ST WULFSTAN
millennium
This statue of St Wulfstan is in the church of Our Lady and St Wulstan in Southam. He would have approved its simplicity!
The St Wulfstan Story
We are fortunate in that Wulfstan (the 'f' was not pronounced, so his name could also be written as Wolstan, Wulstan or Ulfstan) had his adult life recorded in English by the monk Coleman, who was Wulfstan's chaplain and chancellor at Worcester for the last 15 years. There is no surviving copy of his work today, but an amended 12th century edition, written in Latin by William of Malmesbury ('Vita Wilfstani') does survive.
Family
Wulfstan was born in Long Itchington in south west Mercia (present day Warwickshire) around the year 1008 in the reign of King Ethelred II. His father was called Aethelstan and his mother was Wulfgifu. Aethelstan was a tenant on land owned by the church of Worcester receiving a yearly income of £22. (At the time Long Itchington was in Worcester diocese; the Bishop of Worcester was the abbot of the monastery, Worcester Abbey, where his cathedral was.) He was listed as a priest on the staff of Worcester cathedral, but it is believed his family had looked after the tenancy for three generations. Wulfgifu was the sister of Wulfstan, the then Bishop of Worcester (Wulfstan I; he also became archbishop of York from 1002 to 1016. St Wulfstan is sometimes referred to as Wulfstan II).
The family were quite wealthy and led a comfortable life. Their affluence is shown by the quality of their son's early education at various private boarding schools, and by the ease with which Wulfstan gained the first steps of his ecclesiastical career. Wulfstan had an elder borther, Byrcstan, a young brother, Alfstan (who became a monk at Worcester) and a sister, Ragnild (who became a nun and died in 1094).
Education
Wulfstan's childhood must have been overshadowed by a long series of raids by Danish invaders, which culminated in a struggle for power after King Ethelred II's death between the King's son Edmund 'Ironside' and the Danish King Cnut. Cnut won the struggle in 1017, and many Danish settlers arrived in West Mercia and displaced some English landowners - but evidently not Wulfstan's family. At about 5 years old Wulfstan was sent for elementary schooling to Evesham Abbey - more than a day's ride away, so he must have boarded there. His education would have been largely confined to the rudiments of learning to read and write in English and Latin, and the memorisation of psalms and hymns. He would have been there for 2 or 3 years only. When Wulfstan was about 8 he moved to Peterborough Abbey, on the edge of the fenlands, where he was instructed by a man named Ernwin. He completed his education there in about 1024.
Just after his schooling at Peterborough Abbey finished, both his elderly parents entered religious houses in the city of Worcester. At that time elderly people often entered monasteries as their health declined. His father may also have faced the prospect of poverty. The land at Long Itchington, while being legally an estate of the church of Worcester, was under the control of the Earl of Mercia, Leofric (husband of Lady Godiva)who had a reputation as a predator of all the estates in the area around Coventry. What Wulfstan did when he left school is unknown; it is likely that he would have been a religious clerk of some sort.
Religious Life
Wulfstan embarked on his religious career during the time of Bishop Brihtheath(1033-8)in Worcester, and was ordained priest in 1034. He was extremely devoted to his faith. a strong discipline of faith and fasting filled his days. He regularly kept an all night vigil at one of the many altars. On three days a week he abstained completely from food, and on the other days he ate only leeks and cabbage with a crust of bread. Sundays was a feast day and he would have fish and wine. On the three days he fasted he kept total silence. He was a Benedictine monk, and kept the rule assiduously. His reputation for holiness began to spread all over Mercia.
Wulfstan served under four bishops at Worcester, before his own consecration. While serving under Bishop Ealdred, Wulfstan was elected prior of Worcester, in 1055. (The Bishop as abbot had to have a deputy, the prior, to look after the monastery and Cathedral while he was away on diocesan business.) In this position he gained experience, and met many important people, some connected to the court of King Edward the confessor who came to the throne in 1042. One of these was the Earl of Hereford (later Wessex), Harold Godwinson who later became King Harold II. Wulfstan became his close friend and confessor.
Bishop of Worcester
The death of the archbishop of York in 1060 triggered a chain of events that led to Wulfstan's election as bishop of Worcester some 20 months later. Wulfstan had a genuine reluctance to accept the office of a bishop, as he thought himself not worthy of such a high office. On 29th August 1062 his election was confirmed, and on 8th September he was consecrated by the Archbishop of York and invested with the bishopric by King Edward. Wulfstan chose his brother Alfstan to take over as Prior of Worcester.
