Ethelnoth

Ethelnoth archbishop of Canterbury, was the son of Egelmaer, the earl, and was a Glastonbury man. He obtained the grant of additional privileges for the monastery from Canute, and is reported to have written its history. He was first a monk of Glastonbury, then dean of Canterbury, and chaplain to Canute, the king. Other preferment he declined until a vacancy occurred in the see of Canterbury. In 1020 the see was vacant, and Ethelnoth was nominated by the king as primate of England. Having settled his affairs in Canterbury, he made provision for a temporary absence, and proceeded to Rome in 1022, where he was received with distinction by Benedict VIII. From Rome he went to Pavia to visit the tomb of St. Augustine of Hippo. Ethelnoth seems to have been a church restorer. He repaired substantially the cathedral, which his predecessors had only patched over. He displayed both firmness and discretion during his administration. He died in October 1038. See Hook, Lives of the Abps. of Canterbury, 1:478 sq.