Beccanceld, Council of

Beccanceld, Council Of (Concilium Beccancel-dense), is the name of two provincial synods.

I. Held in 692, by Wihtred, king of Kent, at Beccanceld, in Kent (probably Bapchild, near Sittingbourn). Besides the king, there were present Brihtwald, archbishop of Canterbury, Tobias of Rochester, and several abbots, abbesses, and "wise men." The chief object of the council appears to have been to consult about the repairing of the churches in Kent, injured in the wars with the West Saxons. King Wihtred then, with his own mouth, renewed and confirmed the liberties and privileges and possessions of the Church in his kingdom; forbidding all future kings, and all aldermen and laymen forever, all dominion over the churches, and all things belonging to them. He further directed that, upon the death of any bishop, abbot, or abbess, the event should be immediately made known to the archbishop, and a worthy successor be chosen with his consent. See Johnson, Eccles. Canons; Labbe, Concil. v, 1356.

II. Held about 796, by Athelard, archbishop of Canterbury, in which the privileges granted to the churches by Wihtred and others were solemnly confirmed. This deed of confirmation is signed by the archbishop, twelve bishops, and twenty-three abbots. See Johnson, Eccles. Canons; Labbe, Concil. 7, 1148; Wilkin, Concil. 1, 162.