Birthelm
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| Birthelm | |
| Archbishop of Canterbury | |
| Enthroned | {{{began}}} |
|---|---|
| Ended | Winter 959 |
| Predecessor | Aelfsige |
| Successor | Dunstan |
| Consecration | never consecrated |
| Born | unknown |
| Died | 15 May 973 |
Birthelm, (or Beorhthelm or Byrhthelm) was the bishop of Wells and was appointed to be the 27th archbishop of Canterbury in 959. A monk from Glastonbury Abbey, he served as Bishop of Wells beginning in 956, then was translated to Canterbury in 959.
In October of 959, King Edwy died and his brother Edgar was readily accepted as ruler of the Kingdom of Wessex. One of the last acts of Edwy had been to appoint a successor to Archbishop Oda, who died on 2 June 958. First he appointed Aelfsige of Winchester, but he perished of cold in the Alps as he journeyed to Rome for the pallium. In his place Edwy nominated Brithelm. As soon as Edgar became king he reversed this act on the ground that Brithelm had not been able to even govern the diocese of Bath properly. Edgar said that Birthelm was too gentle to maintain discipline, and was replaced with Saint Dunstan.[1] He returned to Wells, where he served until he died on 15 May 973.[2]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Stenton, F. M. Anglo-Saxon England Third Edition Oxford:Oxford University Press 1971 ISBN 978-0-19-280139-5 p. 367
- ^ Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I. (1996). Handbook of British Chronology, Third Edition, revised, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p. 222. ISBN 0-521-56350-X.
[edit] External links
| Roman Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Wulfhelm II |
Bishop of Wells 956–973 |
Succeeded by Cynweard |
| Preceded by Aelfsige |
Archbishop of Canterbury 959 |
Succeeded by Dunstan |
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Birthelm |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Beorhthelm; Byrhthelm |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Bishop of Wells; Archbishop of Canterbury |
| DATE OF BIRTH | |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | |
| DATE OF DEATH | May 15, 973 |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |
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