Died c. 1058; also March 26. Saint Alfwold, a monk of Winchester, was
chosen to be bishop of Sherborne in 1045. He was known for his great
devotion to Saints Cuthbert and Swithun, whose cults he propagated. He
set up Swithun's image in his church and often visited Cuthbert's
shrine. William of Malmesbury recorded the reminiscences of a priest
from his diocese who knew Bishop Alfwold. Unlike most members of the
episcopacy, he used only common wood eating utensils and was known for
his habitual abstinence at a time when self-indulgence was the rule. He
quarrelled at least once with Earl Godwin of Wessex, who was suddenly
stricken ill and recovered only after the saint pardoned him
(
Attwater2,
Benedictines,
Farmer,
Gill).