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Bertwald
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For Saint Bertwald of Ramsbury, see Bertwald of Ramsbury
Saint Bertwald of Canterbury (also known as Brihtwald, Beorhtweald, Berhtwald, Berthwald, or Beretuald) (died 731) was the ninth Archbishop of Canterbury (693–731) in England.
| Bertwald | |
|---|---|
|
Archbishop of Canterbury |
|
| Enthroned | June 29, 693 |
| Ended | 731 |
| Predecessor | Theodore of Tarsus |
| Successor | Tatwine |
| Died | probably January 9, 731 |
|
Sainthood |
|
|---|---|
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Commemorated | January 9 |
 Saints Portal |
|
Contents |
Although of Royal lineage, little is known of his early life. According to Bede he was well acquainted with Holy Scripture and with ecclesiastical and monastic science. He corresponded with Saints Boniface, Aldhelm and Wilfrid.[1]
Cenwalh, King of Wessex appointed Bertwald as the first Anglo-Saxon Abbot of Glastonbury in 667, on the advice of his friend, Saint Benedict Biscop. He received a generous land grant, around Meare, from the King some four years later. About 676, he was made abbot of the monastery at Reculver in Kent.[2][3]
He was elected to the see of Canterbury on July 1, 692.[3] Consecrated on June 29, 693[4], he travelled to France for his consecration as archbishop of Canterbury by Godwin, Archbishop of Lyon.[2] He appears to have been an able governor of the English Church, establishing the bishopric of Sherborne in Wessex and it was during his tenure that Sussex, the last pagan kingdom, was converted to Christianity. He also consecrated the first Bishop of Selsey. During his time in office, King Wihtred of Kent exempted the chuch from taxation. [5]
Bertwald presided at the Council of Easterfield in 702, at which Bishop Wilfrid of York was deposed and excommunicated; and three years later at a further Council, when it was arranged that Wilfrid should receive the Bishopric of Hexham, in place of that of York.[6] Much of Bertwald's time in office coincided with the efforts of Wilfrid to regain the see of York, and to reverse the division of York into smaller dioceses, and Bertwald was opposed to Wilfrid's position. In 705, the issue was finally settled when Wilfrid accepted the see of Hexham and gave up the idea of being restored to York.[5]
Bertwald died in 731, probably on January 9.[4] Subsequently he was canonized with a feast day of January 9.[7][3]
- ^ Brithwald at Patron Saints Index retrieved on August 10, 2007
- ^ a b Bede A History of the English Church and People translated by Leo Sherley-Price London:Penguin Books 1988 ISBN 0-14-044042-9 p. 282
- ^ a b c Delaney, John J. Dictionary of Saints Second Edition Doubleday: New York 2003 ISBN 0-385-13594-7 p. 90
- ^ a b Powicke, F. Maurice and E. B. Fryde Handbook of British Chronology 2nd. ed. London:Royal Historical Society 1961 p. 209
- ^ a b Stenton, F. M. Anglo-Saxon England Third Edition Oxford:Oxford University Press 1971 ISBN 978-0-19-280139-5 p. 142-145
- ^ Bede A History of the English Church and People translated by Leo Sherley-Price London:Penguin Books 1988 ISBN 0-14-044042-9 p. 312
- ^ St. Brithwald at Catholic Online retrieved on August 10, 2007
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Bertwald |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Brihtwald; Beorhtweald |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Abbot of Glastonbury; Archbishop of Canterbury |
| DATE OF BIRTH | |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | |
| DATE OF DEATH | probably January 9, 731 |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Theodore of Tarsus |
Archbishop of Canterbury 693–731 |
Succeeded by Tatwine |