DUNSTAN, SAINT (909-988), English archbishop and son of a West Saxon noble, was born near Glastonbury, where he was educated by the Irish pilgrims. He entered the household of King Aethelstan, but his love of books and of song and his mechanical skill soon excited the dislike of his kinsfolk at the court. Accused of practising the black arts, he took refuge with his kinsman, Alphege, bishop of Winchester, whose persuasion, seconded by a serious illness, induced him to become a monk. Dunstan then lived as a hermit near the old church of St. Mary until Aethelstan's successor, Edmund, recalled him as one of his counsellors. His enemies again procured his expulsion, but Ed mund soon revoked the sentence, and about 943 made Dunstan abbot of Glastonbury. Under him the abbey became a famous school, monastic life was revived and St. Peter's re-erected. Edred, the successor of Edmund, left the administration of the realm largely in the control of Dunstan, who sought to establish royal authority, to conciliate the Danish section, to uproot heathenism and to reform the secular clergy and the laity. On the accession of Edwig, however, in 955, Dunstan's fortunes underwent a temporary eclipse. Having given offence to the in fluential and unprincipled Aelfgifu, he was outlawed and driven to Flanders. But in 957 the Mercians and Northumbrians revolt ed and chose Edgar as their king. The new king at once recalled Dunstan, who was appointed to the see of Worcester as soon as it fell vacant. In 959 he also received the bishopric of London. In the same year Edwig died and Edgar became sole king. Dun stan now became archbishop of Canterbury. On Edgar's death in 975 the archbishop secured the crown for his elder son, Edward. who was murdered three years later. On the accession of Aethel red Dunstan's public career came to an end ; he retired to Canter bury, where he died on May 19, 988.
Dunstan was one of the chief English saints until his glory was overshadowed by Thomas a Becket. He sought to reform monasticism according to the strict observance of the Benedictine rule, which he had seen at the abbey of Blandinium, near Ghent, during his exile under Edwig, and by the re-building of churches and the promotion of education, he endeavoured to uplift his people. In political matters his policy was, as we have said, one of unification and of respect for law.