Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Hereford: A Description of Its Fabric and a Brief History of the Episcopal SeeFisher, A. Hugh (Alfred Hugh)
History
Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Hereford: A Description of Its Fabric and a Brief History of the Episcopal See
Fisher, A. Hugh (Alfred Hugh)
Hereford Cathedral
Five years later the bones of Bishop Cantilupe were moved to the Chapel of
St. Katherine, in the north-west transept. Twice more were they moved,
finally resting in the same Chapel of St. Katherine.
*Richard Swinfield*, A.D. 1283-1316, the next Bishop, had been Bishop
Cantilupe’s devoted chaplain. He kept wisely aloof from politics, but
offered a keen resistance to any infringement on the rights of his
diocese. Several boundary questions were settled by Bishop Swinfield, and
in 1289-90 he made a tour through his diocese, of which has come down to
us a journal of daily expenses.
Bishop Swinfield was the probable builder of the nave-aisles and two
easternmost transepts. In his time the "_Mappa Mundi_" came into
possession of the Chapter.
He worked hard to obtain the Canonisation of his illustrious predecessor,
but it was not till four years after his death that Pope John XXII.
granted an act for the purpose. He was buried in the cathedral.
*Adam Orleton*, A.D. 1316-1327, was a friend of Roger Mortimer, and
consequently was opposed to Edward II. Throughout the struggle of those
many miserable years the affairs of the diocese were dragged in the mire
of civil war. It was the Bishop of Hereford who, at Neath Abbey, took the
King, carried him to Kenilworth, and deprived him of the Great Seal. The
Queen was staying at Hereford, and thither many of the King’s adherents
were taken with the Chancellor and Hugh Despenser. The last-named was
hanged in the town, decapitated, and quartered.
Bishop Adam showed much ability in managing the affairs of the cathedral.
He obtained a grant of revenues of two churches from Pope John XXII. for
monies necessary for the dedication of the Cantilupe shrine, and also for
repairs in the cathedral. He was followed on his translation to Worcester
by
*Thomas Charleton*, A.D. 1328-1343, who was made treasurer of England in
1329. In 1337 he went to Ireland as chancellor. He died in 1343.
*John Trilleck*, A.D. 1344-1360. The Black Death reached Herefordshire in
1349, and Bishop Trilleck is said to have kept it at bay in the city by a
procession of the shrine of the recently canonised St. Thomas of Hereford.
Bishop Trilleck was buried in the cathedral, and a fine brass effigy was
placed on his grave. "Gratus, prudens, pius" are among the words which may
be still read from the mutilated inscription, and they appear to have had
more justification than the rhetoric of the average epitaph.
[Illustration: TOMB OF BISHOP THOS. CHARLETON.]
TOMB OF BISHOP THOS. CHARLETON.
*Lewis Charleton*, A.D. 1361-1369, was appointed by papal provision. The
Black Death made a second visitation in the first year of his episcopate,
and it was then that the market was removed to some distance from the town
on the west. The "White Cross" there placed, which bears the arms of
Bishop Charleton, may mark the spot. He bequeathed money and some books to
the cathedral.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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