Name Suffix:<NSFX> Earl of Salisbury
Laid the cornerstone of Salisbury Cathedral and then was the first person to be buried in it. His coffin is well preserved and made of wood. (colorfully painted at one time)
Close to the font in St. Mary's Church, carved into the 13th Century column, is an effigy of a Norman knight; and carved in the opposite face is an effigy of his lady. If you visit Salisbury Cathedral look in the South arcade of the Nave, up by the front rows of seats and you will see a wonderful work of art; a full length effigy of a knight in full chain armour. Compare the features of our knight and you will then have confirmed the identity of our church's founder as William Longspee (Long Sword) and his wife Ela.
On the board placed upon the wall opposite our effigy, you will see the first incumbent listed as Osbert in 1241, appointed Rector by Lady Ela. Lady Ela was born in Amesbury in 1187, inherited the title (from her father) of Countess of Salisbury at the age of 9 years. Ela and the Earldom of Salisbury were given in marriage by Richard the Lionheart to his illegitimate brother William Longspee in 1198. After William's death in 1226 she founded Lacock in 1232, took the veil in 1238 became Abbess in 1239; resigned in 1257 through weak health; died and was buried at Lacock in 1261. By her William had four sons and four daughters ..... and so she leaves a memorial to their life together, cast in the foundation of our church, and does not marry again.
Have you ever wondered why our church is named St. Mary's and it's theme is the vine? Let me tell you the story of William Longspee. The year is 1225. William had sailed for Gascony on Palm Sunday to fight the armies of Louis VII. The expedition was successful; Gascony secured against Louis and in the Autumn William sails for England. The ship meets rough weather, is driven by a tempest and all his goods lost overboard. At the height of the danger William and the seamen see a great light and a lovely maiden standing, as it seemed, at the mast head. He knows her to be the blessed Virgin come to save them, "from the day of his knighthood he had ever provided a light to burn at the Virgin's altar." the ship was driven upon the Isle of Re and after adventure and more divine intervention William finally arrived in Cornwall after a voyage of nearly three months.
These were turbulent times; times of mystery and legend; times of intrigue and the forming of nations. William stood by King John (his half brother) at the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215; he fought in the crusades. He was with John as William of Scotland did homage in 1201. In 1202 he helped make a treaty with the King of Navarre. In 1204 he escorted Llewelyn of Wales to John at Worcester. In 1214 as Marshall of the King of England he commanded combined forces which recovered Flanders for the Count. In 1213 he commanded a fleet of 500 ships which destroyed the invasion plans of Philip of France, capturing 300 French ships fully laden and burning 100 more in Damme Harbour.
William died in mysterious circumstances on 7th March 1226 at the age of 57. He and Ela had laid, in 1220, the fourth and fifth foundation stones of Salisbury Cathedral and he was the first person buried there. The story is told as a miraculous proof of his salvation, that though there was a storm of wind and rain while his body was being taken from Old Sarum Castle to the unfinished Cathedral, the lights in the procession were not extinguished.
But I hear you say "What about the mystery?"well, when William landed from France after his three month voyage he found that Herbert de Burge had tried to obtain the hand of Ela for his nephew. He was pretty angry and went to see King Henry III at Marlborough about it. Henry made peace between them; he dined with Hubert and on his return to Salisbury , fell sick, summoned the Bishop (Richard le Poore) to him, received the sacraments and died .
And so to the 20th Century, when a rat found in