Wulfstan had many new duties as a bishop. He had to act as a magistrate at the Shire Court, and to attend the seasonal gatherings of the Royal Court which were held at Dover, Windsor, London and York. He had to travel long distances, sometimes by boat down the River Severn. He became famous for never passing any church he came across, big or small, without going in and praying, and if possible preaching to the local congregation. Wulfstan was a great preacher, and huge crowds would come when he was known to be in the vicinity - whcih was quite often, because he was an assiduous visitor in his diocese. He continued to observe the rule of St Benedict, and sought quiet where he could, reciting psalms as he rode rather than join in ordinary conversation. Renowned for his holiness, a man with several miracles attributed to his prayers, he nevertheless was a man of the people, and good company. However, he was concerned about the licentiousness of the age; he hated long hair in men - he would carry a pair of scissors and cut off some locks so that a hair cut was needed, saying 'how can you defend your homeland if you imitate women'!
Wulfstan's own appearance is described by Coleman:
By Christmas 1065 King Edward was dying, and had no heir to succeed him. Claims to the throne came from William, Duke of Normandy and Harold Hardrada, King of Norway, and also from the king's brother-in-law Harold, Earl of Wessex, a proven military man. The dying king finally commended the realm to his brother-in-law. King Edward died on 4th January 1066, and was buried on 6th January. Harold II was crowned on the same day in the afternoon at the now rebuilt Westminster Abbey, with Wulfstan in attendance. Wulfstan was now a spritual advisor and an old friend to the new king. But on 14th October at the battle of Hastings Harold lay dead and at Christmas that same year Wulfstan attended the coronation of King William I, again at Westminster Abbey.
Slowly King William I replaced all remaining Englishmen in any office with Normans. Thomas, a canon of Bayeux in Normandy, became Archbishop of York, and Lanfranc the Abbot of Bec in Normandy became Archbishop of Canterbury. Lanfranc ordered Wulfstan to surrender his staff and ring and make way for a Norman Bishop, because he could not speak French. Wulfstan refused, saying, 'You did not grant me my pastoral staff, and I will not surrender it to you.' He then walked over the tomb of King Edward the Confessor and said, 'Edward, you gave me my staff, and now I cannot hold it, because of the king. So I commit it to you. And if you can keep it, then defend it.' He then rammed it into the carvings on the tombstone. All tried to prise the staff from the tomb but it was stuck fast. But Wulfstan lifted his staff off with ease. King William relented and confirmed Wulfstan in office. (This is the scene depicted in the stained glass window in the church in Long Itchington.) By 1071 he was the only Englishman in office in the whole country.
Norman times
Bishop Wulfstan won the trust both of King William and of Archbishop Lanfranc. He accompanied King William on an early journey to the north of the country to try to win over the hearts of the people. He was also involved in keeping an eye on the scribes who were compiling the Domesday Book. It was a time marked by rebellion and civil disturbance, which the Normans took advantage of to take over English lands, resulting in many dispossessed people. Wulfstan maintained a large fighting force to defend church property in Worcester, and did his best to look after the dispossessed. He preached against rebellion, and sought to encourage the English to live in harmony with the incomers. He had a strong sense of justice and was accessible to any person, high or low - unlike the Norman bishops who were protected by their senior clergy from being disturbed by ordinary people! He had been disturbed on journeys to Bristol to see the slave trade between Bristol and Ireland, and, possibly with the help of Lanfranc, persuaded King William to suppress it.
St Wulfstan was very conservative in outlook and would not adopt Norman ways. In the diocese he made sure that the English saints and martyrs were celebrated. Eventually he was persuaded to rebuild the cathedral in the Normal style. Work began in 1084, and the crypt (which can still be seen) was completed in 1089.
Death and canonisation
Wulfstan was struck seriously ill in the middle of July 1094, possibly when engaged in his regular practice of washing poor men's feet. He made his last confession on 1 January and said a final farewell. He died a little after midnight on Friday 19th January 1095, aged about 87, and was buried in Worcester cathedral on 21st January. His tomb seems to have been quite ornate, and a prayer mat was provided for the many pilgrims who wanted his aid. (The tomb was destroyed at the time of the dissolution of the monasteries.) Wulfstan was canonised on 21st April 1203 by Pope Innocent III; January 19th is his day.
In September 1207 King John visited St Wulfstan's tomb and adopted him as his patron saint. When he died, he asked to be buried beside St Wulfstan.
