Leofric (bishop) facts for kids

Leofric was an important bishop in medieval England, living from before 1016 to 1072. He was probably from Cornwall and studied in other countries. Leofric became a close friend and helper to Edward the Confessor, who later became King of England. When Edward became king, he gave Leofric land. Leofric was made a bishop in 1046. He moved his main church, or "see," to Exeter in 1050 because Crediton was too small. At Exeter, he worked hard to make his church stronger and richer. He loved books and collected many, including the famous Exeter Book of poetry. Leofric died in 1072.

Leofric's Early Life

Not much is known about Leofric's early life. This is because his church town was not a place where many historical records were kept. He also didn't take part in many events outside his local area.

Leofric was likely born in Cornwall, England. His parents were English. Church rules said that a bishop had to be at least 30 years old when he was chosen. So, Leofric was probably born before the year 1016. A writer from the Middle Ages, Florence of Worcester, called him a Brytonicus, which meant he was from Cornwall. Leofric had a brother named Ordmaer, who helped manage their family's land.

Leofric studied in a region called Lotharingia, which is now part of France, Germany, and Belgium. He might have grown up outside England. It's possible Leofric went abroad when Sweyn Forkbeard, the King of Denmark, invaded England in 1013. Or perhaps he left in 1016 when Sweyn's son, Cnut, became king. He might have studied at a church in Toul, where Pope Leo IX was also involved.

Serving King Edward the Confessor

Before Edward the Confessor became King of England, he lived in exile outside the country. Leofric became Edward's chaplain, which is like a personal priest or advisor. We don't know exactly how or when they met. Some historians think it might have been in Bruges in 1039.

When Edward returned to England, Leofric came with him. Leofric stayed a close supporter and friend of Edward throughout the king's life. In 1044, King Edward gave Leofric land in Dawlish, Devon.

A writer from the 1100s said Leofric was Edward's chancellor. A chancellor was a very important official, like a chief secretary. However, modern historians agree that Edward did not have a chancellor at that time, and Leofric never held such a position.

Becoming a Bishop

When Bishop Lyfing died in 1046, King Edward made Leofric the Bishop of both Cornwall and Crediton. A "see" is the area a bishop is in charge of. In 1050, Leofric moved his main church, or "episcopal seat," from Crediton to Exeter. He combined the two sees into one, creating the see of Exeter. This move was approved by Pope Leo IX.

Before becoming a bishop, Leofric worked for the king. But after he became a bishop, he focused on managing his church area. He stayed on good terms with the king. Leofric's prayer book, called the Leofric Missal, still exists. It includes a prayer for a king who had no children, which probably referred to King Edward.

The abbey church of St. Peter's in Exeter became Leofric's new cathedral. He was officially made Bishop of Exeter there on St Peter's Day in 1050. King Edward and his wife, Edith, were there. They both led Leofric to his "cathedra," which is the bishop's special chair.

Leofric replaced the monks at the church with canons. Canons are priests who live together and follow certain rules. Leofric gave them the Rule of Chrodegang, which he had probably learned while studying abroad. He moved his main church because Crediton was a small, rural town. Exeter was a city with protective walls and an empty church that could be used as the new cathedral. Leofric said that his diocese lacked proper church clothes and items for services. He gave many gifts to the cathedral, including special robes, crosses, cups, and altar coverings.

Leofric's Legacy

After moving to Exeter, Leofric worked to increase the wealth of his diocese. He especially wanted to improve the cathedral's library. He said there were only five books when he arrived. He remained good friends with the king. Leofric was present at Edward's Christmas court in 1065. This was when Edward's new Westminster Abbey church was officially opened.

Leofric survived William the Conqueror's attack on Exeter in 1068. We don't know if Leofric supported King Harold or William at first. But he was not removed from his position when William replaced many English bishops in 1070. This suggests he was not strongly against William. Leofric remained bishop until he died on February 10 or 11, 1072. He was buried in the crypt of his cathedral. When the cathedral was rebuilt later, his remains were moved. However, the exact location of his tomb is now unknown. The tomb you see today was built in 1568 and is not his actual resting place.

During Leofric's time as bishop, his cathedral library was the fourth largest in England. It was also an important place for copying books. In 1072, he gave a very important book of Old English poetry, called the Exeter Book, to the cathedral library. This book contains many different types of Old English poems. It is one of the main sources we have today for learning about Anglo-Saxon poetry.

Besides the Exeter Book, Leofric also gave many other books and manuscripts to the cathedral when he died. Three lists of his donations still exist. This is one of the earliest surviving lists of books from a cathedral library. The list includes 31 books for church services, 24 other religious books, and 11 non-religious books. The non-religious books included philosophy and poetry. The number of books he owned and gave to his church was very large for his time.

About 20 of the manuscripts Leofric gave can still be identified today. Only two of them are still at Exeter, including the Exeter Book. Leofric's own copy of the Rule of Chrodegang is now at Cambridge University. Another book from his collection, a Gospel book written in Latin, is now in the Bodleian Library. Leofric probably got this book while he was in Europe.

Records from his cathedral say that Leofric was an active preacher in his area. They also say he built many churches and was a good teacher for his clergy. Historian Frank Barlow described Leofric as "an able administrator and a progressive force." This means he was good at managing things and helped bring new ideas.