William of Bitton

William of Bitton[lower-alpha 1] (died 1264) was a medieval English Bishop of Bath and Wells.

For the bishop of Bath and Wells who died in 1274, see William of Bitton (nephew).

William of Bitton
Bishop of Bath and Wells
Elected	c. 24 February 1248
Term ended	3 April 1264
Predecessor	Roger of Salisbury
Successor	Walter Giffard
Other posts	Archdeacon of Wells
Orders
Consecration	24 June 1248
Personal details
Born	probably Bitton, Gloucestershire
Died	3 April 1264
Buried	Lady Chapel, Wells Cathedral

Life

William was probably born in Bitton in Gloucestershire.[1] He was a relative of Walter Giffard and uncle of William of Bitton II, his two successors in the office of Bishop of Bath and Wells.[2] He was also uncle of Thomas of Bitton, precentor, archdeacon and dean of Wells,[3] and Bishop of Exeter.[1]

William was an official of Jocelin of Wells in 1231[1] and was subdean of Wells in 1233.[4] He was named Archdeacon of Wells by 7 May 1238 and held the office until he was elected bishop.[5] During the election of his predecessor, he championed the cause of the canons of Wells, who had been excluded from the election of Roger of Salisbury in 1244.[1]

William was elected about 24 February 1248 and consecrated 14 June 1248.[6] In 1251 he signed the proclamation of excommunication against any who did not observe the clauses of Magna Carta dealing with ecclesiastical rights. He served King Henry III of England by going to Spain in 1253 to bring back a prospective daughter-in-law for the king. In 1257, the bishops made specific reference to William's conflict with the Abbot of Glastonbury in their communications with the king. But mainly, he worked in his diocese, as he issued rules and regulations in the diocese dealing with liturgical and judicial matters for both the laity and clergy. However, he lost a long fight with the abbot of Glastonbury Roger Forde over the right of the bishop to visit and regulate the affairs of Glastonbury Abbey, and by the end of his term as bishop, the abbey was independent of the diocese in all but name.[1]

William died on 3 April 1264.[6] He was buried in the Lady Chapel at Wells Cathedral on 8 April 1264.[2] His tomb had disappeared by the 18th century.[1] He should not be confused with his nephew the second William of Bitton who was also Bishop of Bath and Wells, but who died in 1274.

Notes

1. Sometimes known as William of Bitton I or William Button

Citations

1. Shaw "Button, William" Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
2. Greenway Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066-1300: Volume 7: Bath and Wells: Bishops
3. Greenway Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066-1300: Volume 7: Bath and Wells: Deans of Wells
4. Greenway Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066-1300: Volume 7: Bath and Wells: Subdeans of Wells
5. Greenway Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066-1300: Volume 7: Bath and Wells: Archdeacons of Wells
6. Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 228

References

• Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I. (1996). Handbook of British Chronology (Third revised ed.). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-56350-X.
• Greenway, Diana E. (2001). Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066-1300: Volume 7: Bath and Wells: Archdeacons: Wells. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 23 September 2007.
• Greenway, Diana E. (2001). Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066-1300: Volume 7: Bath and Wells: Bishops. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 23 September 2007.
• Greenway, Diana E. (2001). Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066-1300: Volume 7: Bath and Wells: Deans of Wells. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 23 September 2007.
• Greenway, Diana E. (2001). Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066-1300: Volume 7: Bath and Wells: Subdeans of Wells. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 23 September 2007.
• Shaw, David Gary (2004). "Button, William (d. 1264)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/4236. Retrieved 15 November 2007.(subscription or UK public library membership required)

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Roger of Salisbury	Bishop of Bath and Wells 1248–1264	Succeeded by Walter Giffard