Archdeacon of Canterbury
Encyclopedia
The Archdeacon of Canterbury is an office-holder in the Diocese of Canterbury
in the Church of England
. Like other archdeacon
s, he or she is an administrator in the diocese at large (having oversight of parishes in roughly one-third of the diocese) and is a Canon Residentiary of the cathedral
.
Furthermore, the Archdeacon of Canterbury has an additional role beyond that of other archdeacons, traditionally serving as the Archbishop of Canterbury
's representative at enthronement ceremonies for new diocesan bishops in his province
. At these services, he or she reads the Archbishop's mandate and, taking the new bishop by the hand, conducts him on to his throne.
The present incumbent is Sheila Watson.
Diocese of Canterbury
The Diocese of Canterbury is a Church of England diocese covering eastern Kent, founded by St. Augustine of Canterbury in 597. It is centred on Canterbury Cathedral, and is the oldest see of the Church of England....
in the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
. Like other archdeacon
Archdeacon
An archdeacon is a senior clergy position in Anglicanism, Syrian Malabar Nasrani, Chaldean Catholic, and some other Christian denominations, above that of most clergy and below a bishop. In the High Middle Ages it was the most senior diocesan position below a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church...
s, he or she is an administrator in the diocese at large (having oversight of parishes in roughly one-third of the diocese) and is a Canon Residentiary of the cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, Kent, is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England and forms part of a World Heritage Site....
.
Furthermore, the Archdeacon of Canterbury has an additional role beyond that of other archdeacons, traditionally serving as the Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
's representative at enthronement ceremonies for new diocesan bishops in his province
Province of Canterbury
The Province of Canterbury, also called the Southern Province, is one of two ecclesiastical provinces making up the Church of England...
. At these services, he or she reads the Archbishop's mandate and, taking the new bishop by the hand, conducts him on to his throne.
The present incumbent is Sheila Watson.
Medieval
- John 1115–1125, later Bishop of RochesterBishop of RochesterThe Bishop of Rochester is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Rochester in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers the west of the county of Kent and is centred in the city of Rochester where the bishop's seat is located at the Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin...
- Walter 1139–1148, later Bishop of RochesterBishop of RochesterThe Bishop of Rochester is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Rochester in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers the west of the county of Kent and is centred in the city of Rochester where the bishop's seat is located at the Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin...
- Roger de Pont L'ÉvêqueRoger de Pont L'EvêqueRoger de Pont L'Évêque was a contemporary of Thomas Becket and later Archbishop of York. Born in Normandy, he preceded Becket as Archdeacon of Canterbury, and together with Becket served Theobald of Bec while Theobald was Archbishop of Canterbury...
1148–1154, later Archbishop of YorkArchbishop of YorkThe Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man... - Thomas BecketThomas BecketThomas Becket was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in 1170. He is venerated as a saint and martyr by both the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion...
1154–1162, later Archbishop of CanterburyArchbishop of CanterburyThe Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group... - Geoffrey Ridel 1163–1173 later Bishop of ElyBishop of ElyThe Bishop of Ely is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Ely in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese roughly covers the county of Cambridgeshire , together with a section of north-west Norfolk and has its see in the City of Ely, Cambridgeshire, where the seat is located at the...
- Herbert PooreHerbert PooreHerbert Poore was a medieval English clergyman who held the post of Bishop of Salisbury during the reigns of Richard I and John.-Life:...
1176–1194 later Bishop of SalisburyBishop of SalisburyThe Bishop of Salisbury is the ordinary of the Church of England's Diocese of Salisbury in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers much of the counties of Wiltshire and Dorset... - Philip of PoitouPhilip of PoitouPhilip of Poitou was Prince-Bishop of Durham from 1197 to 1208, and prior to this Archdeacon of Canterbury.- Life :...
1194–1195 later Bishop of Durham - Henry SandfordHenry Sandford-Life:Sandford was a royal official before becoming a canon of the diocese of Salisbury and was Archdeacon of Canterbury from about 1213 until he was chosen for Rochester....
1213–1226 later Bishop of Rochester - Simon Langton 1227-1248 formerly the Archbishop-elect of YorkArchbishop of YorkThe Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man...
- William Middleton 1275–1278 later Bishop of NorwichBishop of NorwichThe Bishop of Norwich is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Norwich in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers most of the County of Norfolk and part of Suffolk. The see is in the City of Norwich where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided...
- Richard de FeringsRichard de FeringsRichard de Ferings , was the archbishop of Dublin.Ferings was official of Canterbury, in which capacity he won the friendship of Archbishop Peckham. In 1279 he was present at the Council of Reading...
1280–1299 - William Pakington 1381-1390
- John WakeringJohn WakeringJohn Wakering was a medieval Bishop of Norwich.Wakering was named Lord Privy Seal in June 1415 and dismissed from that office in July of 1416....
