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Ælfgar (died 24 or 25 December 1021) was an Anglo-Saxon cleric and bureaucrat who served as Bishop of Elmham.
Ecclesiastical Career Ælfgar was consecrated as a bishop in 1001. Prior to his appointment to the role of bishop, he served as a priest. In addition to his role as bishop, Ælfgar was active in politics; holding the title of ealdorman.
Two days prior to the death of Dunstan; the then-Archbishop of Canterbury, Ælfgar reportedly had a vision of Dunstan being surrounded and praised by angels. This event was used by William of Malmesbury as evidence of Ælfgar's holiness.
During his time as bishop, Ælfgar gained a reputation as a generous giver of alms.
Ælfgar was an important patron to Ely Abbey, and devoted much of his religious life to its upkeep. He is painted as a mural alongside several other religious figures of the time.
Ælfgar resigned as bishop at some point between 1012 and 1016.
After retirement Following his resignation as Bishop of Elmham, Ælfgar lived on the island of Ely in Cambridgeshire. While living in Ely he would oversee the burial of Eadnoth the Younger; who had been recently martyred at the Battle of Assandun by Danish invaders led by Cnut. While the group of Danish soldiers guarding Eadnoth's corpse were drunk following a visit to Ely Abbey, Ælfgar collaborated with the local monks in order to seize and hide Eadnoth's body. Following his burial, Eadnoth was venerated as a saint.
Ælfgar died on the morning of Christmas Day in 1021. He was buried in a field near the Ely Abbey.
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