Walter de Gray

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Walter de Gray
Archbishop of York
Yorkminsterwalterdegraytombvertical.jpg
Tomb of Archbishop de Gray in York Minster
Elected10 November 1215
Term ended1 May 1255
PredecessorGeoffrey Plantagenet
SuccessorSewal de Bovil
Other post(s)Bishop of Lichfield
Bishop of Worcester
Orders
Consecration5 October 1214
Personal details
Birth nameWalter de Gray
BornEaton, Norwich, Norfolk
Died1 May 1255
Fulham
BuriedYork Minster
ParentsJohn de Gray
Lord Chancellor
In office
1205–1214
MonarchJohn of England
Preceded byHubert Walter
Succeeded byRichard Marsh

Walter de Gray (died 1 May 1255) was an English prelate and statesman who was Archbishop of York from 1215 to 1255. He was Lord Chancellor under King John.

Early life[]

Gray was the son of John de Gray, of Eaton in Norfolk and nephew of John de Gray, Bishop of Norwich.[1] His birth year is not recorded, nor is his age when he died, but according to the historian Lee Wyatt, Gray was likely born around 1180. This assumes that in 1214 he was at least 30, the earliest legal age for consecration as a bishop, which would mean he was not born after 1184. Likewise, it is unlikely he was much older than 80 when he died, which gives an earliest possible birth year of 1175.[2] He studied at Oxford University where he was tutored by Edmund of Abingdon.[3]

Royal service under John[]

Gray was a favourite of King John of England, who appointed him Lord Chancellor in 1205,[4] having paid John 5,000 marks for the office.[3] He was named Bishop of Lichfield in 1210,[5] but was never consecrated as bishop there. Gray was then elected Bishop of Worcester on 20 January 1214,[6] after resigning as Chancellor in October 1214.[4] His consecration as Bishop of Worcester took place on 5 October 1214.[6] Gray was present at the signing of Magna Carta in June 1215. While he was away from England on a royal mission, he was appointed Archbishop of York, being elected on 10 November 1215[7] through the influence of John and Innocent III. John had wanted Walter, but the canons of York felt that Walter was ill-educated, and elected Simon Langton, brother of Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury. John objected, and wrote to Innocent III complaining of the election of the brother of one of his staunchest enemies, with which Innocent agreed.[8] However, Gray eventually paid more than £10,000 to the Pope in various fees to get his election confirmed.[9] Walter attended the Fourth Lateran Council in 1215.[10]

Royal service under Henry III[]

Gray was an important royal official during the minority of Henry III, who often posted him as a diplomatic envoy. Henry also named Gray as guardian of England when the King went to France in 1242.[3] In 1252, Walter hosted King Henry and King Alexander III of Scotland for the Christmas feasts at York, which event cost the archbishop £2,500.[11]

As archbishop[]

Gray attempted to assert his archiepiscopal authority over Scotland, which not only resisted by the Scots but by the Archbishops of Canterbury. Gray had little success in defending his rights to Scotland against either adversary. Gray built the south transept of York Minster and purchased the village of Bishopthorpe, which became the residence of the Archbishop of York.[3] He also endowed the church at Ripon.[12]

Gray held a series of councils in his diocese from 1241 to 1255 which endeavoured to enforce clerical celibacy, keep benefices from being inherited, and improve the education and morals of the clergy. He gave generously to his cathedral and other churches, as well as working to endow vicarages. He visited many of the monasteries of his diocese and helped those that were in financial difficulties. He also oversaw the translation of Wilfrid's remains to a new shrine at Ripon.[3]

Death and legacy[]

In 1255 he visited London to attend a meeting of parliament, and died at Fulham on 1 May 1255.[1][6] He was buried on 15 May 1255 at York Minster.[3]

Three nephews of Gray would also be clerics: William Langton (or Rotherfield) was Dean of York before being elected Archbishop of York but never consecrated, and Walter le Breton and Walter de Gray, who were canons of York.[1]

Citations[]

  1. ^ a b c Greenway Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300: Volume 6: York: Archbishops
  2. ^ Wyatt "Making of an Archbishop" Seven Studies p. 65
  3. ^ a b c d e f Haines "Gray, Walter de" Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
  4. ^ a b Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 84
  5. ^ Greenway Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300: Volume 2: Monastic Cathedrals (Northern and Southern Provinces): Worcester: Bishops
  6. ^ a b c Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 279
  7. ^ Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 282
  8. ^ Bartlett England Under the Norman and Angevin Kings pp. 406–407
  9. ^ Moorman Church Life p. 174
  10. ^ Moorman Church Life p. 237
  11. ^ Moorman Church Life p. 175
  12. ^ Moorman Church Life p. 204

References[]

  • Bartlett, Robert C. (2000). England Under the Norman and Angevin Kings: 1075–1225. Oxford, UK: Clarendon Press. ISBN 0-19-822741-8.
  • 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.
  • Greenway, Diana E. (1971). Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300: Volume 2: Monastic Cathedrals (Northern and Southern Provinces): Worcester: Bishops. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 15 September 2007.
  • Greenway, Diana E. (1999). Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300: Volume 6: York: Archbishops. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 15 September 2007.
  • Haines, Roy Martin (2004). "Gray, Walter de (d. 1255)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/11566. (subscription or UK public library membership required)
  • Moorman, John R. H. (1955). Church Life in England in the Thirteenth Century (Revised ed.). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. OCLC 213820968.
  • Wyatt, Lee (1983). "The Making of an Archbishop: The Early Career of Walter de Gray 1205–1215". In Bowers, Richard H. (ed.). Seven Studies in Medieval English History and Other Historical Essays Presented to Harold S. Snellgrove. Jackson, MS: University Press of Mississippi. pp. 65–74. ISBN 0-87805-183-X.
Political offices
Preceded by
Hubert Walter
 Lord Chancellor
1205–1214 		Succeeded by
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Worcester
1214–1216 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Simon Langton
 Archbishop of York
1216–1255 		Succeeded by

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