Wulfhelm

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Wulfhelm
Archbishop of Canterbury
Enthroned {{{began}}}
Ended February 12, 941
Predecessor Athelm
Successor Oda the Severe
Consecration c926
Died February 12, 941

Wulfhelm was Bishop of Wells before being promoted to Archbishop of Canterbury about 926.

[edit] Biography

Wulfhelm was elected and consecrated Bishop of Wells between 923 and September 925.[1] Wulfhelm was translated from the Bishopric of Wells to be Archbishop of Canterbury in about 926.[2] While he was archbishop, he was a frequent attendee of the royal court, and King Athelstan of England says in his law code that Wulfhelm was consulted on the drafting of the laws.[3]

Wulfhelm also went to Rome to receive his pallium in person from Pope John X.[3] Why he chose to go to Rome in person for his pallium rather than having it sent to him like most of his predecessors is unknown. One suggestion has been that because he had been translated from another see, Wulfhelm felt the need to have papal approval of his translation made explicit. Given the low status of the papacy at the time[4] it is unlikely that the impetus for the change in tradition came from the pope.[5]

He died while archbishop on February 12, 941.[2] During his time as archbishop, he received as gifts two gospels that are still extant, as Wulfhelm gave them to Christ Church. He may also have given land to the church, although the record is a bit unclear as to exactly what was given.[5]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I. (1996). Handbook of British Chronology, Third Edition, revised, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p. 222. ISBN 0-521-56350-X. 
  2. ^ a b Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I. (1996). Handbook of British Chronology, Third Edition, revised, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p. 214. ISBN 0-521-56350-X. 
  3. ^ a b Leyser, Henrietta "Wulfhelm (d. 941)" Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford University Press, 2004 Online Edition accessed November 7, 2007
  4. ^ Some polemical tracts refer to the papacy at this time as the pornocracy.
  5. ^ a b Brooks, Nicholas (1984). The Early History of the Church of Canterbury: Christ Church from 597 to 1066. London: Leicester University Press, p. 216-222. ISBN 0-7185-0041-5. 

[edit] External links

Roman Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Athelm
Bishop of Wells
c923–c926
Succeeded by
Alphege
Preceded by
Athelm
Archbishop of Canterbury
c926–941
Succeeded by
Oda the Severe
Persondata
NAME Wulfhelm
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION Bishop of Wells; Archbishop of Canterbury
DATE OF BIRTH
PLACE OF BIRTH
DATE OF DEATH February 12, 941
PLACE OF DEATH


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