Abbot of Glastonbury

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The Abbot of Glastonbury was the head (or abbot) of the Anglo-Saxon and eventually Benedictine house of Glastonbury Abbey at Glastonbury in Somerset, England.

The following is a list of abbots of Glastonbury:

Abbots Name Dates Works NotesSt Benignus?458–469(reputed)'Worgret'c.601–?'Lademund'c.663–c.667'Bregored'c.667Berhtwaldc.667–676/7Archbishop of Canterbury 693–731Haemgils676/7–701/2Beorhtwald701/2–709/10Ealdberht709/10–718/9Church of SS Peter & Paul built by King IneEcgfrith718/19–?Walhstod729(rejected by some sources)Coengils?–737Tunberht737–?Tyccea754–760Guba760–762Wealdhun762–794Beaduwulf794–800Muca802–824Guthlac824–851Ealhmund851–867Hereferth867–891(now thought probably to come before Ealhmund)Stithheard891–922Aldhun922–?CuthredÆlfric?EcgwulfSt Dunstan940–957+Lengthened Ine's church and added a tower. Raised the level of the cemetery and constructed various monastic buildings.later Archbishop of CanterburyGeoffrey Ashe (1973), King Arthur's Avalon, FontanaKnowles Heads of Religious Houses: England and Wales, I 940–1216 pp. 50–52?Ælfricoccurs after Dunstan in some lists(probably spurious)Knowles Heads of Religious Houses: England & Wales I 940–1216 pp. 248–250Ælfstanoccurs in some lists after Ælfric(probably spurious)Sigarc.970–975(?)later Bishop of Wells 975–997Ælfweardc.975–1009Brihtred (Beorhtred)1009–?Brihtwig (Brihtwine)c. 1017–1024later Bishop of WellsÆthelweard (Aegelweard)c.1024–1053Æthelnoth1053–1078deposed by LanfrancThurstanc.1077–after 1096Began a new church1091. Translation of relics of St Benignus from MeareHerluin1100–1118Rebuilt Thurstan's church on a grander scaleSeffrid Pelochin1120/1–1125Bishop of Chichester from 1125 to 1145Henry of Blois1126–1171Built a bell tower, chapter house, cloister, lavatory, refectory, dormitory, infirmary, the 'castellum', an outer gate, a brewery and stablesalso Bishop of Winchester from 1129Robert of Winchester1173–1180Built a chamber and chapelpreviously Prior of WinchesterPeter de Marcy1186. New St Mary's Chapel consecrated. Work on Great Church begun.1184 (25 May). Great FireHenry de Sully1189–1193supposed tomb of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere discovered in the cemetery c. 1190Later Bishop of Worcester 1193–1195Savaric FitzGeldewin1193–1205also Bishop of Bath and Glastonbury(Master William Pica)(1198–1200)(elected 1198 but election quashed 1200)Jocelin of Wells1206–1219Smith Heads of Religious Houses: England & Wales, II 1217–1377 pp. 46–47also Bishop of Bath and Glastonbury from 1206 to 1242William of St Vigor1219–1223Robert of Bath1223–1235Deposed 29 March 1235Michael of Amesbury1235–c.1252Carried work on the choir forwardRoger of Ford1252–1261died 2 October 1261, buried at WestminsterRobert of Petherton1261–1274Built abbot's chamberdied 31 March 1274John of Taunton1274–1291Choir completed; west end of nave and galilee built. King Arthur's remains transferred to new tomb 1278.died 7 October 1291John of Kent1291–1303Geoffrey Fromond1303–1322Spent £1,000 on buildings: completed various parts of the Great ChurchWalter of Taunton1322–1323Built pulpitum at west end of choirdied 23 January 1323Adam of Sodbury1323–1334Completed vaulting of nave of Great Church; worked on great hall and built a new chapel on the TorConcealed Hugh le Despenser and Robert Baldock, Lord Chancellor at the end of Queen Isabella and Roger Mortimer's Overthrow of Edward II in 1326John of Breynton1334–1342Completed abbot's great hall and worked on various other related buildings including prior's hallWalter de Monington1342–1375Extended choir by 40 feet, adding 2 bays. Completed abbot's chapel and infirmary. King Arthur's tomb transferred 1368.John Chinnock (John Chynnock)1375–14201382. Restored chapel and rededicated it to SS Michael & Joseph; rebuilt cloisters, erected or repaired the dormitory and fratry.Nicholas Frome1420–1456Finished chapter house, rebuilt misericord house and great chamber; constructed bishop's quarters and a wall around abbey precincts. Probably responsible for the abbot's kitchen.John Selwood1456–1493Built parish church of St John Baptist. Erected pilgrims' inn.Richard Beere1493–1524Began Edgar Chapel; built crypt under Lady Chapel and dedicated it to St Joseph; built a chapel of the Holy Sepulchre at south end of nave; built the Loretto chapel; added vaulting under central tower and flying buttresses at east end of choir; built St Benignus' Church and rebuilt TribunalRichard Whiting1525–1539Completed Edgar ChapelHanged on Glastonbury Tor, 15 November 1539.

See also Abbot's Kitchen, Glastonbury

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