Walter Suffield

Walter Suffield
Bishop of Norwich
Electedc. 9 July 1244
Term ended19 May 1257
PredecessorWilliam de Raley
SuccessorSimon Walton
Orders
Consecration26 February 1245
Personal details
Died19 May 1257
DenominationRoman Catholic

Walter Suffield (died 19 May 1257) was a medieval Bishop of Norwich.

Life

Suffield was a canonist at Paris before his election to the see of Norwich about 9 July 1244. He was consecrated on 26 February 1245.[1] He was an eloquent preacher, and showed generosity to the poor (during one famine, even selling some of his own goods in order to provide them with food).[2]

In 1249, he founded St. Giles's Hospital in Norwich (which remains in use as the Great Hospital to this day) to provide care for the poor.[3]

He has been reported as visiting his bishop's palace at South Elmham Hall where he enjoyed the hunting.[4]

He died on 19 May 1257,[5] leaving bequests to both the poor and the hospital.[6]

Citations

  1. ^ British History Online Bishops of Norwich accessed on 29 October 2007
  2. ^ Lewin, "A medieval occupational pension" (2017)
  3. ^ Lewin, "A medieval occupational pension" (2017)
  4. ^ "South Elmham Hall". Suffolk Heritage Explorer. Suffolk County Council. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  5. ^ Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 261
  6. ^ Lewin, "A medieval occupational pension" (2017)

References