Aldfrith (or Atfrith)

Aldfrith (Or Atfrith)

was the tenth abbot of Glastonbury in Malmesbury's list, dated 709. See Smith, Dict. of Christ. Biog. s.v.

Aldhun, the first bishop of Durham, was born of a noble family in the 10th century, and succeeded Efsig in the bishopric of Lindisfarne, or Holy Island, in .990. Finding the island greatly exposed to the incursions of Danish pirates, he removed the see, after about six years, to Durham. He took with him the body of St. Cuthbert from Chester-le-Street, and at Dunelm (or Durham) erected a cathedral to that saint. Aldhun had a daughter named Eegfrid (or Ecgfrid), who.married Ucthred, son of Waltheof, from whom she was afterwards divorced, whereupon Aldhun took back the six towns belonging to the episcopal see, with which he had endowed her. He educated king Ethelred's two sons, Alfred and Edward; and when their father was driven from the throne, he conducted them and queen Emma into Normandy to Richard, the queen's brother, in 1017.. In 1018 the English were defeated by the Scots, and the bishop was so affected by the news that he died a few days after. Radulphus de Diceto calls this bishop Alfhunus, and bishop Godwin, Aldwinus. See Hutchinson, Hist. of Durham, vol. i; Surtees, Hist. of Durham.