1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Wulfstan, St

WULFSTAN, ST (c. 1012-1095), bishop of Worcester, was born at Little Itchington near Warwick and was educated in the monastic schools of Evesham and Peterborough. He became a monk at Worcester, and schoolmaster and prior in the cathedral monastery there. In 1062 he was chosen bishop of Worcester, and the choice was approved by the witan; with some reluctance Wulfstan accepted, and was consecrated at York in September. The see of Worcester and the archbishopric of York had been held together before 1062 by Archbishop Aldred, who, when he was compelled to resign Worcester, retained twelve manors belonging to the see, which Wulfstan did not recover for some years. About 1070, however, it was decided that Worcester was in the province of Canterbury. Although he had been on friendly terms with Harold, the bishop submitted to William at Berkhampstead, and he was very useful in checking the rebellious barons during the revolt of 1075. He was equally loyal to William II. in his struggle with the Welsh. Wulfstan's relations with his ecclesiastical superiors were not so harmonious, and at one time both Lanfranc of Canterbury and Thomas of York unsuccessfully demanded his removal. He was the only survivor of the Anglo-Saxon bishops when he died on the 18th of January 1095. In 1203 he was canonized by Pope Innocent III. By his preaching at Bristol Wulfstan is said to have put an end to the kidnapping of English men and women and selling them as slaves. He rebuilt the cathedral church of Worcester, and some parts of his building still remain.

Lives of St Wulfstan by Hemming and Florence of Worcester are in H. Wharton's Anglia sacra (1691). See also E. A. Freeman, Norman Conquest (1867-1879).