Samson (bishop of Worcester) facts for kids

Tomb / grave marker of Samson, in the floor of Worcester Cathedral

Samson (who died on May 5, 1112) was an important English church leader in the Middle Ages. He served as the Bishop of Worcester from 1096 until his death in 1112.

Samson's Life and Career

Early Roles

Samson worked for the king as a royal chaplain. This meant he was a priest who served the royal family. He was also a canon and treasurer for the church area called the diocese of Bayeux. A canon is a type of priest who works in a cathedral.

Mention in the Domesday Book

The Domesday Book was a huge survey of England made in 1086. It recorded who owned what land and how much it was worth. In this book, Samson is mentioned as a chaplain. He owned a church called St Peter's Collegiate Church, Wolverhampton. He also owned a lot of land in southern Staffordshire. Much of this land he rented out to other church leaders.

Becoming a Bishop

In 1096, Samson was chosen to be the bishop of Worcester. This was a very important job in the church. He first became a deacon and then a priest on June 7, 1096. The very next day, on June 8, 1096, he was officially made a bishop.

Samson's Family

Even though he was a bishop, Samson had a family. He had a daughter named Isabelle of Douvres. He also had two sons who later became bishops, just like him! His son Richard was the bishop of Bayeux from 1108 to 1133. His other son, Thomas, became the archbishop of York from 1108 to 1114. Samson's daughter, Isabelle of Douvres, also had a son named Richard. This grandson of Samson also became the bishop of Bayeux, serving from 1135 to 1142.

Domesday Book Connection

Some historians think that Samson might have been the person in charge of putting together the Domesday Book. This would have been a massive and very important task. The historian V. H. Galbraith suggested this idea.

His Death

Samson passed away on May 5, 1112.