Their story
Adapted in modern English from the Catholic Encyclopedia (1913) · original text below
Alfwold, or Ælfwold, is an obscure English saint known mainly from a few details kept by William of Malmesbury. He was a monk of Winchester and was consecrated Bishop of Sherborne in Dorsetshire in 1045, succeeding his own brother Brightwy.
He set a strong example by living frugally, in marked contrast to the riotous banquets that the Danish kings had made fashionable. He was devoted to St. Swithun, patron of his old house at Winchester, and to St. Cuthbert, whose shrine at Durham he visited on pilgrimage. He died while singing the antiphon of St. Cuthbert. Strictly speaking he was the last Bishop of Sherborne, since after his death the see was joined to Ramsbury.
The Catholic Encyclopedia gives his death as 1058; Baring-Gould, whose date is shown with this page, gives 1075. The sources differ.
Early life
The book says little or nothing about early life. This is how the account begins.
Thin entry · the 1897 book gives only 151 words. We have not filled the gap with invented detail.
In the reign of the Confessor, Alfwold, a monk of Winchester was raised to the bishopric of Sherborne. At that time the English people were greatly addicted to the pleasures of the table, and it was expected of the bishops to keep open house and have their tables well provided with abundant and delicate fare. But Alfwold, though ready to show all hospitality, lived plainly himself, drinking water out of a common bowl, and eating out of a wooden platter.
How they teach us to live
Drawn from themes in the original account
Welcome guests and strangers. Hospitality shows up in this account.
Look after people who are sick or suffering. The sick come up again and again in this story.
Learn from the kind of life it was. A shepherd who stayed with his people through hard times.
From the Catholic Encyclopedia
1913 · 161 words
Alfwold, Saint, Bishop of Sherborne, in Dorsetshire; d. 1058. Alfwold, or Ælfwold, is a rather obscure English saint of whom we know little beside the few details preserved by William of Malmesbury (Gest. Pont., Bk. II, § 82). Alfwold had been a monk of Winchester, and was consecrated Bishop of Sherborne in 1045, succeeding his own brother Brightwy. He gave great edification by the frugality of his way of life, which was in marked contrast to the riotous banquetings which the example of the Danish monarchs had rendered popular at that epoch. He was very devout to St. Swithun, his old patron of Winchester, and also to St. Cuthbert, to whose shrine at Durham he made a pilgrimage. He died while singing the antiphon of St. Cuthbert. He was, strictly speaking, the last Bishop of Sherborne, for after his death the see of Sherborne [a bishop’s “see” is his diocese, named from his seat (Latin sedes)] was united to that of Ramsbury.
Acta SS., 25 March, III; Stanton, English Menology (London, 1892), 134.