Samson (also Sampson; died 5 May 1112) was a medieval English clergyman who was Bishop of Worcester from 1096 to 1112.

Life

Samson was a royal chaplain and a canon and treasurer of the diocese of Bayeux.British History Online Bishops of Worcester accessed on 3 November 2007

In the Domesday Book Samson is referred to as the chaplain and is recorded as holding St Peter's Collegiate Church, Wolverhampton and considerable properties in southern Staffordshire, most of which he sublet to either the canons of St Peter's or to other clergy.

David Bates, a biographer of William the Conqueror, suggests that William wished to put Samson forward for the bishopric of Le Mans following the death of Bishop Arnold on 29 November 1081. However the account by Orderic of this event says that Samson convinced William that another candidate, Hoel, was much worthier, based on his humble and pious nature. Bates writes “Since Samson did eventually become a bishop, succeeding Wulfstan at Worcester in 1095, he was probably being disingenuous.”

In 1096 Samson was elected bishop of Worcester; he was ordained as a deacon and priest on 7 June 1096 and consecrated as bishop on 8 June 1096. Being a bishop did not prevent him from fathering a daughter, Isabelle of Douvres, and two sons who also became bishops. His son Richard was bishop of Bayeux from 1108 to 1133, and his son Thomas was archbishop of York from 1108 to 1114.Spear "The Norman Empire and the Secular Clergy" Journal of British Studies p. 5 Samson's daughter, Isabelle of Douvres was known for her liaison with Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester. Their illegitimate son was Richard, who was bishop of Bayeux from 1135 to 1142.

It has been suggested that Samson may possibly have been the scribe who oversaw the compilation of Domesday BookChaplais "William of Saint-Calais" Domesday Studies pp. 68–70 by the historian V. H. Galbraith.Clanchy From Memory to Written Record p. 102

Samson died on 5 May 1112.Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 278

Citations

References

British History Online Bishops of Worcester accessed on 3 November 2007

Further reading