Editing Dunstan (section)

===Abbot of Glastonbury===
Dunstan, now Abbot of Glastonbury, went to work at once on the task of reform.{{sfn|Bunson|Bunson|Bunson|1998|p=}} He had to re-create monastic life and to rebuild the abbey. He began by establishing [[Benedictine]] monasticism at Glastonbury.{{sfn|Cross|Livingstone|1997|p=514}} The Rule of St. Benedict was the basis of his restoration according to the author of 'Edgar's Establishment of the Monasteries' (written in the 960s or 970s) and according to Dunstan's first biographer, who had been a member of the community at Glastonbury.{{sfn|Whitelock|1979|p=920}} Their statements are also in accordance with the nature of his first measures as abbot, with the significance of his first buildings, and with the Benedictine leanings of his most prominent disciples.{{sfn|Toke|1909}}

Nevertheless, not all the members of Dunstan's community at Glastonbury were monks who followed the [[Benedictine Rule]]. In fact, Dunstan's first biographer, 'B.', was a cleric who eventually joined a community of [[Canon (priest)|canons]] at [[Liège]] after leaving Glastonbury.{{sfn|Winterbottom|Lapidge|2011|p=lxix}}
[[Image:Glastonburyabbey.jpg|thumb|350px|left|Remains of the [[Choir (architecture)|choir]] of [[Glastonbury Abbey]] church]]

Dunstan's first care was to rebuild the Church of St. Peter, rebuild the cloister, and re-establish the monastic enclosure.<ref name=Brain/> The secular affairs of the house were committed to his brother, Wulfric, "so that neither himself nor any of the professed monks might break enclosure."{{sfn|Toke|1909}} A school for the local youth was founded and soon became the most famous of its time in England.{{sfn|Cross|Livingstone|1997|p=514}} A substantial extension of the irrigation system on the surrounding [[Somerset Levels]] was also completed.{{sfn|Williams|1970|p=50}}

Within two years of Dunstan's appointment, in 946, King Edmund was assassinated. His successor was [[Eadred of England|Eadred]]. The policy of the new government was supported by the [[Queen mother]], [[Eadgifu of Kent]], by the Archbishop of Canterbury, [[Oda the Severe|Oda]], and by the East Anglian nobles, at whose head was the powerful [[ealdorman]] [[Æthelstan Half-King|Æthelstan the "Half-king"]]. It was a policy of unification and conciliation with the Danish half of the kingdom.<ref name = "co"/> The goal was a firm establishment of royal authority. In ecclesiastical matters it favoured the spread of [[catholicism|Catholic]] observance, the rebuilding of churches, the moral reform of the clergy and laity, and the end of the [[Norse mythology|religion of the Danes]] in England.<ref name="cw"/> These policies made Dunstan popular in the North of England, but unpopular in the South.<ref name=Kiefer>[http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bio/160.html Kiefer, James E. "Dunstan of Canterbury", Biographical sketches of memorable Christians of the past]</ref> Against all these reforms were the nobles of Wessex, who included most of Dunstan's own relatives, and who had an interest in maintaining established customs. For nine years Dunstan's influence was dominant, during which time he twice refused the office of bishop (that of Winchester in 951 and [[Bishop of Exeter|Crediton]] in 953), affirming that he would not leave the king's side so long as the king lived and needed him.{{sfn|Cross|Livingstone|1997|p=514}}