Council of Clovesho
A total of seven council meetings of the Anglo-Saxon Church were held between 742 and 825 under the name of the Council of Clovesho . Since the kings of Mercia and their followers also took part in addition to the bishops and abbots , these were not pure synods , but mixed church-secular assemblies. Church affairs were decided by the bishops under the chairmanship of the archbishop, and the king gave consent to the regulations made.
The geographical location of the meeting place Clovesho (also: Clofeshoch , Clofeshoas ) has not been clarified beyond doubt. Clovesho was probably in Mercia and near London. Research cited as possible locations: Abingdon , Tewkesbury or Cliff-at-Hoo in Kent .
A council may have already taken place in Clovesho in 716. However, the authenticity of the document referring to this is doubtful. Secure sources are available for the following council meetings:
- 1st Council of Clovesho (742) presided over by Archbishop Cuthbert of Canterbury and King Æthelbald of Mercia
- 2nd Council of Clovesho (747) chaired by Archbishop Cuthbert of Canterbury: important synod, adoption of 31 canonical prescriptions
- 3rd Council of Clovesho (794) chaired by Archbishop Higbert von Lichfield and King Offa von Mercia : decision on a donation of land from the Archdiocese
- 4th Council of Clovesho (794) under Archbishop Æthelheard and King Cenwulf : dealing with questions of religious practice and agreeing on an exchange of lands
- 5th Council of Clovesho (803) under Archbishop Æthelheard of Canterbury and King Cenwulf: On the instructions of Pope Leo III. The Archdiocese of Lichfield, established in 787, is dissolved and subordinated to the Archdiocese of Canterbury.
- 6th Council of Clovesho (824) under King Beornwulf and Archbishop Wulfred : clarification of an inheritance matter
- 7th Council of Clovesho (825) under the same chairmanship: settlement of a dispute between the Archbishop and the Abbess Cwenthrytha