Leofric, the tenth abbot

So in his place Leofric was elected abbot. He was a handsome man with a graceful figure, the son of the earl of Kent. While he was still a layman and just about to take up the habit of a monk, he forsook his father's inheritance for the inheritance of heaven. He generously passed it to his brother born after him because he held the most tender affection for him. He was indeed able to say as he entered the monastery, ‘I have turned my back on the kingdom of the world and all its finery’. As I have said, his face and figure were impressive, but still more beautiful were his Christian faith and his character. These outstanding qualities caused him to be elected archbishop of Canterbury but he refused the office, declaring that the worthier choice was his brother Ælfric who persuaded him to write the story of St Alban set to music.

How the same abbot took vessels of silver and gold from his own table and from the church at a time of increasing famine and in pity distributed them among the poor

This abbot, when a pitiful famine spread through all parts of England, sold for the support of the poor those treasures which had been set aside for the building of the church and the columns [and] planks which, as I have said, had been found under the earth, together with other materials and the gold and silver vessels which had been assigned to his own table and to the church. He only kept back some precious gems, for which no buyers were found, and some very fine engraved stones, which are usually called ‘cameos’. A great number of these were put aside to adorn the shrine, when it was built.6,

For this abbot was the holiest of men and his heart went out to the afflicted. Because of his own accord he had given away for the use of the poor his own silver vessels which had been assigned to his table, at his request he was allowed to use even the consecrated vessels of the church for the same purpose.