A probably authentic Anglo-Saxon charter records a grant of Earconwald, bishop (of London, south-east Britain) of freedom from episcopal control to the monastery at Chertsey (near London), whose church is dedicated to *Peter (the Apostle, S00036), by whose authority any transgressors will be excommunicated. Written in Latin, probably in London, July 678 (or perhaps later)
E05869
Documentary texts - Charter or diploma
Charter of Bishop Earconwald (Sawyer 1247, excerpted)
[I]n nomine Domini Dei saluatoris Iesu Christi. Ego Erkenuualdus episcopus dilectissimis fratribus habitantibus in monasterio quod appellatur Certeseya [...] Et ne fortassis quicumque presul, cuiuslibet ordinis uel <qui> in loco meo successerit, nullam in eodem monasterio exerceat potestatem [...] Quisquisue episcoporum cuiuslibet dignitatis uel secularium omnium potestatum contra hanc cartulam [...] aliquid exinde subtrahendo contraire presumpserit, tunc ex auctoritate beati Petri apostolorum principis, in cuius nomine ipsa ecclesia est dedicata, sit seperatus a participatione corporis et sanguinis Domini nostri Iesu Christi [...] Actum in Londonia ciuitate in mense Iulio, indictione sexta [...]
'In the name of our Lord Saviour Jesus Christ. I, Earconwald, bishop, to the most beloved brothers living in the monastery which is called Chertsey ... No bishop whatsoever, of whatever order, or any who succeed me in my place, may possibly exercise power in that same monastery ... And if any of the bishops of whatever rank, or anyone of any secular power should presume henceforth to do anything against this charter ... then by the authority of blessed Peter, prince of the apostles, in whose name this church is dedicated, they will be separated from participation in the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ ... Enacted in the city of London in the month of July, in the sixth indiction ...'
Text: Kelly 2015, no. 4, 118-19.
Translation: B. Savill.
Cult building - monastic
Places Named after SaintMonastery
Non Liturgical ActivityAwarding privileges to cult centres
Protagonists in Cult and NarrativesEcclesiastics - bishops
Ecclesiastics - monks/nuns/hermits
Source
This charter survives only as a much later copy, in a manuscript of the 13th century. Its most recent editor argues that 'there seems to be a very good chance that this episcopal charter has a genuine basis' (Kelly 2015, 119-22).Although the extant text of the charter is dated to July 678, it is possible that it was only drawn-up after Agatho's (probably authentic) privilege for Earconwald (E06970), which would have been issued between June 678 and August 681.
For further details, see this charter's entry on the Electronic Sawyer: http://www.esawyer.org.uk/charter/1247.html
Discussion
We know from Bede, writing in 731, that Chertsey was Earconwald's own foundation, although he does not say to whom it was dedicated (Ecclesiastical History 4.6).Bibliography
Edition:Kelly, S.E., Charters of Chertsey Abbey (Oxford, 2015).
Further reading:
Sawyer, P.H., Anglo-Saxon Charters: an Annotated List and Bibliography (London, 1968); revd. S.E. Kelly and R. Rushforth et al. online at http://www.esawyer.org.uk
Benjamin Savill
22/06/2018
| ID | Name | Name in Source | Identity | S00036 | Peter, the Apostle | Petrus | Certain |
|---|
Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL:
Benjamin Savill, Cult of Saints, E05869 - http://csla.history.ox.ac.uk/record.php?recid=E05869