William Warelwast was a medieval Norman cleric and Bishop of Exeter in England. Warelwast was a native of Normandy, but little is known about his background before 1087, when he appears as a royal clerk for King William II. Most of his royal service to William was as a diplomatic envoy, as he was heavily involved in the king's dispute with Anselm, the Archbishop of Canterbury, which constituted the English theatre of the Investiture Controversy. He went several times to Rome as an emissary to the papacy on business related to Anselm, one of whose supporters, the medieval chronicler Eadmer, alleged that Warelwast bribed the pope and the papal officials to secure favourable outcomes for King William.
King Henry's Dream from a 12th-century manuscript of the Chronicon ex chronicis of John of Worcester
One of the transept towers at Exeter Cathedral, which date from Warelwast's time
The Bishop of Exeter is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Exeter in the Province of Canterbury. The See has been vacant since Robert Atwell's retirement on 30 September 2023.
‘South Tower of Exeter Cathedral’, attributed to W. Davey, about 1800-1830
Image: Bishop Walter Stapledon Arms Exeter Cathedral
Image: Richard Foxe Bishop Of Winchester NPG London
Image: Bishop Oldham Effigy Exeter Cathedral