1408-1415 - Henry Rumworth (or Circeter) 1416-1420
- William Chichele 1420–1424
- Cardinal Prospero ColonnaProspero Colonna (cardinal)Prospero Colonna was a cardinal-nephew of Pope Martin V , whose election ended the Western Schism. Colonna was excommunicated for a period due to his rebellion against Martin V's successor, Pope Eugene IV, becoming one of the few excommunicated cardinals...
June 1424 to December 1434
16th century
- Hugh Peynthwyn, 1495–1504
- William Warham, 1505–1534
- Edmund Cranmer, 1534–1554
- Nicholas HarpsfieldNicholas HarpsfieldNicholas Harpsfield was an English historian, Catholic apologist and priest.-Early life and exile:Harpsfield was educated at Winchester College and studied canon and civil law in New College, Oxford, receiving a BCL in 1543...
, 1554–1559 - Edmund GheastEdmund GheastEdmund Gheast was a 16th-century cleric of the Church of England.Guest was born at Northallerton, Yorkshire, the son of Thomas Geste...
, 1559–1564, Bishop of RochesterBishop of RochesterThe Bishop of Rochester is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Rochester in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers the west of the county of Kent and is centred in the city of Rochester where the bishop's seat is located at the Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin...
and subsequently Bishop of SalisburyBishop of SalisburyThe Bishop of Salisbury is the ordinary of the Church of England's Diocese of Salisbury in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers much of the counties of Wiltshire and Dorset... - Edmund FrekeEdmund Freke-Life:He was born in Essex, and educated at Cambridge, gaining his M.A. there c. 1550.He was Dean of Salisbury from 1571 to 1572 when he became Bishop of Rochester and was simultaneously Archdeacon of Canterbury in commendam. In 1575, he became Bishop of Norwich...
1564–1576, Bishop of RochesterBishop of RochesterThe Bishop of Rochester is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Rochester in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers the west of the county of Kent and is centred in the city of Rochester where the bishop's seat is located at the Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin...
, subsequently Bishop of NorwichBishop of NorwichThe Bishop of Norwich is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Norwich in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers most of the County of Norfolk and part of Suffolk. The see is in the City of Norwich where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided...
and then Bishop of WorcesterBishop of WorcesterThe Bishop of Worcester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury, England. He is the head of the Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury... - William RedmanWilliam Redman-Early life:He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge from 1559, gaining his BA in 1562/3 and becoming a fellow of Trinity in 1563.-Career:Ordained in 1570, he was made Archdeacon of Canterbury by Edmund Grindal in 1576. He was elected Bishop of Norwich on 17 December 1594, and consecrated on...
, 1576–1594, subsequently Bishop of NorwichBishop of NorwichThe Bishop of Norwich is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Norwich in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers most of the County of Norfolk and part of Suffolk. The see is in the City of Norwich where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided...
17th century
- Charles FotherbyCharles FotherbyCharles Fotherby was a Church of England clergyman who became Dean of Canterbury Cathedral .-Life:Fotherby's date of birth is not recorded but he is stated to have been 70 when he died....
, 1595–1619, subsequently Dean of CanterburyDean of CanterburyThe Dean of Canterbury is the head of the Chapter of the Cathedral of Christ Church, Canterbury, England. The office of dean originated after the English Reformation, and its precursor office was the prior of the cathedral-monastery... - William Kingsley, 1619–1648
- See suspended due to the Interregnum (see also Commonwealth of EnglandCommonwealth of EnglandThe Commonwealth of England was the republic which ruled first England, and then Ireland and Scotland from 1649 to 1660. Between 1653–1659 it was known as the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland...
& The ProtectorateThe ProtectorateIn British history, the Protectorate was the period 1653–1659 during which the Commonwealth of England was governed by a Lord Protector.-Background:...
)
- See suspended due to the Interregnum (see also Commonwealth of England
- George HallGeorge Hall (bishop)-Life:His father was Joseph Hall. George Hall was born at Waltham Abbey, Essex, and studied at Exeter College, Oxford, where he became a Fellow. He became vicar of Menheniot and in 1641 archdeacon of Cornwall....
, 1660–1668, Bishop of ChesterBishop of ChesterThe Bishop of Chester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Chester in the Province of York.The diocese expands across most of the historic county boundaries of Cheshire, including the Wirral Peninsula and has its see in the City of Chester where the seat is located at the Cathedral... - William SancroftWilliam SancroftWilliam Sancroft was the 79th Archbishop of Canterbury.- Life :Sancroft was born at Ufford Hall in Fressingfield, Suffolk, son of Francis Sandcroft and Margaret Sandcroft née Butcher...
