| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Senior posting | |
| See | Diocese of Hereford |
| Title | Bishop of Hereford |
| Period in office | 1275 - 1282 |
| Predecessor | John de Breton |
| Successor | Richard Swinefield |
| Personal | |
| Date of birth | about 1218 |
| Place of birth | Hambledon, Buckinghamshire |
| Date of death | 25 August 1282 |
| Place of death | Ferento, Montefiascone, Italy |
| Thomas of Hereford | |
|---|---|
| Bishop | |
| Born | c 1218, Hambledon, Buckinghamshire |
| Died | 25 August 1282, Ferento, Montefiascone, Italy |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church; Anglican Communion |
| Canonized | 1320 |
| Major shrine | Hereford Cathedral |
| Feast | 25 August, 2 October |
| Attributes | dressed as a bishop |
 Saints Portal |
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Thomas de Cantilupe (c. 1218 – 25 August 1282), was an English saint and prelate.
Contents |
Early years
He was a son of William de Cantilupe, the 2nd baron (d. 1251), one of King John's ministers, and a nephew of Walter de Cantilupe, Bishop of Worcester (d.1266). He was born at Hambleden in Buckinghamshire and was educated in Paris and Orleans.
Career
Thomas became a teacher of canon law at Oxford and Chancellor of the University in 1261.[1] During the Barons' War Thomas favoured Simon de Montfort and the baronial party. He represented the barons before St Louis of France at Amiens in 1264. He was made Chancellor of England in February of 1265,[2] but was deprived of this office after Montfort's death at Evesham, and lived out of England for some time. Returning to England, he was again Chancellor of Oxford University, lectured on theology, and held several ecclesiastical appointments.[1]
Bishop of Hereford
In 1274 he attended the second council of Lyons, and about June 15 1275 he was appointed Bishop of Hereford and was consecrated on September 8 1275.[3] Cantilupe was now a trusted adviser of Edward I and lived at Earley in Berkshire when attending royal councils in Windsor or Westminster. Even when differing from the King's opinions, he did not forfeit his favour. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Kilwardby, was also his friend; but after Kilwardby's death in 1279 a series of disputes arose between the bishop and the new archbishop, John Peckham, and this drove Cantilupe to visit the Pope.[1]
Death, burial and canonisation
He died at Ferento, near Orvieto, in Italy on the 25 August 1282.[3][1] He was buried in Hereford Cathedral and, with his canonisation in 1320,[1] his shrine became a popular place of pilgrimage. The base can still be seen there today.
Legacy
Cantilupe appears to have been an exemplary Bishop both in spiritual and secular affairs. His charities were large and his private life blameless; he was constantly visiting his diocese, correcting offenders and discharging other episcopal duties; and he compelled neighboring landholders to restore estates which rightly belonged to the see of Hereford. In 1905 the Cantilupe Society was founded to publish the episcopal registers of Hereford, of which Cantilupe's is the first in existence.
See also
- List of the Bishops of the Diocese of Hereford, England and its precursor offices
- List of Lord Chancellors and Lord Keepers
Notes
References
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
- 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
External links
- Royal Berkshire History: St. Thomas Cantilupe of Hereford
- Catholic Encyclopedia
- Catholic Online Saints and Angels
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John Chishull |
Lord Chancellor 1264–1265 |
Succeeded by Ralph Sandwich (Keeper of the Great Seal) |
| Religious titles | ||
| Preceded by John de Breton |
Bishop of Hereford 1275–1282 |
Succeeded by Richard Swinefield |
| Academic offices | ||
| Preceded by Richard de S. Agatha |
Chancellor of the University of Oxford 1262–1264 |
Succeeded by Henry de Cicestre |
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | de Cantilupe, Thomas |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Bishop of Hereford; Saint |
| DATE OF BIRTH | |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | |
| DATE OF DEATH | August 25, 1282 |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |
