OSWALD (d. 992)  , archbishop of York, was a nephew of Oda, archbishop of Canterbury, and at an early age became, by purchase, head of the Old Minster at Winchester . Desiring to become a monk, he went with Oda's approval to the monastery of Fleury on the Loire--at that time the great centre of reviving Benedictinism . Here he soon distinguished himself by the monastic austerity of his life . In 959 he returned to England at the request of Oda, who, however, died before his arrival . He now went to York to his kinsman the Archbishop Oskytel, who took him with him on a pilgrimage to Rome . Soon after his return he was appointed bishop of Worcester at the re-commendation of Dunstan, his predecessor in the see (961) . As bishop he took a prominent part in that revival of monastic discipline on Benedictine lines of which Aethelwold, bishop of Winchester, was the most ardent leader . His methods, how-ever, were less violent than those of Aethelwold . Among other religious houses he founded that of Ramsey in conjunction with Aethelwine, Ealdorman of East Anglia . In 97 2 he was translated (again at Dunstan's recommendation) to the archbishopric of York, with which he continued to hold the see of Worcester . He died on the 29th of February 992 and was buried at Worcester . See Memorials of St Dunstan, edited by W .

Stubbs, Rolls series (London, 1874) .