giffard was still chancellor when the monks of worcester elected him as bishop of worcester about between 2 and 24 may 1268, on the translation of bishop nicholas of ely to the see of winchester. henry iii accepted his appointment, and he received the temporalities on 13 june 1268. after some little resistance, archbishop boniface of savoy confirmed his election, but it was not until 23 september that he was consecrated by the archbishop at canterbury and he was enthroned in worcester cathedral on christmas day 1268.