The Archdeacon of London is a senior ecclesiastical officer in the

Church of England The Church of England (C of E) is the established Christian church in England and the mother church of the international Anglican Communion. It traces its history to the Christian church recorded as existing in the Roman province of Britai ...

. They are responsible for the eastern Archdeaconry (the Archdeaconry of London) of the Two Cities (

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

and

Westminster Westminster is an area of Central London, part of the wider City of Westminster. The area, which extends from the River Thames to Oxford Street, has many visitor attractions and historic landmarks, including the Palace of Westminster, B ...

) in the Diocese of London, an area without

area bishop A suffragan bishop is a type of bishop in some Christian denominations. In the Anglican Communion, a suffragan bishop is a bishop who is subordinate to a metropolitan bishop or diocesan bishop (bishop ordinary) and so is not normally jurisdiction ...

and, rather, overseen by the (diocese-leading)

Bishop of London A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...

. The immediate western counterpart in this area is the Archdeacon(ry) of Charing Cross. Since 1989, the churches of this supervisory cleric are the numerous remaining churches of the City of London. Those of the Archdeacon of Charing Cross are the relatively few churches, but much more heavily populated zone that is the City of Westminster.

History

Before the 20th century, the early medieval-founded London archdeaconry included parts of the East End as well as the

City of London The City of London is a city, ceremonial county and local government district that contains the historic centre and constitutes, alongside Canary Wharf, the primary central business district (CBD) of London. It constituted most of London f ...

. The extent of the archdeaconry was reduced in 1912 (with the creation of the Archdeaconry of Hampstead) and in 1951 (with the creation of the Archdeaconry of Hackney) then latest boundary changes with the creation of the Archdeaconry of Charing Cross in 1989 saw the archdeaconry become coterminous with the limits of the

Archdeacons of Charing Cross

This archdeaconry, comprising the City of Westminster, was created shortly before Klyberg's appointment in June 1989. The archdeacon serves directly under the

, who takes direct responsibility for the Two Cities area since there is no

. On 16 June 2015, it was announced that from 1 January 2016 the Archdeacon of London would take responsibility for the whole Two Cities area; a part-time Associate Archdeacon would also work across both.Diocese of London — Archdeacons in the Two Cities
(Accessed 24 June 2015) Lain-Priestley was thus collated to the Charing Cross archdeaconry, and became known as the Archdeacon for the Two Cities.Diocese of London — Directory, Rosemary Lain-Priestley
(Accessed 29 July 2017) Lain-Priestley resigned this on 31 December 2018 to become an Adviser to the Bishop of London. As Archdeacon of Charing Cross since 2020, Atkinson is archdeacon full-time.

List of archdeacons

High Medieval

*?–bef. 1096 (d.): Edward *bef. 1102–aft. 1114: ReingerReigner is not recorded with the title Archdeacon of London; rather the nature of his post can be deduced. *bef. 1127–aft. 1152: William de Beaumis (son of Richard de Beaumis) *bef. 1154–aft. 1157 (res.): Hugh de Mareni *bef. 1162–aft. 1189: Nicholas *bef. 1192–aft. 1194: Peter de Waltham *bef. 1196–bef. 1199 (res.): Alard de Burnham *bef. 1202–bef. 1212 (d.):

Peter of Blois Peter of Blois ( la, Petrus Blesensis; French: ''Pierre de Blois''; ) was a French cleric, theologian, poet and diplomat. He is particularly noted for his corpus of Latin letters. Early life and education Peter of Blois was born about 1130. Ear ...

*bef. 1213–bef. 1214: Walter *bef. 1214–aft. 1215: Gilbert de Plesseto *bef. 1217–aft. 1223:

William of Sainte-Mère-Eglise William is a male given name of Germanic origin.Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 276. It became very popular in the English language after the Norman conquest of Engl ...

*bef. 1225–bef. 1231 (res.): Geoffrey de Lucy *bef. 1229–aft. 1234: William de Rising *bef. 1235–aft. 1261 (res.):

Peter de Newport Peter may refer to: People * List of people named Peter, a list of people and fictional characters with the given name * Peter (given name) ** Saint Peter (died 60s), apostle of Jesus, leader of the early Christian Church * Peter (surname), a sur ...

*bef. 1263–aft. 1268 (res.):

John Chishull John Chishull or John de Chishull (died 1280) was Lord Chancellor of England, Bishop of London, and Lord High Treasurer during the 13th century. He also served as Dean of St Paul's. Life Chishull was made rector of St Mary's Church, the parish c ...

*bef. 1272–aft. 1275: William Passemer *bef. 1278–aft. 1280: Geoffrey de Mortuo Mari *bef. 1281–1282 (res.):

Richard Swinefield Richard Swinefield (or Richard de Swinfield; died 15 March 1317) was a medieval Bishop of Hereford, England. He graduated doctor of divinity before holding a number of ecclesiastical offices, including that of Archdeacon of London. As a bishop, h ...

