Saint Wulfstan
Saint Wulfstan of Worcester (born c. 1008 AD in Long Itchington, Warwickshire, England; died January 19, 1095 AD in Worcester, England) was the Bishop of Worcester who is unique in English ecclesiastical history: he was the only Anglo-Saxon bishop to retain his see after the Norman Conquest (1066) and served as bishop until his death in 1095 — one of the longest episcopates in English history. He was a reformer, a builder (he rebuilt Worcester Cathedral), and a champion of the abolition of the Bristol slave trade. He was canonized by Pope Honorius III in 1203. His feast day is January 19.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Wulfstan
| Saint Wulfstan | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | January 19 |
| Profession | Benedictine monk; Bishop of Worcester (c. 1062–1095 AD); builder of Worcester Cathedral; campaigner against the slave trade; only Anglo-Saxon bishop to survive the Norman Conquest |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Church of England (venerated); Benedictine Order; Anglo-Saxon English church; Norman-era English church; Diocese of Worcester; pre-Conquest and post-Conquest English Catholicism |
| Patronage | Worcester; the Diocese of Worcester; those with throat and eye ailments (miracles at his shrine); England broadly; the Midlands; those who advocate for the dignity of persons |
| Attributes | Benedictine habit; bishop's vestments; a cathedral model (Worcester Cathedral); a church (the Norman rebuilding); the River Severn; Anglo-Saxon imagery; King John of England kneeling at his shrine (a notable historical detail) |
| Birthplace | Long Itchington, Warwickshire, England |
| Death Place | Worcester, England |
| Cause of Death | Natural death; died January 19, 1095 AD, in Worcester; he was approximately 87 years old; he had been Bishop of Worcester for approximately 36 years; he died while still active in his pastoral ministry; he was the oldest and longest-serving bishop in England at the time of his death; he had reportedly outlasted all the Norman prelates who had initially doubted his suitability as bishop; his body was enshrined at Worcester Cathedral and immediately became a pilgrimage site |
| Primary Shrine | Worcester Cathedral — his shrine; King John's tomb nearby; Norman crypt; January 19 feast; major Midlands pilgrimage |
| Liturgical Class | Optional Memorial (Roman Rite); January 19; Feast in England and Wales |
| Historic Class | Double (January 19) in 1962 calendar |
Biography
Wulfstan was born c. 1008 in Long Itchington, Warwickshire. He was educated at the monasteries of Evesham and Peterborough and became a Benedictine monk at Worcester. He served as prior of the Worcester cathedral chapter.
He was consecrated Bishop of Worcester c. 1062. When William the Conqueror took England in 1066, virtually all Anglo-Saxon bishops were replaced with Normans. Wulfstan was the sole exception — retained for his evident holiness and pastoral effectiveness.
He rebuilt Worcester Cathedral in the Romanesque style from 1084. He campaigned against the Bristol slave trade, preaching until the merchants abandoned it.
He served as bishop for approximately 36 years — under three kings — and died January 19, 1095, aged approximately 87. King John of England (d. 1216) was buried at Worcester Cathedral, near Wulfstan's shrine, at his own request.
Pope Honorius III canonized him in 1203.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Long Itchington, Warwickshire, England
Death location: Worcester, England
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Shrines
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Known shrines
- Worcester Cathedral — his shrine; Norman crypt he built; King John's tomb nearby.
Feast day
January 19
Veneration
Saint Wulfstan was the only Anglo-Saxon bishop to survive the Norman Conquest, serving Worcester for 36 years. He campaigned against the Bristol slave trade and rebuilt Worcester Cathedral. Canonized 1203. Feast January 19.
Prayers
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