Saint William (☩ 8 June 1154). Archbishop Of York (Twice). Confessor. Feast Day 8 June. White Vestments. A Tale Of Mayhem, Political Intrigue, Suspicion Of Murder, Plotting, Envy, Hate. Good Job We Don't Have That Now. (Part Four).

Mediæval carved plaque showing Saint William of York crossing the River Ouse. The Bridge collapses, but no-one dies.

Photo: 20 February 2010.

Source: 

Originally posted to Flickr as 

Saved from the Ouse.

This File is licensed under the 

Creative Commons Attribution 

2.0 Generic Licence.

Author: Katy Stuart.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Text from Wikipedia - the free encyclopædia,
unless stated otherwise.

The Cistercians opposed on the grounds that the Second Lateran Council in 1139 had given the Religious Houses of a Diocese the right to participate in electing the Bishop.[16] 

Theobald of Bec, the Archbishop of Canterbury, refused to recognise William’s election due to allegations of Simony (acquisition of Church positions by bribery), and of interference by King Stephen.[17] 

In 1143, Pope Innocent II ruled that William could be confirmed in office if he swore under oath that the allegations were false. 

After he swore the oath, Henry of Blois, who was also Papal Legate, found William innocent, and he was Consecrated as Archbishop on 26 September 1143.[5]

As Archbishop, William undertook several ecclesiastical reforms and became popular with the people of York. 

However, he still needed a Pallium, the sign of an Archbishop’s authority from the Pope, which he had not yet received. 

The Cistercians, who were still adamantly opposed to his being Archbishop, were determined to prevent his receiving it. 

William travelled to Rome in an attempt to obtain the Pallium. The election of Pope Eugene III, a Cistercian, in 1145, was a setback for his cause.[18]

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, the famous Cistercian Abbot and Religious leader, exerted all his influence to ensure William’s suspension, sending a series of complaints to the new Pope that William had been intruded by Secular Powers into the See, that he was oppressing the Cistercian Monasteries, and that he had irregularly appointed William of Saint Barbara as Dean of York. 

In the Winter of 1145 — 1146, Pope Eugene III re-examined the case, declared that William had not been validly Consecrated and suspended him from office.[19] 

Photo shows the Sarcophagus of Archbishop 

Saint William Fitzherbert of York between an Altar 

and a mural of his image in the Crypt of York Minster.

Photo: 6 April 2017.

Source: Own work.

This File is licensed under the 

Creative Commons Attribution-

Share Alike 4.0 International Licence.

Author: Ernst.schnell.

(Wikimedia Commons)

William was required to obtain an in-person refutation of the old charges by William of Saint Barbara, by then the Bishop of Durham.[5][15]

PART FIVE FOLLOWS.