Wighard was a
Saxon priest during the late 7th century, and a native of
Kent. He served in the household of Archbishop
Deusdedit of Canterbury, and was also a priest at Canterbury. How exactly he was selected, and when that occurred, is open to debate, as Bede himself had two different stories. The first one, related in his
Historia Abbatum, stated that Wighard was selected by King
Ecgberht of Kent. Fifteen years after Bede's completion of the
Historia Abbatum, Bede wrote the
Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum, which states that Wighard was selected by
Oswiu of Northumbria and Ecgberht with the consent of all the clergy and people. Some modern historians have followed Bede's second account, Brooks points out that one reason Wighard might have journeyed to Rome was to receive his pallium. As it had been the normal practice up until then to have it sent out to England by the papacy, Wighard's travel to Rome would indicate the papacy's approval of his election and ensure the validity of his
consecration. Bede, who is the main source for this information, is unclear on his chronology relating to Wighard. At one point in the
Historia Ecclesiastica, he states that Canterbury had been vacant for some time before Wighard's election, but in other writings he implies that Wighard was appointed soon after the conclusion of the
Council of Whitby, which likely took place in 664. However Wighard was selected, he died in Rome. His death possibly occurred around 664, but could have been as late as 667. It may have been caused by the
bubonic plague, Pope Vitalian wrote to Oswiu after Wighard's death, and this letter is preserved by Bede in his
Historia Ecclesiastica. In the letter, which also mentions that a messenger from Oswiu had been among the companions of the archbishop-elect, the pope apologises that he has been unable to find a successor to Wighard yet. Wighard's death in Rome allowed Vitalian the opportunity to choose his successor, and Vitalian chose his friend
Theodore of Tarsus to become the next archbishop. ==Citations==