Stephen Langton
Stephen Langton (c. 1150 – 9 July 1228) was an English cardinal of the Catholic Church and Archbishop of Canterbury from 1207 until his death in 1228. The dispute between King John of England and Pope Innocent III over his election was a major factor in the crisis which produced the Magna Carta in 1215. Langton is also credited with having divided the Bible into the standard modern arrangement of chapters used today.
Not to be confused with Stephen Langdon (disambiguation).
Stephen Langton
Early life and career[edit]
His father was Henry Langton, a landowner in Langton by Wragby, Lincolnshire. Stephen Langton may have been born in a moated farmhouse in the village,[1] and was probably educated in his local cathedral school. He could also have been born at Friday Street, Surrey, according to local legend.[2]
Stephen studied at the University of Paris and lectured there on theology until 1206, when Pope Innocent III, with whom he had formed a friendship in Paris, called him to Rome and made him cardinal-priest of San Crisogono, Rome.[3][4] His piety and learning had already won him prebends in Paris and York[5] and he was recognised as the foremost English churchman.
His brother Simon Langton[6] was elected Archbishop of York in 1215, but that election was quashed by Pope Innocent III.[7] Simon served his brother Stephen as Archdeacon of Canterbury in 1227.[6] Simon and Stephen had another brother named Walter, a knight who died childless.
Death[edit]
Stephen Langton died at Slindon, near Chichester, Sussex, on 9 July 1228. He was buried in open ground beside the south transept of Canterbury Cathedral. St Michael's Chapel was later built over this ground (now the Buffs Regimental Chapel), and the head of his tomb projects into the east end of this chapel, under its altar, with the foot outside it.
The "Stephen Langton Trail", devised to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta, starts in Langton by Wragby and leads to Lincoln Cathedral, where there is an original copy of the charter.[13]
