| Denomination | Catholic |
|---|---|
| Senior posting | |
| See | Diocese of London |
| Title | Bishop of London |
| Period in office | 675–693 |
| Predecessor | Wine |
| Successor | Waldherus |
| Religious career | |
| Previous post | Abbot of Chertsey |
| Personal | |
| Date of birth | c 630 |
| Place of birth | Lindsey |
| Date of death | 693 |
| Place of death | Barking Abbey |
| Sainthood | |
|---|---|
| Major shrine | St. Paul's, London |
| Feast | 13 May 24 April 30 April 14 November in England |
| Attributes | bishop in a small chariot, which he used for travelling his diocese; with Saint Ethelburga of Barking |
| Patronage | against gout |
Saint Erkenwald or Erconwald or Eorcenwald (died c. 693) was bishop of London in the Anglo-Saxon Christian Church between 675 and 693.
Life
He was born at Lindsey[1] into the princely Offa family.[2] Erkenwald gave up his share of family money[citation needed] to help establish two Benedictine abbeys, Chertsey Abbey in Surrey[3] in 661 for men, and Barking Abbey for women.[1][4] His sister, Æthelburg, was abbess of Barking,[1][5] while he served as abbot of Chertsey.[6]
In 675, he became the bishop of London, after Wine.[7] He was the choice of Archbishop Theodore of Canterbury.[6] While bishop, he contributed to King Ine of Wessex's law code, and is mentioned specifically in the code as a contributor.[8] He is also reputed to have converted Sebba, king of the East Saxons, to Christianity in 677.[citation needed] Current historical scholarship credits Erkenwald with a large role in the evolution of Anglo-Saxon charters, and it is possible that he drafted the charter of Caedwalla to Farnham.[5] King Ine of Wessex named Erkenwald as an advisor on his laws.[9]
He died at Barking Abbey in 693[7] and his remains were buried at St. Paul's Cathedral. His grave was a popular place of pilgrimage in the Middle Ages, and was destroyed together with a number of other tombs in the cathedral during the Reformation[10].
His feast day is 13 May, 30 April, 24 April, or in some parts of England, 14 November.[11]
See also
Notes
- ^ a b c Walsh A New Dictionary of Saints p. 182
- ^ St. Erconwald Catholic Encyclopedia Online article accessed on 3 September 2007
- ^ Kirby Earliest English Kings p. 83
- ^ Yorke "Adaptation of the Anglo-Saxon Royal Courts" Cross Goes North pp. 250–251
- ^ a b Kirby Earliest English Kings p. 102
- ^ a b Kirby Earliest English Kings pp. 95–96
- ^ a b Powicke Handbook of British Chronologyp. 238
- ^ Yorke Conversion of Britain p. 235
- ^ Kirby Earliest English Kings p. 103
- ^ Walter Thornbury, Old and New London: Volume 1, 1878.
- ^ Patron Saints Index: Erconwald accessed on 3 September 2007
References
- St. Erconwald Catholic Encyclopedia Online article accessed on 3 September 2007
- Patron Saints Index: Erconwald accessed on 3 September 2007
- Kirby, D. P. (2000). The Earliest English Kings. New York: Routledge. ISBN 0-415-24211-8.
- Powicke, F. Maurice and E. B. Fryde Handbook of British Chronology 2nd. ed. London:Royal Historical Society 1961
- Walsh, Michael A New Dictionary of Saints: East and West London: Burns & Oates 2007 ISBN 0-8601-2438-X
- Yorke, Barbara (2003). "The Adaptation of the Anglo-Saxon Royal Courts to Christianity". in Martin Carver. The Cross Goes North: Processes of Conversion in Northern Europe AD 300–1300. Woodbridge, UK: Boydell Press. pp. 244–257. ISBN 1-84383-125-2.
- Yorke, Barbara (2006). The Conversion of Britain: Religion, Politics and Society in Britain c. 600–800. London: Pearson/Longman. ISBN 0-582-77292-3.
External links
| Religious titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Wine |
Bishop of London 675–693 |
Succeeded by Waldherus |
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