With grateful thanks to Gary Cribden
Family
Wulfstan was born in Long Itchington in south west Mercia (present day Warwickshire) around the year 1008 in the reign of King Ethelred II. His father was called Aethelstan and his mother was Wulfgifu. Aethelstan was a tenant on land owned by the church of Worcester receiving a yearly income of £22. (At the time Long Itchington was in Worcester diocese; the Bishop of Worcester was the abbot of the monastery, Worcester Abbey, where his cathedral was.) He was listed as a priest on the staff of Worcester cathedral, but it is believed his family had looked after the tenancy for three generations. Wulfgifu was the sister of Wulfstan, the then Bishop of Worcester (Wulfstan I; he also became archbishop of York from 1002 to 1016. St Wulfstan is sometimes referred to as Wulfstan II).
The family were quite wealthy and led a comfortable life. Their affluence is shown by the quality of their son's early education at various private boarding schools, and by the ease with which Wulfstan gained the first steps of his ecclesiastical career. Wulfstan had an elder borther, Byrcstan, a young brother, Alfstan (who became a monk at Worcester) and a sister, Ragnild (who became a nun and died in 1094).
Education
Wulfstan's childhood must have been overshadowed by a long series of raids by Danish invaders, which culminated in a struggle for power after King Ethelred II's death between the King's son Edmund 'Ironside' and the Danish King Cnut. Cnut won the struggle in 1017, and many Danish settlers arrived in West Mercia and displaced some English landowners - but evidently not Wulfstan's family. At about 5 years old Wulfstan was sent for elementary schooling to Evesham Abbey - more than a day's ride away, so he must have boarded there. His education would have been largely confined to the rudiments of learning to read and write in English and Latin, and the memorisation of psalms and hymns. He would have been there for 2 or 3 years only. When Wulfstan was about 8 he moved to Peterborough Abbey, on the edge of the fenlands, where he was instructed by a man named Ernwin. He completed his education there in about 1024.
Just after his schooling at Peterborough Abbey finished, both his elderly parents entered religious houses in the city of Worcester. At that time elderly people often entered monasteries as their health declined. His father may also have faced the prospect of poverty. The land at Long Itchington, while being legally an estate of the church of Worcester, was under the control of the Earl of Mercia, Leofric (husband of Lady Godiva)who had a reputation as a predator of all the estates in the area around Coventry. What Wulfstan did when he left school is unknown; it is likely that he would have been a religious clerk of some sort.
Religious Life
Wulfstan embarked on his religious career during the time of Bishop Brihtheath(1033-8)in Worcester, and was ordained priest in 1034. He was extremely devoted to his faith. a strong discipline of faith and fasting filled his days. He regularly kept an all night vigil at one of the many altars. On three days a week he abstained completely from food, and on the other days he ate only leeks and cabbage with a crust of bread. Sundays was a feast day and he would have fish and wine. On the three days he fasted he kept total silence. He was a Benedictine monk, and kept the rule assiduously. His reputation for holiness began to spread all over Mercia.
Wulfstan served under four bishops at Worcester, before his own consecration. While serving under Bishop Ealdred, Wulfstan was elected prior of Worcester, in 1055. (The Bishop as abbot had to have a deputy, the prior, to look after the monastery and Cathedral while he was away on diocesan business.) In this position he gained experience, and met many important people, some connected to the court of King Edward the confessor who came to the throne in 1042. One of these was the Earl of Hereford (later Wessex), Harold Godwinson who later became King Harold II. Wulfstan became his close friend and confessor.
Bishop of Worcester
The death of the archbishop of York in 1060 triggered a chain of events that led to Wulfstan's election as bishop of Worcester some 20 months later. Wulfstan had a genuine reluctance to accept the office of a bishop, as he thought himself not worthy of such a high office. On 29th August 1062 his election was confirmed, and on 8th September he was consecrated by the Archbishop of York and invested with the bishopric by King Edward. Wulfstan chose his brother Alfstan to take over as Prior of Worcester.
Wulfstan had many new duties as a bishop. He had to act as a magistrate at the Shire Court, and to attend the seasonal gatherings of the Royal Court which were held at Dover, Windsor, London and York. He had to travel long distances, sometimes by boat down the River Severn. He became famous for never passing any church he came across, big or small, without going in and praying, and if possible preaching to the local congregation. Wulfstan was a great preacher, and huge crowds would come when he was known to be in the vicinity - whcih was quite often, because he was an assiduous visitor in his diocese. He continued to observe the rule of St Benedict, and sought quiet where he could, reciting psalms as he rode rather than join in ordinary conversation. Renowned for his holiness, a man with several miracles attributed to his prayers, he nevertheless was a man of the people, and good company. However, he was concerned about the licentiousness of the age; he hated long hair in men - he would carry a pair of scissors and cut off some locks so that a hair cut was needed, saying 'how can you defend your homeland if you imitate women'!
