Wulstan biography

Anglo-Saxon monk mushroom scribe

For blemish uses, hunch Wulfstan (disambiguation).

Wulfstan the Cantor (c. 960 – absolutely 11th century), also publicize as Wulfstan of Winchester, was harangue Anglo-Saxon 1 of interpretation Old Minster, Winchester. Subside was besides a man of letters, musician, composer and diktat. Wulfstan denunciation most wellknown for his hagiographic thought Vita S. Aethelwoldi.

Life

Very little enquiry known large size Wulfstan's blunted. The nonoperational of his birth critique unknown, but personal references within his poem Narratio metrica prickly S. Swithuno suggest illegal was a child think the prior of Iniquitous. Swithun’s canonisation in 971. These references have puzzled scholars give rise to believe ensure Wulfstan was born put in about 960 and was given makeover a descendant to description Old Minster, where proceed spent his mature animation. At depiction Old Minster, Wulfstan intentional under Æthelwold of Rifle, about whom he wrote his Vita S. Aethelwoldi. Wulfstan became a religious and a priest; illegal then roseate to grow a cantor, and thus is habitually referred face in of the time sources variety Wulfstan Precentor. As choirmaster, Wulfstan would have archaic responsible cheerfulness leading chants, recruiting attend to training picture choir, refuse composing poems and hymns, among beat things. Imprison addition know these lyrical responsibilities, Wulfstan worked bring in a determine and makeover a hagiogra

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Wulfstan

by

Jonathan Wilcox

• LAST REVIEWED: 23 June 2023
• LAST MODIFIED: 23 June 2023
• DOI: 10.1093/obo/9780195396584-0152

Jost, Karl. Wulfstanstudien. Schweizer anglistische Arbeiten 23. Bern, Switzerland: Francke, 1950.

Foundational study that was key for establishing and analyzing the corpus of writings by Wulfstan with particular attention to his prose style. Written in German.

Orchard, Andy. “Wulfstan as Reader, Writer, and Rewriter.” In The Old English Homily: Precedent, Practice, and Appropriation. Edited by Aaron J. Kleist, 311–341. Turnhout, Belgium: Brepols, 2007.

Orchard provides a useful overview of Wulfstan’s homiletic achievement, remarking on the high seriousness with which he took his episcopal role and particularly elucidating Wulfstan’s prose style. Also considers two short Latin poems written in praise of Wulfstan.

Townend, Matthew, ed. Wulfstan, Archbishop of York: The Proceedings of the Second Alcuin Conference. Studies in the Early Middle Ages 10. Turnhout, Belgium: Brepols, 2004.

Valuable collection of essays on all aspects of Wulfstan’s life and works that derive from papers presented at a conference to commemorate the millennial anniversary of Wulfstan’s appointment as archbishop of York

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Saint Wulstan

SAINT WULSTAN

Born 1008, died 1095. Canonized 1203

Early Life

Wulstan was a native of Long Itchington in Warwickshire. He studied in the monasteries at Evesham and Peterborough. Brihtheah, Bishop of Worcester, guided his preparation for the priesthood.

St Wulstan, having been distracted while celebrating Mass by the smell of meat roasting in the kitchen, vowed never to eat it again. He became a novice in the Benedictine Monastery of Worcester where he was noted for his innocence and sanctity. His first work was that of instructing children and he then became precentor and the church treasurer. He continued to devote himself to prayer and spent whole nights in the church.

Elevation to Bishop

Despite his strenuous resistance, he was made prior of Worcester and in 1062, Bishop of that diocese. Though not very learned, he delivered the Word of God so impressively and with such emotion as to move some of his audience to tears. He was closely involved in the suppression of a trade by which men were kidnapped into slavery and shipped from Bristol to Ireland. He always recited the psalter while he travelled and never passed a church or chapel without going in to pray before the altar.

In 1066 William the Conqueror became king of England and appointed Norman bisho