Saint Alfrick
Saint Alfrick (also known as Aelfric of Canterbury, Elphege the Bald, or Alphage the Elder; died November 16, 1005) was an Anglo-Saxon scholar, monk, and Archbishop of Canterbury from 995 to 1005. Not to be confused with his more famous successor Saint Alphege of Canterbury (Alphege the Martyr, d. 1012), Alfrick was a learned Benedictine abbot who served as Archbishop during a difficult period of Danish raiding in England. He is sometimes called "Alphage the Elder" to distinguish him from Saint Alphege the Martyr. His feast day is November 16.
Alfrick had been Abbot of Abingdon before his elevation to Canterbury and was respected for his learning and monastic observance. He resigned his see in 1005, reportedly because of ill health, and died shortly afterward. His veneration is principally local to the Canterbury tradition.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Alfrick
| Saint Alfrick | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | November 16 |
| Profession | Benedictine monk; Abbot; Archbishop |
| Rel. Affiliation | Order of Saint Benedict; Archdiocese of Canterbury |
| Attributes | Archbishop's vestments and cross |
| Birthplace | England (exact location uncertain) |
| Death Place | England |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes |
| Liturgical Class | Not included (universal calendar) |
| Historic Class | Not included |
Biography
Alfrick (Aelfric) served as Abbot of Abingdon before being appointed Archbishop of Canterbury in 995. His ten-year tenure as archbishop coincided with the intensifying Danish raids under Sweyn Forkbeard that would culminate, after Alfrick's death, in the martyrdom of his successor Alphege in 1012. Alfrick resigned the see in 1005, reportedly due to infirmity, and died on November 16 of the same year.
He was a man of Benedictine formation and learning, and his tenure at Abingdon and Canterbury contributed to the monastic renewal associated with the tenth-century English Benedictine Reform. He is not to be confused with the contemporary writer Aelfric of Eynsham (Aelfric the Grammarian), who was a prolific Anglo-Saxon author.
Significant events
- Served as Abbot of Abingdon before 995.
- Appointed Archbishop of Canterbury in 995.
- Resigned the see due to ill health in 1005.
- Died November 16, 1005.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: None
Death location: None
Notable location: Cathedral of his archbishopric (Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury, Kent, England)
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Canonization
Saint Alfrick is venerated through the ancient process of local veneration in the English tradition.
Feast day
November 16
Veneration
Saint Alfrick is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church with a feast day on November 16, principally in the tradition of the Archdiocese of Canterbury.
Prayers
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