Ralph de Maidstone

Ralph de Maidstone
Bishop of Hereford
Elected	between 21 August and 30 September 1234
Term ended	17 December 1239
Predecessor	Hugh Foliot
Successor	Michael
Other posts	Dean of Hereford
Orders
Consecration	12 November 1234 by Edmund Rich, Archbishop of Canterbury
Personal details
Died	27 January 1245
Buried	friary church at Gloucester
Denomination	Roman Catholic

Ralph de Maidstone (sometimes Ralph de Maydenstune or Ralph Maidstone; died 1245) was a medieval Bishop of Hereford.

Life

Nothing is known of Maidstone's background or upbringing. Although his year of birth is unknown, he was probably born before about 1195. He earned the title of magister, but what school he attended is unknown. In later life he had ties to both Oxford and Paris, so either school is a possibility for his education.^[1] He was an archdeacon in the diocese of Coventry and Lichfield by 1221, and the treasurer of Lichfield Cathedral after 1223. He was also Archdeacon of Chester by 1222. He taught at Paris until 1229, when he moved to Oxford University to teach. He was named chancellor of Oxford University on 22 June 1231. He was Dean of Hereford by March 1231.^[2] At some point he wrote a commentary on Peter Lombard's theological work Sentences. Maidstone's work still survives in an extract in manuscript, as London, Gray's Inn, MS 14.^[1]

Maidstone was elected Bishop of Hereford between 21 August and 30 September 1234^[3] and consecrated on 12 November 1234 by Archbishop Edmund Rich at Canterbury.^[4] While bishop, he was sent on a diplomatic mission to Provence as an escort for King Henry III of England's bride. He was also involved in Welsh affairs, for in 1235, 136 and 1237 he took part in discussions with Llywelyn ab Iorwerth.^[1]

Maidstone resigned the see on 17 December 1239 and died on 27 January 1245.^[3] He joined the Franciscan Order at Oxford after his resignation, but later was a member of the Franciscan convent at Gloucester.^[4] He had begun to make arrangements to resign the see in May 1237, although a medieval chronicle ascribed the decision to injuries he suffered in 1238. The injuries were severe enough that he could not celebrate Mass. He also had made a vow while an archdeacon that he would become a friar. The Hereford Cathedral records state that he was a friar the same length of time he was a bishop. He was buried in the friary church at Gloucester.^[1]

Descriptions of Maidstone's character state that he was considered devout and pious, and that he helped to build the Franciscan church at Oxford with his own hands, carrying building supplies. It may have been while doing that activity that he fell and injured himself.^[5]

Citations

1 2 3 4 Barrow "Maidstone, Ralph of" Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
↑ Barrow Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300: Volume 8: Hereford: Deans of Hereford
1 2 Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 250
1 2 Barrow Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300: Volume 8: Hereford: Bishops
↑ Moorman Church Life p. 183 footnote 2

References

Barrow, J. S. (2002). Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300: Volume 8: Hereford: Bishops. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 26 October 2007.
Barrow, J. S. (2002). Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300: Volume 8: Hereford: Deans of Hereford. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 26 October 2007.
Barrow, Julia (2004). "Maidstone, Ralph of (d. 1245)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/23057. Retrieved 1 March 2009. (subscription or UK public library membership required)
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.
Moorman, John R. H. (1955). Church Life in England in the Thirteenth Century (Revised ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. OCLC 213820968.

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Hugh Foliot	Bishop of Hereford 1234–1239 resigned see	Succeeded by Michael
Academic offices
Preceded by Ralph Cole	Chancellor of the University of Oxford 1231	Succeeded by Richard Batchden

Bishops of Hereford

Early Medieval	Putta Tyrhtel Torhthere Walhstod Cuthbert of Canterbury Podda Acca Headda Aldberht Esne Ceolmund Utel Wulfheard Beonna Eadwulf Cuthwulf Mucel Deorlaf Cynemund Edgar Tidhelm Wulfhelm Ælfric Athulf

High Medieval	Æthelstan Leofgar Ealdred Walter of Lorraine Robert de Losinga Gerard Roger Reynelm Geoffrey de Clive Richard de Capella Robert de Bethune Gilbert Foliot Robert of Melun Robert Foliot William de Vere Giles de Braose Hugh de Mapenor Hugh Foliot Ralph de Maidstone Michael Peter of Aigueblanche John de Breton Thomas de Cantilupe Richard Swinefield

Late Medieval	Adam Orleton Thomas Charleton John Trilleck Lewis de Charleton William Courtenay John Gilbert Thomas Trevenant Robert Mascall Edmund Lacey Thomas Polton Thomas Spofford Richard Beauchamp Reginald Boulers John Stanberry Thomas Mylling Edmund Audley

Early modern	Adriano Castellesi Richard Mayew Charles Booth Edward Foxe Edmund Bonner John Skypp John Harley Robert Parfew Thomas Reynolds John Scory Herbert Westfaling Robert Bennet Francis Godwin William Juxon Godfrey Goodman Augustine Lindsell Matthew Wren Theophilus Feild George Coke Nicholas Monck Herbert Croft Gilbert Ironside Humphrey Humphreys Philip Bisse Benjamin Hoadly Henry Egerton Lord James Beauclerk John Harley John Butler

Late modern	Folliott Cornewall John Luxmoore George Huntingford Edward Grey Thomas Musgrave Renn Hampden James Atlay John Percival Hensley Henson Linton Smith Charles Carre Richard Parsons Tom Longworth Mark Hodson John Eastaugh John Oliver Anthony Priddis Alistair Magowan (acting) Richard Frith

Deans of Hereford

High Medieval	Ralph Geoffrey Richard Hugh de Breusa Hugh de Mapenor Henry Thomas de Bosebir Ralph de Maidstone Stephen Thorne Ancelin/Anselm Giles de Avenbury John de Aqua-Blanca

Late Medieval	Stephen de Ledebury Thomas Trilleck William de Feriby William Bermingham John de Middleton John Harold John Prophet Thomas Felde John Bagshaw John Stanwey Henry Shelford John Berew Richard Pede Thomas Chaundler Oliver King John Hervey

Early modern	Reginald West Thomas Wolsey Edmund Frowcester Gamaliel Clifton Hugh Curwen Edmund Daniel John Ellis John Watkins Charles Langford Edward Doughtie Richard Montagu Oliver Lloyd Silvanus Griffiths Daniel Price John Richardson Jonathan Brown Herbert Croft Thomas Hodges George Benson John Tyler Robert Clavering John Harris Edward Cresset Edmund Castle John Egerton Francis Webber Nathan Wetherell

Late modern	William Leigh George Grelton Robert Carr Edward Mellish Edward Grey John Merewether Richard Dawes George Herbert Wentworth Leigh Reginald Waterfield Hedley Burrows Robert Price Norman Rathbone Peter Haynes Robert Willis Michael Tavinor

Chancellors of the University of Oxford

1224–1400

1400–1500

1500 onwards

University of Oxford portal

Authority control	WorldCat Identities VIAF: 34846578 GND: 102516022

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