Athelm (or Æthelhelm; died 926) was an English churchman, who was the first Bishop of Wells, and later Archbishop of Canterbury. His translation, or moving from one bishopric to another, was a precedent for later translations of ecclesiastics, because prior to this time period such movements were considered illegal. While archbishop, Athelm crowned King Æthelstan, and perhaps wrote the coronation service for the event. An older relative of Dunstan, a later Archbishop of Canterbury, Athelm helped promote Dunstan's early career. After Athelm's death, he was considered a saint.
Athelm was a monk of Glastonbury Abbey[1] before his elevation in 909 to the see of Wells, of which he was the first occupant.[2] The see was founded to divide up the diocese of Sherborne, which was very large, by creating a bishopric for the county of Somerset. Wells was likely chosen as the seat because it was the center of the county.[3] Some scholarly works suggest that Athelm may be the same person as Æthelhelm, son of King Æthelred of Wessex,[4] but this is not accepted by most historians.[5] A few sources state that Athelm was Abbot of Glastonbury before he became bishop,[6] but other sources disagree and do not give him that office.[1] This traces to later medieval chroniclers, not to contemporary accounts. His brother was Heorstan, who held land near Glastonbury.[7]
Archbishopric
Between August 923 and September 925 he became archbishop.[8][a] His translation from the see of Wells set a precedent for the future, and marks a break with historical practice. Previously the moving of a bishop from one see to another had been held to be against canon, or ecclesiastical, law. Recently, however, the popes had themselves been translated, and this practice was to become common in England after Athelm's time.[10] He was West Saxon, unlike his predecessor, Plegmund, who was Mercian, reflecting the shift in power to Wessex.[11] Athelm was a paternal uncle of Dunstan,[1] who later became Archbishop of Canterbury. It was Athelm who brought Dunstan to the king's court.[12]
Athelm presided at the coronation of King Athelstan of England on 4 September 925, and probably composed or organised the new Ordo (order of service) in which for the first time the king wore a crown instead of a helmet. He also attested the king's first grant to St Augustine's Abbey in Canterbury.[11] It is unclear if the reason that no coins were minted with his name was his short term of office or a change in policy towards the Archbishop of Canterbury minting coins in his own name. Nothing else is known of Athelm's brief time as archbishop.[10]
Death and burial
Athelm died on 8 January 926.[1][8] He was later considered a saint, with a feast day of 8 January.[13] He was buried at first the church of St John the Baptist near the Saxon-era Canterbury Cathedral. When a new cathedral was constructed under Archbishop Lanfranc after the Norman Conquest of England, the earlier archbishops of Canterbury were moved to the north transept of the new cathedral. Later, Athelm and his successor as archbishop Wulfhelm were moved to a chapel dedicated to St Benedict, which later was incorporated into the Lady Chapel constructed by Prior Thomas Goldstone (d. 1468).[14]
Brooks, Nicholas (1984). The Early History of the Church of Canterbury: Christ Church from 597 to 1066. London: Leicester University Press. ISBN0-7185-0041-5.
Catholic Online. "St Athelm". Catholic Online. Retrieved 8 August 2007.
Delaney, John P. (1980). Dictionary of Saints (Second ed.). Garden City, NY: Doubleday. ISBN0-385-13594-7.
Dolley, R. H. M. (June 1958). "An Important Group of Tenth-Century Pence". The British Museum Quarterly. 21 (3): 74–76. doi:10.2307/4422583. JSTOR 4422583.
Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I. (1996). Handbook of British Chronology (Third revised ed.). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. ISBN0-521-56350-X.
Mason, Emma (2004). "Athelm (d. 926)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/832. Retrieved 7 November 2007. (subscription or UK public library membership required)
Miller, Sean (2004). "Æthelred I (d. 871)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/8913. Retrieved 9 June 2013.(subscription or UK public library membership required)
Nelson, Janet (2008). "The First Use of the Second Anglo-Saxon Ordo". In Barrow, Julia; Wareham, Andrew (eds.). Myth, Rulership, Church and Charters. Aldershot, UK: Ashgate. ISBN978-0-7546-5120-8.
Robinson, J. Armitage (1918). The Saxon Bishops of Wells: A Historical Study in the Tenth Century. British Academy Supplemental Papers. Vol. IV. London: British Academy. OCLC 13867248.
