Hebrews 7.25—8.6; Psalm 39; Mark 3.7-12
Wulfstan (c1008-95) was born in Long Itchington, Warwickshire, and was probably named for his Uncle Wulfstan, the Archbishop of York. He became a Benedictine monk at Worcester and, after serving as Precentor and Prior, he was appointed Bishop of Worcester in 1062. He was the only Englishman to retain his see after the Norman Conquest.
During his 32 years as Bishop of Worcester Wulfstan struggled to bridge the gap between the old and new regimes. He was known for his benevolence to the poor, and was probably responsible for ending the slave trade from Bristol. He undertook a number of large-scale re-building projects, including Worcester Cathedral, Hereford Cathedral, and Tewkesbury Abbey. He founded the Great Malvern Abbey and re-founded the monastery at Westbury-on-Trym. During these years Worcester became renowned as a centre of learned culture.