Abbot of Glastonbury explained

The Abbot of Glastonbury was the head (or abbot) of the Anglo-Saxon and eventually Benedictine house of Glastonbury Abbey at Glastonbury in Somerset, England.

The following is a list of abbots of Glastonbury:

Abbots

NameDatesWorksNotes
St Benignus?458–469(reputed)
'Worgret'c.601–?
'Lademund'c.663–c.667
'Bregored'c.667
Berhtwaldc.667–676/7Archbishop of Canterbury 693–731
Haemgils676/7–701/2
Beorhtwald701/2–709/10
Ealdberht709/10–718/9Church of SS Peter & Paul built by King Ine
Ecgfrith718/19–?
Walhstod729(rejected by some sources)
Coengils?–737
Tunberht737–?
Tyccea754–760
Guba760–762
Wealdhun762–794
Beaduwulf794–800
Muca802–824
Guthlac824–851
Ealhmund851–867
Hereferth867–891(now thought probably to come before Ealhmund)
Stithheard891–922
Aldhun922–?
Cuthred
Ælfric?
Ecgwulf
St Dunstan940–957+Lengthened Ine's church and added a tower. Raised the level of the cemetery and constructed various monastic buildings.later Archbishop of Canterbury[1] [2]
?Ælfricoccurs after Dunstan in some lists(probably spurious)[3]
Ælfstanoccurs in some lists after Ælfric(probably spurious)
Sigarc.970–975(?)later Bishop of Wells 975–997
Ælfweardc.975–1009
Brihtred (Beorhtred)1009–?
Brihtwig (Brihtwine)c. 1017–1024later Bishop of Wells
Æthelweard (Aegelweard)c.1024–1053
Æthelnoth1053–1078deposed by Lanfranc
Thurstanc.1077–after 1096Began a new church1091. Translation of relics of St Benignus from Meare
Herluin1100–1118Rebuilt Thurstan's church on a grander scale
Seffrid Pelochin1120/1–1125Bishop of Chichester from 1125 to 1145
Henry of Blois1126–1171Built a bell tower, chapter house, cloister, lavatory, refectory, dormitory, infirmary, the 'castellum', an outer gate, a brewery and stablesalso Bishop of Winchester from 1129
Robert of Winchester1173–1180Built a chamber and chapelpreviously Prior of Winchester
Peter de Marcy1186. New St Mary's Chapel consecrated. Work on Great Church begun.1184 (25 May). Great Fire
Henry de Sully1189–1193supposed tomb of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere discovered in the cemetery c. 1190
Later Bishop of Worcester 1193–1195
Savaric FitzGeldewin1193–1205also Bishop of Bath and Glastonbury
(Master William Pica)(1198–1200)(elected 1198 but election quashed 1200)
Jocelin of Wells1206–1219[4] also Bishop of Bath and Glastonbury from 1206 to 1242
William of St Vigor1219–1223
Robert of Bath1223–1235Deposed 29 March 1235
Michael of Amesbury1235–c.1252Carried work on the choir forward
Roger of Ford1252–1261died 2 October 1261, buried at Westminster
Robert of Petherton1261–1274Built abbot's chamberdied 31 March 1274
John of Taunton1274–1291Choir completed; west end of nave and galilee built. King Arthur's remains transferred to new tomb 1278.died 7 October 1291
John of Kent1291–1303
Geoffrey Fromond1303–1322Spent £1,000 on buildings: completed various parts of the Great Church
Walter of Taunton1322–1323Built pulpitum at west end of choirdied 23 January 1323
Adam of Sodbury1323–1334Completed vaulting of nave of Great Church; worked on great hall and built a new chapel on the TorConcealed Hugh le Despenser and Robert Baldock, Lord Chancellor at the end of Queen Isabella and Roger Mortimer's Overthrow of Edward II in 1326
John of Breynton1334–1342Completed abbot's great hall and worked on various other related buildings including prior's hall
Walter de Monington1342–1375Extended choir by 40 feet, adding 2 bays. Completed abbot's chapel and infirmary. King Arthur's tomb transferred 1368.
John Chinnock (John Chynnock)1375–14201382. Restored chapel and rededicated it to SS Michael & Joseph; rebuilt cloisters, erected or repaired the dormitory and fratry.
Nicholas Frome1420–1456Finished chapter house, rebuilt misericord house and great chamber; constructed bishop's quarters and a wall around abbey precincts. Probably responsible for the abbot's kitchen.
John Selwood1456–1493Built parish church of St John Baptist. Erected pilgrims' inn.
Richard Beere1493–1524Began Edgar Chapel; built crypt under Lady Chapel and dedicated it to St Joseph; built a chapel of the Holy Sepulchre at south end of nave; built the Loretto chapel; added vaulting under central tower and flying buttresses at east end of choir; built St Benignus' Church and rebuilt Tribunal
Richard Whiting1525–1539Completed Edgar ChapelHanged on Glastonbury Tor, 15 November 1539.

See also

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Geoffrey Ashe (1973), King Arthur's Avalon, Fontana
  2. Knowles Heads of Religious Houses: England and Wales, I 940–1216 pp. 50–52
  3. Knowles Heads of Religious Houses: England & Wales I 940–1216 pp. 248–250
  4. Smith Heads of Religious Houses: England & Wales, II 1217–1377 pp. 46–47