| Saint Thomas de Cantilupe | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Hereford | |
| Enthroned | 1275 |
| Reign ended | 1282 |
| Predecessor | John de Breton |
| Successor | Richard Swinefield |
| Personal details | |
| Born | about 1218 Hambledon, Buckinghamshire |
| Died | 25 August 1282 Ferento, Montefiascone, Italy |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Sainthood | |
| Feast day | 25 August, 2 October |
| Title as Saint | Thomas of Hereford |
| Canonized | 1320 |
| Attributes | dressed as a bishop |
| Shrines | Hereford Cathedral |
Thomas de Cantilupe (c. 1218 – 25 August 1282), was an English saint and prelate.
Contents |
He was a son of William de Cantilupe, the 2nd baron (d. 1251), one of King John's ministers, and a nephew of Walter de Cantilupe, Bishop of Worcester (d.1266). He was born at Hambleden in Buckinghamshire and was educated in Paris and Orléans.
Thomas became a teacher of canon law at Oxford and Chancellor of the University in 1261.[1]
During the Barons' War Thomas favoured Simon de Montfort and the baronial party. He represented the barons before St Louis of France at Amiens in 1264.
He was made Chancellor of England on 25 February 1264,[2] but was deprived of this office after Montfort's death at Evesham, and lived out of England for some time. Returning to England, he was again Chancellor of Oxford University, lectured on theology, and held several ecclesiastical appointments.[1]
In 1274 he attended the second council of Lyons,[citation needed] and about 14 June 1275 he was appointed Bishop of Hereford and was consecrated on 8 September 1275.[3]
Cantilupe was now a trusted adviser of Edward I and lived at Earley in Berkshire when attending royal councils in Windsor or Westminster. Even when differing from the King's opinions, he did not forfeit his favour.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Kilwardby, was also his friend; but after Kilwardby's death in 1279 a series of disputes arose between the bishop and the new archbishop, John Peckham, and this drove Cantilupe to visit the Pope.[1]
He died at Ferento, near Orvieto, in Italy on 25 August 1282.[1][3] He was buried in Hereford Cathedral and was canonised in 1320[1]. Part of the evidence used to secure his canonisation was the supposed resurrection of William Cragh. His shrine has since become a popular place of pilgrimage. The base can still be seen there today. Since 1881, a reliquary containing his skull has been held at Downside Abbey in Somerset.
Cantilupe appears to have been an exemplary Bishop both in spiritual and secular affairs. His charities were large and his private life blameless; he was constantly visiting his diocese, correcting offenders and discharging other episcopal duties; and he compelled neighboring landholders to restore estates which rightly belonged to the see of Hereford.
In 1905 the Cantilupe Society was founded to publish the episcopal registers of Hereford, of which Cantilupe's is the first in existence.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John Chishull |
Lord Chancellor 1264–1265 |
Succeeded by Ralph Sandwich (Keeper of the Great Seal) |
| Catholic Church titles | ||
| Preceded by John de Breton |
Bishop of Hereford 1275–1282 |
Succeeded by Richard Swinefield |
| Academic offices | ||
| Preceded by Richard de S. Agatha |
Chancellor of the University of Oxford 1262–1264 |
Succeeded by Henry de Cicestre |
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