Ethelric
Encyclopedia
Æthelric was Bishop of Durham from 1041 to 1056 when he resigned.
Æthelric was a monk at Peterborough Abbey before Bishop Eadmund of Durham
brought him to Durham to instruct the Durham monks in monastic life. Æthelric was consecrated as bishop on 11 January 1041 at York. Æthelric may have owed his advancement to Siward, Earl of Northumbria
, who later restored Æthelric to Durham after Æthelric was forced to flee during a quarrel with the Durham monks. Two reasons are given for why Æthelric resigned his see. One story has it happening after a scandal in which he appropriated treasure hoard that was discovered at Chester-le-Street
in the process of replacing the old church with a new one. Æthelric allegedly sent the money to his former monastery of Peterborough to finance some building work there. Another reason given was that Æthelric was unable to protect the diocese against locals encroaching on its rights. Æthelric also resigned within a year of the death of Earl Siward, who had been one of the bishop's main supporters. His brother, Æthelwine, who had helped Æthelric to appropriate the treasure, succeeded Æthelric as bishop.
Æthelric retired to Peterborough Abbey, where he remained until the Norman Conquest
. He died on 15 October 1072. He was arrested by the King William I of England
after May 1070, and died in captivity at Westminster.
Æthelric was a monk at Peterborough Abbey before Bishop Eadmund of Durham
Eadmund of Durham
Edmund was Bishop of Durham from 1021 to 1041.Symeon of Durham relates the story that Edmund was a monk of Durham Cathedral, and that he was chosen as bishop because a strange voice that came from the tomb of Saint Cuthbert insisted that Edmund be selected as the next bishop. His election was...
brought him to Durham to instruct the Durham monks in monastic life. Æthelric was consecrated as bishop on 11 January 1041 at York. Æthelric may have owed his advancement to Siward, Earl of Northumbria
Siward, Earl of Northumbria
Siward or Sigurd was an important earl of 11th-century northern England. The Old Norse nickname Digri and its Latin translation Grossus are given to him by near-contemporary texts...
, who later restored Æthelric to Durham after Æthelric was forced to flee during a quarrel with the Durham monks. Two reasons are given for why Æthelric resigned his see. One story has it happening after a scandal in which he appropriated treasure hoard that was discovered at Chester-le-Street
Chester-le-Street
Chester-le-Street is a town in County Durham, England. It has a history going back to Roman times when it was called Concangis. The town is located south of Newcastle upon Tyne and west of Sunderland on the River Wear...
in the process of replacing the old church with a new one. Æthelric allegedly sent the money to his former monastery of Peterborough to finance some building work there. Another reason given was that Æthelric was unable to protect the diocese against locals encroaching on its rights. Æthelric also resigned within a year of the death of Earl Siward, who had been one of the bishop's main supporters. His brother, Æthelwine, who had helped Æthelric to appropriate the treasure, succeeded Æthelric as bishop.
Æthelric retired to Peterborough Abbey, where he remained until the Norman Conquest
Norman conquest of England
The Norman conquest of England began on 28 September 1066 with the invasion of England by William, Duke of Normandy. William became known as William the Conqueror after his victory at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066, defeating King Harold II of England...
. He died on 15 October 1072. He was arrested by the King William I of England
William I of England
William I , also known as William the Conqueror , was the first Norman King of England from Christmas 1066 until his death. He was also Duke of Normandy from 3 July 1035 until his death, under the name William II...
after May 1070, and died in captivity at Westminster.