This text was written by Brenda Tew, local researcher into the life of Simon de Langham and appears as an illuminated manuscript in the Parish Church. 1315 (Circa) born at Langham in the County of Rutland. 1339 Benedictine monk at Westminster Abbey which held the manor of Langham with Barleythorpe. 1346 Began studies in Theology at Oxford. 1348 The Black Death raged across all Europe. Twenty-seven of fifty Westminster monks died. Langham was recalled from Oxford and elected Prior. Seven weeks later, on the death of Abbott Bircheston, he was elected Abbott in May 1349. 1349 Travelled to Avignon for confirmation, by Pope Clement VI, of his election as Abbott. Langham proved a capable administrator who restored morale and paid off the Abbey’s debts. He continued building the cloisters. 1360 Appointed Treasurer of England by King Edward III. 1362 Elected Bishop of Ely. 1362 Appointed Chancellor of England: The first to use the English language when opening a parliamentary session. 1366 Langham was elected Archbishop of Canterbury and in consequence he resigned the Chancellorship. 1368 Pope Urban V chose him to be a Cardinal Priest so Langham resigned the Archbishopric. Henceforth he lived at Avignon but was employed on diplomatic missions as a Papal Nuncio in Flanders and in England. 1373 Pope Gregory XI created Langham Cardinal Bishop. 1376 Simon de Langham died at Avignon 22nd July. He left vestments of plunket, a blue woollen cloth, to Langham Church and many bequests elsewhere. The majority of his treasures, his books and the residue of his estate he bequeathed to Westminster Abbey where the Nave was rebuilt with his legacy. Regarded as the Abbey’s third founder, he is commemorated by a large window in the Nave and by two small glass panels in the Chapter House. His splendid tomb in the chapel of St. Benedict is the Abbey’s earliest ecclesiastical monument. It was originally surmounted by a canopy above which hung the Cardinal’s hat.

Langham Village History Group