Archbishop of Canterbury, Roman Catholic Saint. He served as Archbishop of Canterbury from about 960 to 988. Born in Baltonsborough, Somerset, England around 909, he was the son of a noble of Wessex, in southern England. As a young boy, he studied under the Irish monks who then occupied the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey in Somerset. While still a boy, he suffered a near-fatal illness and miraculously recovered. He was noted for his devotion to learning and for his mastery of many kinds of artistic craftsmanship. With his parent's consent he was tonsured, the practice of cutting or shaving some or all of the hair on the scalp as a sign of religious devotion or humility, and he received minor orders and served in the ancient church of St Mary in Glastonbury, England. His devotion to learning caused him to be summoned by his uncle Athelm, the Archbishop of Canterbury, to enter his service. He was later appointed to the court of King Athelstan of England. When other members of the Court became jealous over his special treatment by Athelstan, they hatched a plot to disgrace him through accusations of being involved with witchcraft and black magic. Athelstan dismissed him from the Court and as he was leaving, his enemies physically attacked him, beat him severely, bound him, and threw him into a cesspool. He managed to crawl out and make his way to the house of a friend. From there, he journeyed to Winchester, England and entered the service of his uncle, Alfheah the Bald, Bishop of Winchester. At the persuasion of Alfheah, he took holy orders and became a monk, and lived as a hermit in Glastonbury. While there, he worked as a silversmith and in the scriptorium, copying manuscripts and he soon became well known as a musician, illuminator, and metalworker. When his father died, he inherited his wealth and upon the death of Athelstan in 940, the new King, Edmund, summoned him to his court at Cheddar, Somerset, England and made him a minister. Again, jealousy arose with the other Court members and they succeeded in plotting against him, causing Edmund to consider sending him away, but recanted when he nearly lost his life during a hunt and vowed to make amends to him if he was spared. When Edmund returned home, he made Dunstan Abbot of Glastonbury and proceeded to rebuild the abbey and established a Benedictine monasticism there. In 946 Edmund was assassinated and King Eadred succeeded him. He became devoted to the new king and for the next nine years his influence was dominant, during which time he twice refused the office of bishop (that of Winchester in 951 and Crediton in 953), affirming that he would not leave the king's side so long as the king lived and needed him. In 955 King Eadred died and was succeeded by Eadwig, the son of Edmund, who then came to the throne, was a headstrong youth wholly devoted to the reactionary nobles. He and Eadwig did not get along and was forced to flee across the English Channel to Flanders, and was received with honor by Arnulf I, the Count of Flanders, and who lodged him in the Abbey of Mont Blandin, near Ghent, in the present-day country of Belgium. In late 957 Eadwig was driven off the throne and replaced by his brother Edgar, who recalled Dunstan, and made him the Bishop of Worcester upon the death of Bishop Coenwald at the end of that year. In 960 he became Bishop of London, holding two bishoprics simultaneously. Later that year, he went to Rome, Italy and received Archbishopric of Canterbury from Pope John XII. On his return from Rome, he at once regained his position as virtual prime minister of the kingdom. In 973 his statesmanship reached its greatest when he officiated at the coronation of King Edgar at Bath, England. Following the death of Edgar in 975, he was succeeded by his oldest son, Edward "the Martyr." His accession was disputed by his stepmother, Alfthryth, who wished her own son Athelred to reign. Through Dunstan's influence, Edward was chosen and crowned at Winchester, England. In March 978, Edward was assassinated at Corfe Castle and Athelred the Unready became king. His coronation was the last state event in which Dunstan took part. His influence at Court ended and he retired to Canterbury, to teach at the cathedral school. On the vigil of Ascension Day in 988, it is recorded that a vision of angels warned he would die in three days. On the feast day itself, he conducted Mass and preached three times to the people, at the Gospel, at the benediction, and after the Agnus Dei. In this last address, he announced his impending death and wished his congregation well. That afternoon he chose the spot for his tomb, then went to his bed. His strength failed rapidly, and on the morning of May 19, he assembled the clergy, Mass was celebrated in his presence, then he received Extreme Unction and the Viaticum, and died around the age of 79. His final words are reported to have been, "He hath made a remembrance of his wonderful works, being a merciful and gracious Lord. He hath given food to them that fear Him." In 1029 he was formally canonized as a saint with his feast day as May 19th. He is the patron saint of goldsmiths and silversmiths. St Dunstan's, the charity that provides support, rehabilitation, and respite care to blind ex-service personnel of the British Armed Forces, is named after him, as are numerous churches throughout England.