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For other men called AEthelhelm see AEthelhelm disambiguation Athelm or AEthelhelm died 926 was an English churchman who was the first Bishop of Wells and later Archbishop of Canterbury His translation or moving from one bishopric to another was a precedent for later translations of ecclesiastics because prior to this time period such movements were considered illegal While archbishop Athelm crowned King AEthelstan and perhaps wrote the coronation service for the event An older relative of Dunstan a later Archbishop of Canterbury Athelm helped promote Dunstan s early career After Athelm s death he was considered a saint AthelmArchbishop of CanterburyAppointedbetween 923 and 925Term ended8 January 926PredecessorPlegmundSuccessorWulfhelmOther post s Bishop of WellsPersonal detailsDied8 January 926Buriedfirst church of St John the Baptist in Canterbury later Canterbury CathedralSainthoodFeast day8 JanuaryVenerated inRoman Catholic ChurchCanonizedPre Congregation Contents 1 Background 2 Archbishopric 3 Death and burial 4 Notes 5 Citations 6 References 7 External linksBackground EditAthelm was a monk of Glastonbury Abbey 1 before his elevation in 909 to the see of Wells of which he was the first occupant 2 The see was founded to divide up the diocese of Sherborne which was very large by creating a bishopric for the county of Somerset Wells was likely chosen as the seat because it was the center of the county 3 Some scholarly works suggest that Athelm may be the same person as AEthelhelm son of King AEthelred of Wessex 4 but this is not accepted by most historians 5 A few sources state that Athelm was Abbot of Glastonbury before he became bishop 6 but other sources disagree and do not give him that office 1 This traces to later medieval chroniclers not to contemporary accounts His brother was Heorstan who held land near Glastonbury 7 Archbishopric EditBetween August 923 and September 925 he became archbishop 8 a His translation from the see of Wells set a precedent for the future and marks a break with historical practice Previously the moving of a bishop from one see to another had been held to be against canon or ecclesiastical law Recently however the popes had themselves been translated and this practice was to become common in England after Athelm s time 10 He was West Saxon unlike his predecessor Plegmund who was Mercian reflecting the shift in power to Wessex 11 Athelm was a paternal uncle of Dunstan 1 who later became Archbishop of Canterbury It was Athelm who brought Dunstan to the king s court 12 Athelm presided at the coronation of King Athelstan of England on 4 September 925 and probably composed or organised the new Ordo order of service in which for the first time the king wore a crown instead of a helmet He also attested the king s first grant to St Augustine s Abbey in Canterbury 11 It is unclear if the reason that no coins were minted with his name was his short term of office or a change in policy towards the Archbishop of Canterbury minting coins in his own name Nothing else is known of Athelm s brief time as archbishop 10 Death and burial EditAthelm died on 8 January 926 1 8 He was later considered a saint with a feast day of 8 January 13 He was buried at first the church of St John the Baptist near the Saxon era Canterbury Cathedral When a new cathedral was constructed under Archbishop Lanfranc after the Norman Conquest of England the earlier archbishops of Canterbury were moved to the north transept of the new cathedral Later Athelm and his successor as archbishop Wulfhelm were moved to a chapel dedicated to St Benedict which later was incorporated into the Lady Chapel constructed by Prior Thomas Goldstone d 1468 14 Notes Edit Janet Nelson states that he became archbishop in 923 9 Citations Edit a b c d Mason Athelm Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Fryde et al Handbook of British Chronology p 222 Robinson Saxon Bishops of Wells p 5 Dolley Important Group British Museum Quarterly p 75 Miller AEthelred I Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Delaney Dictionary of Saints p 65 Robinson Saxon Bishops of Wells p 6 a b Fryde et al Handbook of British Chronology p 214 Nelson First Use Myth Rulership Church and Charters p 126 a b Brooks Early History of the Church of Canterbury pp 214 216 a b Nelson First Use Myth Rulership Church and Charters pp 124 126 Stenton Anglo Saxon England p 446 Catholic Online St Athelm Catholic Online Robinson Saxon Bishops of Wells pp 58 59References EditBrooks Nicholas 1984 The Early History of the Church of Canterbury Christ Church from 597 to 1066 London Leicester University Press ISBN 0 7185 0041 5 Catholic Online St Athelm Catholic Online Retrieved 8 August 2007 Delaney John P 1980 Dictionary of Saints Second ed Garden City NY Doubleday ISBN 0 385 13594 7 Dolley R H M June 1958 An Important Group of Tenth Century Pence The British Museum Quarterly 21 3 74 76 doi 10 2307 4422583 JSTOR 4422583 Fryde E B Greenway D E Porter S Roy I 1996 Handbook of British Chronology Third revised ed Cambridge UK Cambridge University Press ISBN 0 521 56350 X Mason Emma 2004 Athelm d 926 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 832 Retrieved 7 November 2007 subscription or UK public library membership required Miller Sean 2004 AEthelred I d 871 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 8913 Retrieved 9 June 2013 subscription or UK public library membership required Nelson Janet 2008 The First Use of the Second Anglo Saxon Ordo In Barrow Julia Wareham Andrew eds Myth Rulership Church and Charters Aldershot UK Ashgate ISBN 978 0 7546 5120 8 Robinson J Armitage 1918 The Saxon Bishops of Wells A Historical Study in the Tenth Century British Academy Supplemental Papers Vol IV London British Academy OCLC 13867248 Stenton F M 1971 Anglo Saxon England Third ed Oxford UK Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 280139 5 External links EditAEthelhelm 15 at Prosopography of Anglo Saxon EnglandChristian titlesNew diocese Bishop of Wells909 c 923 Succeeded byWulfhelmPreceded byPlegmund Archbishop of Canterburyc 923 926 Succeeded byWulfhelm Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Athelm amp oldid 1132341414, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
