Godfrey Ludham | |
|---|---|
| Archbishop of York | |
 Tomb of Ludham inYork 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 PopeAlexander IV |
| Personal details | |
| Died | 12 January 1265 |
| Buried | York Minster |
| Parents | Richard Eda |
Godfrey Ludham[a] (died 1265) wasArchbishop of York from 1258 to 1265.
Ludham's parents were Richard and Eda ofLudham,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 ofmagister but the exact university is unknown.[2]
Ludham was a clerk of ArchbishopWalter de Gray before 17 June 1226 and was therector of the moiety of Pengston by 26 August 1228. He was namedPrecentor of York by September 1249, and may have held that office by 1244.[3]
Ludham served asDean 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 PopeAlexander IV atViterbo.[1] His brother Thomas was papal chaplain, and heldprebends atYork Minster andSouthwell 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 KingJohn of England) had granted the church ofWalesby and its chapelry ofHaughton 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 ofHockton 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 southtransept 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. Amitre was on his head, and he had hispallium as well as acrozier and silver chalice and paten.[2]
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Archbishop of York 1258–1265 | Succeeded by |