, 1668–1670, later Archbishop of CanterburyArchbishop of CanterburyThe Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group... - Samuel Parker, 1670–1688, also Bishop of OxfordBishop of OxfordThe Bishop of Oxford is the diocesan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Oxford in the Province of Canterbury; his seat is at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford...
- John BattelyJohn BattelyJohn Battely was an English antiquary and clergyman, Archdeacon of Canterbury 1688–1708. He was the author of two antiquarian works published after his death: Antiquitates Rutupinae and Antiquitates S. Edmundi Burgi ad Annum MCCLXXII Perductae...
, 1688–1708
18th century
- Thomas GreenThomas Green (bishop)-Life:He was born in Norwich, and educated at Norwich grammar school and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1679 and became a Fellow in 1680....
, 1708–1721, later Bishop of NorwichBishop of NorwichThe Bishop of Norwich is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Norwich in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers most of the County of Norfolk and part of Suffolk. The see is in the City of Norwich where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided...
and then Bishop of ElyBishop of ElyThe Bishop of Ely is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Ely in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese roughly covers the county of Cambridgeshire , together with a section of north-west Norfolk and has its see in the City of Ely, Cambridgeshire, where the seat is located at the... - Thomas Bowers, 1721–1724, also Bishop of ChichesterBishop of ChichesterThe Bishop of Chichester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Chichester in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese covers the Counties of East and West Sussex. The see is in the City of Chichester where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity...
1722–1724 - Samuel LisleSamuel LisleReverend Samuel Lisle FRS was an English academic and bishop.-Life:he was born in Blandford, Dorset.He graduated M.A. at Wadham College, Oxford in 1706, and was ordained in 1707....
, 1724–1748, also Bishop of St AsaphBishop of St AsaphThe Bishop of St Asaph heads the Church in Wales diocese of St Asaph.The diocese covers the counties of Conwy and Flintshire, Wrexham county borough, the eastern part of Merioneth in Gwynedd and part of northern Powys. The Episcopal seat is located in the Cathedral Church of St Asaph in the town of...
from 1744, and then Bishop of NorwichBishop of NorwichThe Bishop of Norwich is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Norwich in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers most of the County of Norfolk and part of Suffolk. The see is in the City of Norwich where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided... - John Head, 1748–1769
- William Backhouse, 1769–1788
- John Lynch, 1788–1803
19th century
- Houstonne Radcliffe, 1803–1822
- Hugh PercyHugh Percy (bishop)Hugh Percy was a British churchman, bishop of Rochester and bishop of Carlisle.-Life:He was the third son of Algernon Percy, 1st Earl of Beverley, by Isabella Susannah, second daughter of Peter Burrell and sister of Peter Burrell, 1st Baron Gwydyr, and was born in London...
, 1822–1825, later Bishop of CarlisleBishop of CarlisleThe Bishop of Carlisle is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Carlisle in the Province of York.The diocese covers the County of Cumbria except for Alston Moor and the former Sedbergh Rural District... - James Croft, 1825–1869
- Edward ParryEdward Parry (Bishop)Edward Parry was a Bishop of Dover A member of a most distinguished family, he was educated at Balliol College, Oxford and began his ecclesiastical career as a Curate in Norham . After a period as Chaplain to the Bishop of London...
, 1869–1870, later Suffragan Bishop of DoverBishop of DoverThe Bishop of Dover is an episcopal title used by a suffragan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Canterbury, England. The title takes its name after the town of Dover in Kent...
20th century
- Leonard White-Thomson, 1918–1924 , later Bishop of ElyBishop of ElyThe Bishop of Ely is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Ely in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese roughly covers the county of Cambridgeshire , together with a section of north-west Norfolk and has its see in the City of Ely, Cambridgeshire, where the seat is located at the...
- Edward Hardcastle, 1924–1939
- Karl Sopwith, 1939–1942
- Alexander SargentAlexander SargentThe Ven Alexander Sargent, MA was an eminent Anglican clergyman in the mid 20th century.He was born on 9 May 1895, educated at The King's School, Canterbury and St Edmund Hall, Oxford and ordained in 1920. After curacies at St Margaret-at-Cliffe and Maidstone he became Chaplain of Ripon College...
, 1942–1968 - Michael Nott, 1968–1972
- Bernard Pawley, 1972–1981
- John Simpson, 1981–1986
- Michael Till, 1986–????
- John Pritchard, 1996–2002, later Bishop of OxfordBishop of OxfordThe Bishop of Oxford is the diocesan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Oxford in the Province of Canterbury; his seat is at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford...
21st century
- Patrick EvansPatrick EvansPatrick Evans is a Church of England clergyman. He trained originally to become a solicitor and then worked in marketing and sales management, before training for ordination at Lincoln Theological College and becoming Vicar of St Mildred's, Tenterden and Area Dean of West Charing.He then became...
, 2002–2007 - Sheila Watson, April 2007–present