Dunstan, Saint

b. circa 909; d. 988

Dunstan was appointed abbot of Glastonbury by King Edmund in 943. Between 957 and 959 he was exiled by King Eadwig with whom his relations had been poor since the latter's coronation day. The story is told that Dunstan found Eadwig, having excused himself from his coronation feast, in the company of two woman - mother and daughter, both of whom were intent of seducing him, and with the crown of England discarded beside them. Dunstan was forced to drag the embarassed young king back to the company of his nobles.

Eadwig's successor, Edgar, recalled Dunstan from exile and made him bishop of Worcester, bishop of London and then archbishop of Canterbury (959-88). With the support of King Edgar Dunstan was able to secure reforms to the Benedictine order in England and at Winchester in 970 a council introduced a version of the Benedictine rule, the Regularis concordia.

Dunstan was responsible for the new coronation ceremony by which Edgar was crowned in Bath in 973. Great emphasis was placed on the anointment of the king, much as a priest would be anointed on assuming his office.

Dunstan's reputation lived on after his death, helped no doubt by the high esteem in which the whole era was held by later Anglo-Saxons. His commemorative day is 19 May.

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