William of St. Barbara

Infobox bishopbiog
name =William of St. Barbara


religion =Catholic
See =Diocese of Durham
Title = Bishop of Durham
Period = 1143–1152
Predecessor = William Cumin
Successor =Hugh de Puiset
ordination =
bishops =
post =Dean of York
date of birth =
place of birth =
date of death =November 1152
place of death =

William of St. Barbara or William of Ste Barbe was a medieval Bishop of Durham.

Life

From his name, it is presumed that he was a native of Ste Barbe-en-Auge in Calvados in Normandy.Offler "Ste Barbe , William de (c.1080–1152)" rev. Henry Summerson, "Oxford Dictionary of National Biography"] He was a canon of York Cathedral in 1128. [http://british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=2951 British History Online Prebends of York] accessed on 25 October 2007] He was Dean of York by December of 1138. [http://british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=10458 British History Online Deans of York] accessed on 25 October 2007]

He was elected to the see of Durham on 14 March 1143 and consecrated on 20 June 1143.Fryde "Handbook of British Chronology" p. 241] He was elected in opposition to William Cumin who had been intruded into the see by King David I of Scotland in 1141. Cumin was never consecrated and by 1143 had been excommunicated by Pope Innocent II who also ordered a new election to be held at York Minster. It was this election which selected William of St. Barbara.Crouch "Reign of King Stephen" p. 310] However, the new bishop was not able to enter Durham right away,Barlow "The English Church 1066-1154" p. 97] and he was enthroned either on 18 October 1144 or shortly thereafter. [http://british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=33859 British History Online Bishops of Durham] accessed on 25 October 2007]

Troubles continued in Durham, and the bishop was unable to attend the Council of Rheims in 1148, which led to a suspension by the pope for inattendence. William supported Henry Murdac in the disputed election to the archbishopric of York, and it was probably Murdac who arranged for the suspension to be lifted. William also supported the Cistercians and the Augustinians, which perturbed his cathedral chapter which was made up of Benedictine monks. He died 13 November 1152.

Notes

References

* [http://british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=33859 British History Online Bishops of Durham] accessed on 25 October 2007
* [http://british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=10458 British History Online Deans of York] accessed on 25 October 2007
* [http://british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=2951 British History Online Prebends of York] accessed on 25 October 2007
* Crouch, David "The Reign of King Stephen: 1135-1154" Harlow, Essex: Longman Pearson 2000 ISBN 0-582-22657-0
*
* Offler, H. S. "Ste Barbe , William de (c.1080–1152)" rev. Henry Summerson, "Oxford Dictionary of National Biography" Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/38128 Online Edition] accessed 22 January 2008

Persondata
NAME=William of St Barbara
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=William of Ste Barbe
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Bishop of Durham
DATE OF BIRTH=
PLACE OF BIRTH=
DATE OF DEATH=November 1152
PLACE OF DEATH=