Background
William was the son of Walter Giffard, Lord of Longueville and Ermengarde, daughter of Gerard Flaitel.
priest Lord Chancellor Bishop of Winchester
William was the son of Walter Giffard, Lord of Longueville and Ermengarde, daughter of Gerard Flaitel.
He also held the office of Dean of Rouen prior to his election as bishop. He was one of the bishops elect whom Archbishop Anselm of Canterbury refused to consecrate in 1101 as having been nominated and invested by the lay power. During the investitures dispute William was on friendly terms with Anselm, and drew upon himself a sentence of banishment through declining to accept consecration from Gerard Archbishop of York in 1103.
He was, however, one of the bishops who pressed Anselm, in 1106, to give way to the king.
He also restored Winchester Cathedral with great magnificence. Among William"s actions as bishop was the refounding of a religious house at Taunton and the staffing of it with Austin canons.
The canons were drawn from Merton Priory. He was known for the close and good relations that he had with the monks of his cathedral chapter, sharing their meals and sleeping with them instead of in his own room.
William died shortly before 25 January 1129, the date he was buried.