St. OSMUND
Feast Day 4th December

Little is known of the early life of Osmund, he was born in
Normandy to Count Henry of Seez. But he was not mentioned in any records until he followed William the Conqueror over to England after the Battle of Hastings. Once things had settled down in the land Osmund became the Royal Chaplain to the Norman court. His love of books was noted and he often copied them in his own hand. Gaining experience from his position Osmund was promoted to Chancellor in 1072. In this office he wrote royal letters and charters, besides obtaining useful knowledge of administration.

Then in 1078 he succeeded Herman as Bishop of Salisbury. This see had been formed by uniting those of Sherborne and Ramsbury and making the new centre at Old Sarum, the cathedral being built in the same enclosure as the royal castle. Here Osmund came into his own, completing and consecrating his cathedral, Osmund formed a chapter with its own constitution, which was later to become a model for
other English cathedrals. Formerly he was thought to have initiated The Saturn Rite, a variant of the Roman rite which became very widespread in medieval England, it reached its definitive form under Bishop Richard Ic Poore of Salisbury 1198-1228.

According to William of Malmsbury. Osmund was much loved for his qualities of purity and learning; he was strict with himself and others, he had a commendable lack of avarice and ambition. So wrote William, who was grateful to Osmund for his approval of the cult of Aldhalm, the Anglo-Saxon Abbot of Malmabury and Bishop of Sherborne, whose translation was accomplished by Osmund in 1078. This event marked the end of the period in which, like other Anglo - Saxon saints, Aidheim had been under attack by the Normans, Lanfranc even questioned his sanctity. Osmund was credited with a
life of Aidheim, but it has not survived. It seems that Osmund also worked miracles while at Salisbury.

His promotion to Bishop did not end his involvement with royal duties and administration. He certainly took part in the preparation of the Domesday Book, although his precise contribution is difficult to identify. He may have surveyed Grantham, which included most of Danelaw, together with Lancashire and Westmoreland. One thing that is certain is that he was present at the council of Saurian, when the results of the Doomsday inquiry was presented to King William in
1086.

In 1088 he summoned William of St. Calais, Bishop of Durham, to the King. He stood by his king at the council of flockinghall, in 1095, although later he asked and obtained absolution from Inseam, who later consulted Osmund.