the Arrouaisian Order, which was popular among the founders of abbeys during the decade of the 1130s. The community began to develop when Heldemar joined the hermit Ruggerius in 1090 but its first abbot, elected in...
, a French Augustinian house noted for its austerity. Carlisle only kept the Arrouaisian Rule under Æthelwold, however. In 1135, King David I of Scotland
David I of Scotland
David I or Dabíd mac Maíl Choluim was a 12th-century ruler who was Prince of the Cumbrians and later King of the Scots...
invaded and annexed the counties that comprised the see of Carlisle, and drove Athelwold out. Athelwold spent the next few years at King Stephen of England
Stephen of England
Stephen , often referred to as Stephen of Blois , was a grandson of William the Conqueror. He was King of England from 1135 to his death, and also the Count of Boulogne by right of his wife. Stephen's reign was marked by the Anarchy, a civil war with his cousin and rival, the Empress Matilda...
's court. After the Battle of the Standard
Battle of the Standard
The Battle of the Standard, sometimes called the Battle of Northallerton, in which English forces repelled a Scottish army, took place on 22 August 1138 on Cowton Moor near Northallerton in Yorkshire. The Scottish forces were led by King David I of Scotland...
in 1138, the papal legate
Papal legate
A papal legate – from the Latin, authentic Roman title Legatus – is a personal representative of the pope to foreign nations, or to some part of the Catholic Church. He is empowered on matters of Catholic Faith and for the settlement of ecclesiastical matters....
Alberic made peace between Athelwold and King David, and Athelwold spent time at the Scottish king's court after this. Æthelwold had accompanied Thurstan, who was attempting to secure a truce between Stephen and David after the battle, which was secured at Carlisle.
Athelwold signed the charter of liberties issued by King Stephen right after the king's coronation. He later was a supporter of Henry Murdac
Henry Murdac
Henry Murdac was abbot of Fountains Abbey and Archbishop of York in medieval England,-Early life:Murdac was a native of Yorkshire. He was friendly with Archbishop Thurstan of York, who secured his promotion in the cathedral chapter of York Minster, however Murdac resigned soon afterwards when...
for the see of York, against King Stephen's choice of William fitzHerbert. When Murdac was driven from his see in 1148, Athelwold welcomed him to Carlisle. He also set up the organization of the diocese on such a firm footing that the fifty year vacancy that transpired until the next bishop of Carlisle took office did little damage to the diocese. He retained the priorate of Nostell until 1153, when he resigned due to ill health. After the accession of King Henry II of England
Henry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
, Athelwold attended the new king's court. He died on 16 June 1157 or on 25 May 1156.