William Giffard was the Lord Chancellor of England of William II and Henry I, from 1093 to 1101.[1] On August 3, 1100 he became bishop of Winchester[2] by nomination of Henry I.[3] He was one of the bishops elect whom Archbishop Anselm of Canterbury refused to consecrate in 1101 as having been nominated and invested by the lay power.
During the investitures dispute Giffard was on friendly terms with Anselm, and drew upon himself a sentence of banishment through declining to accept consecration from Gerard Archbishop of York in 1103. He was, however, one of the bishops who pressed Anselm, in 1106, to give way to the king. He was finally consecrated after the settlement of 1107 on August 11[2] and became a close friend of Archbishop Anselm.citation needed As bishop, Giffard aided the first Cistercians to settle in England, when in 1128 he brought monks from the French abbey of L'Aumone to settle at Waverly Abbey.[4] He also restored Winchester Cathedral with great magnificence.
Among his actions as bishop was the refounding of a religious house at Taunton and the staffing of it with Austin canons. The canons were drawn from Merton Priory.[5]
He died shortly before January 25, 1129, the date he was buried.[6]
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| Persondata |
| NAME |
Giffard, William |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES |
|
| SHORT DESCRIPTION |
Bishop of Winchester; Lord Chancellor of England |
| DATE OF BIRTH |
|
| PLACE OF BIRTH |
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| DATE OF DEATH |
January 25, 1129 |
| PLACE OF DEATH |
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