*bef. 1285–aft. 1290: Robert de Ros *bef. 1294–aft. 1299: Richard de Gravesend

Late Medieval

*bef. 1302–bef. 1308 (d.): John de Bedford *?–bef. 1305 (res.): John de Sancto Claro * Peter de Dene (disputed with Bedford) *1308–bef. 1320 (d.): Bego de Cavomonte *bef. 1309–bef. 1311 (d.): Reginald de Sancto Albano *1320–bef. 1323 (res.): Hélie de Talleyrand-Périgord *bef. 1321–bef. 1324: Richard de Aston *bef. 1323–bef. 1332 (d.): Pontius de Podio Barzaco *1332–aft. 1337: Itherius de Concoreto *13 September 1338–?: Edmund Howard *21 March 1339 – 1347 (res.):

John of Thoresby John of Thoresby (died 6 November 1373) was an English clergyman and politician, who was Bishop of St David's, then Bishop of Worcester and finally Archbishop of York. He was Lord Chancellor of England under King Edward III starting from 134 ...

*bef. 1350–1354 (res.): Richard Kilvington *1354–?: Peter Cardinal du Cros (also Cardinal-priest of Santi Silvestro e Martino) *1354–9 February 1356 (exch.): James de Beaufort *9 February 1356 – 1361 (res.):

John Barnet John Barnet (died 1373) was a Bishop of Worcester then Bishop of Bath and Wells then finally Bishop of Ely. Barnet was selected Bishop of Worcester about 16 December 1361, and consecrated on 20 March 1362. He was translated to the see of Bath ...

*15 October–October 1361 (d.): Fortanerius Vassalli (also

Patriarch of Grado This is a list of the Patriarchs of Grado (north-eastern Italy).
''

Adam de Hertington *bef. 1383–bef. 1397 (d.): Thomas Baketon *10 February 1397 – 1400 (res.): Thomas Stowe *12 November 1400 – 1422 (res.): Reginald Kentwood *16 March 1422–bef. 1431 (res.):

John Snell Sir John Snell (1629 – 6 August 1679), founder of the Snell Exhibitions at the University of Oxford, was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, the son of a blacksmith. He attended the University of Glasgow from 1642 to 1644. He joined the Cavalier, ro ...

*28 January 1431 – 23 February 1443 (exch.):

Richard Moresby Richard is a male given name. It originates, via Old French, from Old Frankish and is a compound of the words descending from Proto-Germanic ''*rīk-'' 'ruler, leader, king' and ''*hardu-'' 'strong, brave, hardy', and it therefore means 'stron ...

*23 February 1443–bef. 1466 (d.): William Fallan *bef. 1469–1482 (res.): Richard Martyn (also

Archdeacon of Hereford The Archdeacon of Hereford is a senior ecclesiastical officer in the Church of England Diocese of Hereford. The archdeacon is the senior priest with responsibility over the area of the archdeaconry of Hereford. History The first recorded archdeac ...

from bef. 1478 and

Archdeacon of Berkshire The Archdeacon of Berkshire (also rendered Archdeacon of Berks) is a senior ecclesiastical officer in the Church of England Diocese of Oxford. The archdeacon is the head of the archdeaconry of Berkshire, a post historically found within the diocese ...

from 1478; became

Bishop of St David's The Bishop of St Davids is the ordinary of the Church in Wales Diocese of St Davids. The succession of bishops stretches back to Saint David who in the 6th century established his seat in what is today the city of St Davids in Pembrokeshire, ...

) *22 June 1482–bef. 1490 (res.): John de Gigliis *16 November 1490–bef. 1502 (res.): John Forster *3 September 1502–aft. 1510:

Pedro de Ayala Don Pedro de Ayala also Pedro López Ayala (died 31 January 1513) was a 16th-century Spanish diplomat employed by Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile at the courts of James IV of Scotland and Henry VII of England. His mission t ...

*bef. 1510–bef. 1514 (res.): William Horsey *28 March 1514–bef. 1526 (d.):

John Young John Young may refer to: Academics * John Young (professor of Greek) (died 1820), Scottish professor of Greek at the University of Glasgow * John C. Young (college president) (1803–1857), American educator, pastor, and president of Centre Col ...

, suffragan bishop (also Dean of Chichester from 1521) *29 March 1526–bef. 1529 (d.): Geoffrey Wharton *30 October 1529–bef. 1533 (exch.): William Clyff *5 August 1533–bef. 1534 (res.): Thomas Bedyll *19 December 1534–July 1543 (d.): Richard Gwent

Early modern

*23 July–October 1543 (res.): Edward Moylle *29 October 1543 – 1554 (res.): John Wymmesley *27 April 1554 – 23 October 1559 (deprived): John Harpsfield (deprived; also Dean of Norwich from 1558) *1559–bef. 1591 (d.): John Mullins *1 June 1591–bef. 1626 (d.): Theophilus Aylmer (son of John Aylmer) *23 February 1626 – 19 September 1662 (d.): Thomas Paske *11 October 1662–bef. 1664 (res.):

John Dolben John Dolben (1625–1686) was an English priest and Church of England bishop and archbishop. Life Early life He was the son of William Dolben (died 1631), prebendary of Lincoln and bishop-designate of Gloucester, and Elizabeth Williams, ...

