Æthelwold was a major figure in the ecclesiastical and political life of 10th-century England. This much-need appraisal of his life and work views him as monastic reformer, scholar and teacher.

An exploration of how Æthelwold and those he influenced deployed the promotion of saints to implement religious reform.

Intro -- Titlepage -- Copyright -- Dedication -- Contents -- List of Abbreviations of Authors and Works Cited -- Maps -- Introduction -- The Rule of Saint Benedict as Translated by Saint Æthelwold of Winchester -- Appendix 1: I. Concerning the Kinds of Monks (BL MS. Cotton Faustina A. x) -- Appendix 2: LXII. Concerning the Monastery's Priests and Their Servants (BL MS. Cotton Faustina A. x) -- Appendix 3: "King Edgar's Establishment of Monasteries"--Appendix 4: Ælfric's Homily On Saint Benedict, Abbot -- Bibliography

Essays bring out the important and complex roles played by Anglo-Saxon churchmen, including Bede and lesser-known figures. Both episcopal and abbatial authority were of fundamental importance to the development of the Christian church in Anglo-Saxon England. Bishops and heads of monastic houses were invested with a variety of types of power and influence. Their actions, decisions, and writings could change not only their own institutions, but also the national church, while their interaction with the king and his court affected wider contemporary society. Theories of ecclesiastical leadership were expounded in contemporary texts and documents. But how far did image or ideal reflect reality? How much room was there for individuals to use their office to promote new ideas? The papers in this volumeillustrate the important roles played by individual leading ecclesiastics in England, both within the church and in the wider political sphere, from the late seventh to the mid eleventh century. The undeniable authority of Bede and Bishop Æthelwold is demonstrated but also the influence of less-familiar figures such as Bishop Wulfsige of Sherborne, Archbishop Ecgberht of York and St Leoba. The book draws on both textual and material evidence to show the influence (by both deed and reputation) of powerful personalities not only on the developing institutions of the English church but also on the secular politics of their time. Contributors: Alexander R. Rumble, Nicholas J.Higham, Martyn J. Ryan, Cassandra Rhodes, Allan Scott McKinley, Dominik Wassenhoven, Gale R. Owen-Crocker, Debby Banham, Joyce Hill.

The Benedictional of St Aethelwold, a book of ceremonial blessings made for St Aethelwold, Bishop of Winchester from 963-984, is one of the most lavishly decorated manuscripts to have survived from Anglo-Saxon England. St Aethelwold was one of the leaders of the movement of ecclesiastical and cultural renewal in tenth-century England which led to the foundation of new monasteries, the building of great cathedrals, the compilation of major Latin and English texts, and the production of magnificent works of art, initiating the period known as the 'Golden Age' of Anglo-Saxon art. The Benedictional is the most important surviving artistic product of this movement, a symbol of the political, religious, and cultural outlook of Aethelwold and his fellow reformers. This beautifully produced facsimile reproduces the complete manuscript in full colour (with special gold), and to actual size, for the first time. In his introduction Andrew Prescott explores the historical and liturgical context of this remarkable manuscript, and provides translations of some of the blessings. This will be a 'must-have' addition to the library of anyone interested in Anglo-Saxon art and history, providing the chance to own a complete early English manuscript in facsimile at a very affordable price.