Walter of Kirkham facts for kids

Walter of Kirkham was an important English leader who lived a long time ago, in the 1200s. He held several big jobs, like being in charge of the King's Wardrobe (which was more than just clothes!). He was also the Dean of York, a church leader, and later the Bishop of Durham. He became bishop even though King Henry III wanted his own brother, Aymer de Valence, to get the job. Walter played a key role in starting Balliol College at Oxford University.

Walter's Early Life and Roles

Walter of Kirkham was probably from a place called Kirkham, Yorkshire. Around 1224, he started working as the Keeper of the Wardrobe for the King. This job was very important! The Wardrobe wasn't just for clothes. It handled the King's money for his household, military trips, and big parties. Walter held this job for several years.

He also became a church leader. By 1229, he was the dean of St. Martin's-le-Grand in London. A dean is a senior priest in a church. Before 1232, he became a canon at York Minster. A canon is a member of a group of clergy who serve a cathedral. Soon after, he was named the Dean of York, which was a very high position in the church.

Becoming a Bishop

Walter was chosen to be the Bishop of Durham on April 21, 1249. A bishop is a high-ranking church official who oversees a large area called a "see." King Henry III of England had tried to get his half-brother, Aymer de Valence, elected instead, but it didn't work. Walter was officially made bishop on December 5, 1249, in York. The Archbishop of York, Walter de Gray, performed the ceremony.

As bishop, Walter cared about his clergy. In 1255, he ordered a check to see if his priests understood the basic teachings of the church. He wanted to make sure they could explain these ideas to the people in their churches. He also gave rules about how to handle the special wine and bread used in church services. He made it clear that these items should never be sold.

Walter also had a disagreement with John I de Balliol. They both claimed ownership of a certain piece of land. Things got serious when the bishop's servants were kidnapped! Because of this, Walter made John Balliol do a special penance. This penance involved supporting poor students at Oxford University. This act was one of the first steps that led to the creation of Balliol College, a famous college at Oxford.

In 1257, Walter was part of a group sent to Scotland. This was during the time when King Alexander III of Scotland was still young. Later, in 1258, Walter's house in London was used by Simon de Montfort. Walter might have supported Simon in his arguments with King Henry III. Walter even refused to go to court and had a quarrel with the King that year.

Walter's Death

Walter of Kirkham passed away on August 9, 1260, in a place called Howden. He was buried in the Durham Cathedral chapter house on August 17, 1260.