16
November 1327 A.D. Walter
Reynolds Dies—51st of 105 Archbishops of Canterbury
Ford, David Nash.
“Walter Reynolds, Archbishop of Canterbury (d. 1327).” Berkshire
History. N.d. http://www.berkshirehistory.com/bios/wreynolds.html. Accessed 21 May 2014.
Walter Reynolds,Archbishop of Canterbury (d. 1327)
Born: circa 1270 at Windsor, Berkshire
Bishop of Worcester
Archbishop of Canterbury
Died: 16th November 1327 at Mortlake, Surrey
Walter
Reynolds was born in Windsor, the son of a local baker named Reginald. He was
brought up at the Court of King Edward I, who appointed him governor of his
son. On the accession of Edward II he was made a Prebendary of S. Paul's,
Treasurer of the Exchequer and Bishop of Worcester, and in 1310 was appointed
Chancellor.
Reynolds,
who seems to have abetted Edward in his follies and pleasures, was rewarded
with the Archbishopric of Canterbury in 1313, when, at the King’s insistence,
the Pope set aside the monks' election of Thomas Cobham, Dean of Salisbury.
After the death of Gaveston, it was settled that there should be no chancellor,
but that the King should appoint a 'keeper' under the superintendence of three
persons to be named by the barons. So, about a year into his Archiepiscopy,
Walter Reynolds also became the new Keeper of the Great Seal, an office which
he retained for twelve months. As Archbishop, Reynolds obtained, from Rome, no
less than eight bulls of privileges, the most important of which gave him
permission to make a visitation of his province extending over three years, for
which time the jurisdiction of all his suffragan bishops was suspended.
Reynolds made an attempt to remedy some of the most glaring of ecclesiastical
abuses, but his activity was largely displayed in the field of politics, rather
than in the guidance of the Church.
Notwithstanding
his early connection with Edward II and the favour with which that king had
always regarded him, Reynolds deserted his master during the troubles that
marked his reign, transferring his allegiance to Queen Isabella. He officiated
at the Coronation of Edward III, whilst Edward II yet lived. A few months later
Reynolds died, it is said from terror, because the Pope had threatened him with
spiritual censures for having somewhat irregularly consecrated Bishop Berkeley
of Exeter, with a view to please the Queen and her favourite. Reynolds tomb
remains in the south choir-aisle of Canterbury Cathedral.
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