WILLIAM

See also:

• GIFFARD, GODFREY (c. 1235—1302)
• GIFFARD, WALTER (d. 1279)
• WILLIAM GIFFARD (d. 1129)

GIFFARD (d. 1129)  , bishop of Winchester, was chancellor of William II. and received his see, in succession to Bishop Walkelin, from Henry I . (11oo) . He was one of the bishops elect whom Anselm refused to consecrate (11o1) as having been nominated and invested by the lay power . During the investitures dispute Giffard was on friendly terms with Anselm, and drew upon himself a sentence of banishment through declining to accept consecration from the archbishop of York (1103) . He was, however, one of the bishops who pressed Anselm, in 11o6, to give way to the king . He was consecrated after the settlement of 1107 . He became a close friend of Anselm, aided the first Cistercians to settle in England, and restored Winchester cathedral with great magnificence . See Eadmer, Historic novorum, edited by M . Rule (London, 1884) ; and S . H . Cass, Bishops of Winchester (London, 1827) .