For faster navigation, this Iframe is preloading the Wikiwand page for Walter Reynolds.

Walter Reynolds

Walter Reynolds
Archbishop of Canterbury
ChurchCatholic Church
Appointed1313
InstalledJanuary 1314
Term ended16 November 1327
PredecessorWilliam Gainsborough
SuccessorSimon Mepeham
Other post(s)Bishop of Worcester
Orders
Consecration13 October 1308
Personal details
Died16 November 1327
Lord High Treasurer
In office
1307–1310
MonarchEdward II
Preceded byWalter Langton
Succeeded byJohn Sandall
Keeper of the Great Seal
In office
1310–1314
MonarchEdward II
Preceded byJohn Langton
Succeeded byJohn Sandall

Walter Reynolds (died 1327) was Bishop of Worcester and then Archbishop of Canterbury (1313–1327) as well as Lord High Treasurer and Lord Chancellor.

Early career

[edit]

Reynolds was the son of a baker from Windsor, Berkshire,[1] and became a clerk, or chaplain, in the service of Edward I.[2]

Reynolds held several livings and, owing perhaps to his acting skill, he became a prime favourite with the Prince of Wales, afterwards Edward II, whom he served as Keeper of the Great Wardrobe.[1] Just after the prince became king, on 22 August 1307 Reynolds, was appointed Treasurer of England.[3]

On 13 November 1307 Reynolds, who had the living of St Mary's Church, Wimbledon[4] was elected Bishop of Worcester and consecrated on 13 October 1308.[5] He was also on 6 July 1310 named Keeper of the Great Seal and Lord Chancellor of England.[6][7] Amongst his duties as Bishop of Worcester was to act as the patron and appoint the headmaster of the school that later became the Royal Grammar School Worcester.

Reynolds was one of the godfathers of the future Edward III when the prince was christened on 17 November 1312.[8]

Episcopate

[edit]

When Robert Winchelsea, Archbishop of Canterbury, died in May 1313 Edward II convinced Pope Clement V to appoint his favourite to the vacant archbishopric,[citation needed] and Reynolds was enthroned at Canterbury Cathedral in January 1314 as the 51st Archbishop.[2][9]

Although the private life of the new archbishop appears to have been the reverse of exemplary, he attempted to carry out some very necessary reforms in his new official capacity; he also continued the struggle for precedence, which had been carried on for many years between the archbishops of Canterbury and of York. In this connection in 1317 he laid London under an interdict after William de Melton, the Archbishop of York, had passed through its streets with his cross borne erect before him.[2]

Reynolds remained in general loyal to Edward II until 1324, when with all his suffragans he opposed the king in defence of the Bishop of Hereford, Adam Orleton.[2][10] He then fought with Edward II over liturgical issues, and sent sums of money to Queen Isabella in her rebellion against the King.[11] Having fled for safety into Kent he returned to London and declared for Edward III, whom he crowned on 1 February 1327.[2][12] He was appointed as a member of the regency council for Edward III that was formed in February 1327.[13] In 1327 Reynolds popularised in England the political argument of vox populi, vox Dei, contrary to Alcuin's original warning to Charlemagne to resist such arguments, as the title of his sermon laying charges against Edward II.

Tomb of Reynolds in Canterbury Cathedral

Reynolds died at Mortlake on 16 November 1327.[9][14]

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Weir 2005, p. 21.
  2. ^ a b c d e Chisholm 1911.
  3. ^ Fryde, E. B. et al. 1996, p. 104.
  4. ^ "Wimbledon Pages 519-540 The Environs of London: Volume 1, County of Surrey. Originally published by T Cadell and W Davies, London, 1792". British History Online. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  5. ^ Fryde, E. B. et al. 1996, p. 279.
  6. ^ Fryde, E. B. et al. 1996, p. 86.
  7. ^ Weir 2005, p. 52.
  8. ^ Weir 2005, p. 71.
  9. ^ a b Fryde, E. B. et al. 1996, p. 233.
  10. ^ Weir 2005, pp. 158–159.
  11. ^ Weir 2005, p. 234.
  12. ^ Weir 2005, p. 261.
  13. ^ Weir 2005, p. 264.
  14. ^ Weir 2005, pp. 305–306.

References

[edit]
[edit]
Political offices Preceded byWalter Langton Lord High Treasurer 1307–1310 Succeeded byJohn Sandall Preceded byJohn Langtonas Lord Chancellor Keeper of the Great Seal 1310–1314 Catholic Church titles Preceded byWilliam Gainsborough Bishop of Worcester 1307–1313 Succeeded byWalter Maidstone Preceded byRobert WinchelseyThomas Cobhamas archbishop-elect Archbishop of Canterbury 1313–1327 Succeeded bySimon Mepeham
{{bottomLinkPreText}} {{bottomLinkText}}
Walter Reynolds
Listen to this article

This browser is not supported by Wikiwand :(
Wikiwand requires a browser with modern capabilities in order to provide you with the best reading experience.
Please download and use one of the following browsers:

This article was just edited, click to reload
This article has been deleted on Wikipedia (Why?)

Back to homepage

Please click Add in the dialog above
Please click Allow in the top-left corner,
then click Install Now in the dialog
Please click Open in the download dialog,
then click Install
Please click the "Downloads" icon in the Safari toolbar, open the first download in the list,
then click Install
{{::$root.activation.text}}

Install Wikiwand

Install on Chrome Install on Firefox
Don't forget to rate us

Tell your friends about Wikiwand!

Gmail Facebook Twitter Link

Enjoying Wikiwand?

Tell your friends and spread the love:
Share on Gmail Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Buffer

Our magic isn't perfect

You can help our automatic cover photo selection by reporting an unsuitable photo.

This photo is visually disturbing This photo is not a good choice

Thank you for helping!


Your input will affect cover photo selection, along with input from other users.

X

Get ready for Wikiwand 2.0 🎉! the new version arrives on September 1st! Don't want to wait?