 Within two years of Dunstan 's appointment , in 946 , King Edmund was assassinated . His successor was Eadred . The policy of the new government was supported by the Queen Mother , Eadgifu of Kent , by the Archbishop of Canterbury , Oda , and by the East Anglian nobles , at whose head was the powerful ealdorman Æthelstan the " Half @-@ king " . It was a policy of unification and conciliation with the Danish half of the kingdom . The goal was a firm establishment of royal authority . In ecclesiastical matters it favoured the spread of Catholic observance , the rebuilding of churches , the moral reform of the clergy and laity , and the end of the religion of the Danes in England . 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 Crediton in 953 ) , affirming that he would not leave the king 's side so long as the king lived and needed him . 