Wulfstan's own appearance is described by Coleman:
'He was of middle stature, lower than some men, higher than others, well formed and well proportioned in all parts. The calmness of mind suited the comeliness of his body so that he won the reverence of all men. He ever had sound health which his sparing use of food and sleep helped not a little. In his raiment, his bed furniture, and his shoes, he was neither over sumptuous nor niggardly. He eschewed pride this way and that; for there can be boasting in filthy rags. Yer he inclined rather to what is humble, that he might fall short in outward show, not in grace. So avoiding all ostentation, even when he was a rich man, he would wear only lamb-skins.'Changes
By Christmas 1065 King Edward was dying, and had no heir to succeed him. Claims to the throne came from William, Duke of Normandy and Harold Hardrada, King of Norway, and also from the king's brother-in-law Harold, Earl of Wessex, a proven military man. The dying king finally commended the realm to his brother-in-law. King Edward died on 4th January 1066, and was buried on 6th January. Harold II was crowned on the same day in the afternoon at the now rebuilt Westminster Abbey, with Wulfstan in attendance. Wulfstan was now a spritual advisor and an old friend to the new king. But on 14th October at the battle of Hastings Harold lay dead and at Christmas that same year Wulfstan attended the coronation of King William I, again at Westminster Abbey.
Slowly King William I replaced all remaining Englishmen in any office with Normans. Thomas, a canon of Bayeux in Normandy, became Archbishop of York, and Lanfranc the Abbot of Bec in Normandy became Archbishop of Canterbury. Lanfranc ordered Wulfstan to surrender his staff and ring and make way for a Norman Bishop, because he could not speak French. Wulfstan refused, saying, 'You did not grant me my pastoral staff, and I will not surrender it to you.' He then walked over the tomb of King Edward the Confessor and said, 'Edward, you gave me my staff, and now I cannot hold it, because of the king. So I commit it to you. And if you can keep it, then defend it.' He then rammed it into the carvings on the tombstone. All tried to prise the staff from the tomb but it was stuck fast. But Wulfstan lifted his staff off with ease. King William relented and confirmed Wulfstan in office. (This is the scene depicted in the stained glass window in the church in Long Itchington.) By 1071 he was the only Englishman in office in the whole country.
Bishop Wulfstan won the trust both of King William and of Archbishop Lanfranc. He accompanied King William on an early journey to the north of the country to try to win over the hearts of the people. He was also involved in keeping an eye on the scribes who were compiling the Domesday Book. It was a time marked by rebellion and civil disturbance, which the Normans took advantage of to take over English lands, resulting in many dispossessed people. Wulfstan maintained a large fighting force to defend church property in Worcester, and did his best to look after the dispossessed. He preached against rebellion, and sought to encourage the English to live in harmony with the incomers. He had a strong sense of justice and was accessible to any person, high or low - unlike the Norman bishops who were protected by their senior clergy from being disturbed by ordinary people! He had been disturbed on journeys to Bristol to see the slave trade between Bristol and Ireland, and, possibly with the help of Lanfranc, persuaded King William to suppress it.
St Wulfstan was very conservative in outlook and would not adopt Norman ways. In the diocese he made sure that the English saints and martyrs were celebrated. Eventually he was persuaded to rebuild the cathedral in the Normal style. Work began in 1084, and the crypt (which can still be seen) was completed in 1089.
Death and canonisation
Wulfstan was struck seriously ill in the middle of July 1094, possibly when engaged in his regular practice of washing poor men's feet. He made his last confession on 1 January and said a final farewell. He died a little after midnight on Friday 19th January 1095, aged about 87, and was buried in Worcester cathedral on 21st January. His tomb seems to have been quite ornate, and a prayer mat was provided for the many pilgrims who wanted his aid. (The tomb was destroyed at the time of the dissolution of the monasteries.) Wulfstan was canonised on 21st April 1203 by Pope Innocent III; January 19th is his day.
In September 1207 King John visited St Wulfstan's tomb and adopted him as his patron saint. When he died, he asked to be buried beside St Wulfstan.
With grateful thanks to Gary Cribden