Godfrey Ludham

Godfrey Ludham^[a] (died 1265) was Archbishop of York from 1258 to 1265.

Godfrey Ludham
Archbishop of York
Tomb of Ludham in York Minster
Elected	c. 25 July 1258
Term ended	12 January 1265
Predecessor	Sewal de Bovil
Successor	Walter Giffard
Other post(s)	Dean of York
Orders
Consecration	22 September 1258 by Pope Alexander IV
Personal details
Died	12 January 1265
Buried	York Minster
Parents	Richard Eda

Life

Ludham's parents were Richard and Eda of Ludham, Norfolk, and he had a brother Thomas who was also a priest.^[1] Matthew Paris gives him the name Godfrey Kineton, but without any explanation of why that was his name. He attended a university, for he bore the title of magister but the exact university is unknown.^[2]

Ludham was a clerk of Archbishop Walter de Gray before 17 June 1226 and was the rector of the moiety of Pengston by 26 August 1228. He was named Precentor of York by September 1249, and may have held that office by 1244.^[3]

Ludham served as Dean of York from 1256 to 1258^[4] before being elected as Archbishop of York about 25 July 1258. He was consecrated on 22 September 1258^[5] by Pope Alexander IV at Viterbo.^[1] His brother Thomas was papal chaplain, and held prebends at York Minster and Southwell Minster.^[6] He was enthroned at York Minster sometime around Christmas of 1258.^[2]

While archbishop, Ludham visited monasteries, and issued a set of synodal decrees for York were issued in 1259. He excommunicated the monks of Beverley because they had intruded into archiepiscopal property. In 1261 he put an interdict on the city of York for unspecified offences against the cathedral chapter and himself. Unfortunately, no register of his acts survives, so no detailed study of his time as archbishop is possible. He, however, does not seem to have played any part in the political life of the kingdom.^[2]

In 1191 John, Count of Mortain, (later King John of England) had granted the church of Walesby and its chapelry of Haughton to the church of St Mary, Rouen, and in 1257, Ludham confirmed Rouen's authority to present Walesby's vicar, and specified among his dues and duties the chapel of Hockton with its tithes, and the joint funding with Rouen of repairs, rebuilding, books, vestments and other alterages.

Ludham died on 12 January 1265,^[5] and was buried in the south transept of York Minster.^[1] In 1968 his tomb was opened and studied because of construction work in the cathedral, and his body had evidently been embalmed. A mitre was on his head, and he had his pallium as well as a crozier and silver chalice and paten.^[2]

Notes

1. Or Godfrey de Ludham or Godfrey Kineton

Citations

1. Greenway Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300: Volume 6: York: Archbishops Archived 7 June 2007 at the Wayback Machine
2. Smith "Ludham, Godfrey de" Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
3. Greenway Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300: Volume 6: York: Precentors
4. Greenway Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300: Volume 6: York: Deans Archived 28 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
5. Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 282
6. Greenway Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300: Volume 6: York: Prebendaries: Wetwang

References

• Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I. (1996). Handbook of British Chronology (Third Edition, revised ed.). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-56350-X.
• Greenway, Diana E. (1999). "Archbishops". Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300. Vol. 6: York. Institute of Historical Research. Archived from the original on 7 June 2007. Retrieved 22 September 2007.
• Greenway, Diana E. (1999). "Deans". Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300. Vol. 6: York. Institute of Historical Research. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 22 September 2007.
• Greenway, Diana E. (1999). "Prebenderies: Wetwang". Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300. Vol. 6: York. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 22 September 2007.
• Greenway, Diana E. (1999). "Precentors". Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300. Vol. 6: York. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 22 September 2007.
• Smith, David M. (2004). "Ludham , Godfrey de (d. 1265)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Revised May 2007 ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/95190. Retrieved 12 November 2007. (subscription or UK public library membership required)

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Sewal de Bovil	Archbishop of York 1258–1265	Succeeded by William Langton