*27 May 1664 – 1676 (res.): Thomas Lamplugh (also

Dean of Rochester The Dean of Rochester is the head of the chapter of canons at Rochester Cathedral, the mother church of the Church of England Diocese of Rochester. The current dean is Philip Hesketh, who has served in that role since June 2016. List of deans ...

from 1673) *27 April 1677 – 1689 (res.):

Edward Stillingfleet Edward Stillingfleet (17 April 1635 – 27 March 1699) was a British Christian theologian and scholar. Considered an outstanding preacher as well as a strong polemical writer defending Anglicanism, Stillingfleet was known as "the beauty of holin ...

*1689–1691 (res.):

Thomas Tenison Thomas Tenison (29 September 163614 December 1715) was an English church leader, Archbishop of Canterbury from 1694 until his death. During his primacy, he crowned two British monarchs. Life He was born at Cottenham, Cambridgeshire, the son a ...

*1692–9 October 1731 (d.): William Stanley *23 October 1731 – 15 June 1742 (d.): Robert Tyrwhit *12 July 1742 – 22 April 1764 (d.): Edward Cobden *24 April 1764 – 5 September 1770 (d.):

John Jortin John Jortin (23 October 1698 – 5 September 1770) was an English church historian. Life Jortin was the son of Renatus Jordain, a Breton Huguenot refugee and government official, and Martha Rogers, daughter of Daniel Rogers. He was educated ...

*29 September 1770 – 1775 (res.): Anthony Hamilton *22 February 1775 – 1789 (res.):

Richard Beadon Richard Beadon (15 April 1737 – 21 April 1824) was Master of Jesus College, Cambridge 1781–1789 and later Vice-Chancellor of the University, Bishop of Gloucester and Bishop of Bath and Wells. Life Beadon was born at Pinkworthy in Devon, so ...

*1789–bef. 1813 (res.): William Bingham *31 December 1813–bef. 1842 (res.): Joseph Pott *4 November 1842 – 27 November 1870 (d.): William Hale

Late modern

*March 187111 August 1884 (d.):

Piers Claughton Piers Calveley Claughton (8 June 1814 – 11 August 1884) was an Anglican colonial bishop and author. Early life The son of Thomas Claughton ( M.P. for Newton, Lancashire, 1818 – 25) of Haydock Lodge, he was educated at Brasenose College, ...

*18841889 (ret.): Edwin Gifford *18891911 (res.): William Sinclair *19111930 (ret.):

Ernest Holmes Ernest Shurtleff Holmes (January 21, 1887 – April 7, 1960) was an American New Thought writer, teacher, and leader. He was the founder of a spiritual movement known as Religious Science, part of the greater New Thought movement, whose spiri ...

*19301947 (ret.): Ernest Sharpe *19471961 (res.): Oswin Gibbs-Smith (afterwards

Dean of Winchester The Dean of Winchester is the head of the Chapter of Winchester Cathedral in the city of Winchester, England, in the Diocese of Winchester. Appointment is by the Crown. The first incumbent was the last Prior, William Kingsmill, Catherine Ogl ...

, 1961) *19621963 (res.):

George Appleton George Frederick Appleton, (20 February 1902 – 28 August 1993) was an Anglican bishop in the third quarter of the twentieth century and a writer. Life Born in Windsor, Berkshire to Thomas George Appleton and Lily Cock, Appleton was educated ...

*19631967 (res.): Martin Sullivan *19671978 (ret.): Sam Woodhouse (afterwards archdeacon emeritus) *197810 November 1986 (d.): Frank Harvey *19871999 (res.): George Cassidy *19992009 (ret.): Peter Delaney (afterwards archdeacon emeritus) *26 July 200931 July 2014 (ret.): David Meara (afterwards archdeacon emeritus) * 11 September 201430 June 2015:

Nick Mercer Nicholas Stanley Mercer (born 25 December 1949) is a British Anglican priest who was the Vicar general for the Diocese of London from 2007 to 2017; he was additionally Archdeacon of London from 2014 until 2016. Early life and education Mercer ...

, Vicar General and acting archdeacon * 1 July 20156 January 2016: Nick Mercer, Vicar General * 1 January 2016present: Luke Miller (working across both archdeaconries)

Archdeacons of Charing Cross

*19891996 (ret.): John Klyberg, Bishop suffragan of Fulham (became a

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy * Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD * Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a let ...

priest and prelate of honour) *199631 December 2014 (ret.): Bill Jacob *1 January 201631 December 2018 (res.):

Rosemary Lain-Priestley Rosemary Jane Lain-Priestley (born 1967) is a Church of England priest and former Archdeacon for the Two Cities. Early life and education She was born in 1967 in Lancashire, England. She was educated at the University of Kent and worked as an imm ...

, Associate Archdeacon / Archdeacon for the Two Cities (working across both archdeaconries) *20172019: Paul Thomas, Acting Archdeacon of Charing Cross *23 March 2020present: Adam Atkinson

Notes

References

Sources

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:London, Archdeacons of Anglican ecclesiastical offices Lists of Anglicans Lists of English people Church of England