Lyfing's uncle was Burhweald, Bishop of Cornwall,[1] according to the medieval chronicler William of Malmesbury.
[8] Lyfing was a close friend and trusted counsellor of King Canute the Great[3] and accompanied him on a pilgrimage to Rome in 1027.
[4] Florence of Worcester, the medieval chronicler, claims that Lyfing, along with Godwin, was instrumental in securing the succession of Edward the Confessor to the throne of England on Harthacnut's death.
[14] Before Lyfing's death, Aldred, who succeeded him at Worcester, had probably been acting as his suffragan or co-bishop.
However, the D version of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle describes him as "the eloquent bishop", which may imply that he was noted as an important preacher.