Spearhafoc facts for kids

Spearhafoc was an Anglo-Saxon artist and Benedictine monk who lived in the 1000s. He was very talented at art, especially painting and working with gold. This talent helped him become an important leader in the church.

He became the Abbot of Abingdon around 1047 or 1048. Later, in 1051, he was chosen to be the Bishop of London. However, he was never officially made a bishop. After this, he disappeared. He was last seen with gold and jewels that were supposed to be made into a crown for King Edward the Confessor. Spearhafoc was also known for a special event that people called a miracle.

His name, Spearhafoc, means "sparrowhawk" in Old English.

Spearhafoc's Church Career

Spearhafoc was a monk at Bury St Edmunds Abbey. People who knew him, like a writer named Goscelin, said he was "outstanding in painting, gold-engraving and goldsmithery." This means he was very good at painting, especially in illuminated manuscripts (books with decorated pages). He was also skilled at engraving and making things from gold.

His artistic skills likely brought him to the attention of the royal family. King Edward the Confessor chose him to be the Abbot of Abingdon after the previous abbot died. This happened in 1047 or 1048.

In 1051, King Edward wanted Spearhafoc to become the Bishop of London. But the previous Bishop of London, Robert of Jumièges, had just become the Archbishop of Canterbury. Robert refused to make Spearhafoc a bishop. He said that Pope Leo IX had forbidden it.

There was a long disagreement that lasted for months. Spearhafoc stayed in London as the chosen bishop, but he was not officially consecrated. Things changed when Earl Godwin, who seemed to be a friend of Spearhafoc, lost his power in September 1051. After this, Spearhafoc was forced to leave London. He left England and was never seen again. He took with him the gold and jewels meant for the King's crown, along with other valuable items from the church.

A relative of the king, Rodulf, took Spearhafoc's place as Abbot of Abingdon. Spearhafoc was the last Bishop of London of English background for a long time.

Spearhafoc's Art Work

Anglo-Saxon metalwork was very famous, even in places like Italy. Sadly, most of these beautiful pieces were lost after the Norman Conquest in 1066. Many were also sold later.

Spearhafoc was known for three specific projects using precious metals: the King's crown and two sets of statues in Canterbury. None of these works have survived. However, the details we have, mostly from Goscelin, tell us about the amazing metalwork of that time.

Anglo-Saxons were known for their skill in gold-engraving. This involved carving designs and figures onto gold objects. The few remaining engraved figures look a lot like the drawings found in manuscripts, which was another special skill of the Anglo-Saxons. Wall paintings, which sometimes included gold, were also often made by artists who decorated manuscripts. Goscelin's description shows that Spearhafoc was skilled in all the main types of art that used figures. Being a goldsmith was considered the most important art form back then.

Many monks who were artists became important church leaders. Spearhafoc's career as a metalworker was similar to his friend Mannig, who was the Abbot of Evesham. Another famous example was Saint Dunstan, who became the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Spearhafoc's predecessor as Abbot of Abingdon, Saint Æthelwold of Winchester, was also known as a goldsmith. He was said to have made many metal objects for the abbey, including figures, bells, and even a pipe organ.

Spearhafoc's Miracle

According to Goscelin, Spearhafoc was working on metal figures at St Augustine's Abbey in Canterbury. He lost a valuable ring that King Edward's queen, Edith of Wessex, had given him. This ring was meant to be used in his art project.

Spearhafoc was very upset. He prayed to Saint Letard, who was buried in the church. After he prayed, the ring was found! To show his thanks, Spearhafoc decorated Letard's tomb with "statues of enormous size and beauty." These statues were of Saint Letard and Queen Bertha of Kent, who Letard had served. These statues were likely almost life-sized.

This miracle made Spearhafoc even more famous. It might have made him seem like a better choice to become a bishop. For art historians, this story is one of the few mentions of large metal statues in Anglo-Saxon England. It is also the only one that connects them to a tomb or a container for holy objects.