Lyfing was known as a wise man and gave gifts to his church and oversaw repairs to his cathedral before his death in 1020.
[5] Lyfing was unable to go to Rome for his pallium, the symbol of archiepiscopal authority, during King Æthelred's reign, for every bishop that was consecrated during the remainder of the king's reign was consecrated by Archbishop Wulfstan of York.
[6] The reason for his inability to secure the pallium was most likely the disorder in England caused by Danish raids and attempts at conquest of the kingdom.
[10] As Archbishop of Canterbury, Lyfing crowned two English kings: Ethelred's son Edmund Ironside in 1016 and Cnut in 1017.
[1] When the coronation of Cnut actually took place and where is unclear, but the 12th-century writer Ralph of Diceto states that Lyfing carried out the ceremony.