Baldwin of Forde

Baldwin of Exeter SOCist (* 1125, † November 19, 1190 at Acre ) was Bishop of Worcester and Archbishop of Canterbury.

Baldwin was the son of a cleric. He studied canon law and theology in Bologna and was tutor of the nephew of Pope Eugene III. , Until he returned to England to enter the service of the Bishops of Exeter. He entered as a monk at the Cistercian order, and became the abbot of Forde. He wrote at this time some theological works and sermons, some of which have survived to this day. In 1180 he was elected Bishop of Worcester.

Because of his piety he fell as Bishop to King Henry II of England, was elected to the suggestion Baldwin Archbishop of Canterbury. He was ordained in December 1184. He quarreled violently with some clerics in his diocese, had some of his critics even imprisoned. His behavior brought the chronicler Gervase of Canterbury to characterize him as " a greater enemy of Christianity as Saladin ."

Baldwin spent some time in Wales, where he preached with Gerald of Wales for the Third Crusade and collected money for it. After the coronation of King Richard I. Baldwin was sent to the Holy Land from this, where he reinforced the besiegers of Acre and vigorously intervened in the politics of the Kingdom of Jerusalem and the party took in October 1190 for the controversial King Guy of Lusignan. Baldwin died but a few weeks later.