Ælfric of Abingdon facts for kids

Ælfric of Abingdon (died November 16, 1005) was an important church leader in England during the late 900s. He became the Archbishop of Canterbury, which was a very powerful position. Before that, he was an abbot at St Albans Abbey and a bishop in Ramsbury. He might have also been an abbot at Abingdon Abbey. When he became Archbishop, he kept his bishop role too, until he died. Ælfric might have changed the church in Canterbury by bringing in monks instead of other priests. In his will, he even left a ship to King Æthelred II!

Early Life of Ælfric

Ælfric was the son of an important nobleman, an earl from Kent. He chose to become a monk at Abingdon Abbey in Berkshire. Around the year 975, he likely became the Abbot of Abingdon. Later, he became the Abbot of St Albans Abbey.

Becoming a Bishop and Archbishop

Ælfric's brother, Leofric, took over as Abbot of St Albans after Ælfric became a bishop. Between 991 and 993, Ælfric became the Bishop of Ramsbury. He might have even continued to be the Abbot of St Albans while he was a bishop.

In 995, Ælfric was chosen for an even bigger role: Archbishop of Canterbury. This happened at a special meeting called a witenagemot in Amesbury. There, King Æthelred and other important leaders gave their permission for him to become Archbishop. Ælfric continued to be the Bishop of Ramsbury even after becoming Archbishop of Canterbury.

Journey to Rome

Becoming an Archbishop was a big deal. The priests at Canterbury Cathedral were not happy with Ælfric's appointment. They sent two of their own members to Rome before Ælfric arrived. They tried to convince Pope Gregory V to choose one of them as Archbishop instead. However, the Pope would not appoint anyone without the King's permission, which the monks did not have.

So, when Ælfric arrived in Rome in 997, the Pope officially appointed him. He also received the pallium, which is a special cloth that shows an archbishop's authority. While in Rome, Ælfric also saw some amazing things at the grave of Edward the Martyr. This helped lead to Edward being recognized as a saint.

Changes at Canterbury Cathedral

It is said that Ælfric brought monks into the main church at Canterbury, Christ Church, Canterbury. These monks replaced the other priests who had been serving there. People say he did this because the Pope told him to.

Ælfric likely performed the marriage ceremony for King Æthelred the Unready and Emma of Normandy in 1002. This was an important event for the kingdom. Later stories also say that he appointed bishops in Wales. If true, this would have meant Canterbury's influence reached into new areas.

Important Letters and Writings

Either Ælfric or the Archbishop before him wrote a letter to another bishop, Wulfsige of Sherborne. This letter explained the duties of bishops. It told them to make sure people did not damage churches. The letter also encouraged people to be fair, help widows and orphans, and avoid fighting.

Ælfric also asked for the first Life of Dunstan to be written. This was a hagiography, or a story about the life of a saint, Dunstan. Dunstan had also been an Archbishop of Canterbury before Ælfric. Ælfric also acted as a royal judge, helping to settle disagreements between local noblemen called thegns.

Death and Lasting Impact

Ælfric died on November 16, 1005. He was first buried at Abingdon Abbey. Later, his remains were moved to Canterbury Cathedral.

His will, which is a document stating his wishes after death, still exists today. In it, he left ships to the people of Wiltshire and Kent. His best ship, which was big enough for sixty men, went to King Æthelred. The story of Saint Dunstan's life was dedicated to Ælfric. After his death, Ælfric was considered a saint, and his feast day is celebrated on November 16.