WaxSeal ArchdeaconOfBedford 13-14c CantilupeArms

The Archdeacon of Bedford is an ecclesiastical post 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 Britain ...

Diocese of St Albans The Diocese of St Albans forms part of the Province of Canterbury in England and is part of the wider Church of England, in turn part of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The diocese is home to more than 1.6 million people and comprises the hi ...

in the

Province of Canterbury The Province of Canterbury, or less formally the Southern Province, is one of two ecclesiastical provinces which constitute the Church of England. The other is the Province of York (which consists of 12 dioceses). Overview The Province consist ...

. Historically the post was in the

Diocese of Lincoln The Diocese of Lincoln forms part of the Province of Canterbury in England. The present diocese covers the ceremonial county of Lincolnshire. History The diocese traces its roots in an unbroken line to the Pre-Reformation Diocese of Leices ...

, then from 1837 in the Diocese of Ely, England. On 13 April 1914, the archdeaconry became a part of the Diocese of St Albans. The present holder of the office is Dave Middlebrook, collated Archdeacon on 30 March 2019.

Seal

The 12/13th c. brass seal-matrix of the Archdeacon of Bedford was found in South Lincolnshire in 2003 by a metal detectorist, in almost perfect condition. It displays a legend in Latin: SIGILLUM ARCHIDIACONI BEDEFORDI(A)E ("Seal of the Archdeacon of Bedford"). Of two heraldic shields, that shown at dexter displays the arms of Cantilupe (modern): ''Gules, three leopard's faces jessant-de-lys or'', as used by Saint

Thomas de Cantilupe Thomas de Cantilupe (25 August 1282; also spelled ''Cantelow, Cantelou, Canteloupe'', Latinised to ''de Cantilupo'') was Lord Chancellor of England and Bishop of Hereford. He was canonised in 1320 by Pope John XXII. Origins Thomas was the third ...

(d.1282),

Bishop of Hereford The Bishop of Hereford is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Hereford in the Province of Canterbury. The episcopal see is centred in the Hereford, City of Hereford where the bishop's seat (''cathedra'') is in the Hereford Cathedr ...

, and later adopted as the arms of the

See of Hereford The Diocese of Hereford is a Church of England diocese based in Hereford, covering Herefordshire, southern Shropshire and a few parishes within Worcestershire in England, and a few parishes within Powys and Monmouthshire in Wales. The cathedral i ...

. The reason for the use of the Cantilupe arms on the seal is unclear, the surviving (but incomplete) list of Archdeacons of Bedford does not include a member of the Cantilupe family. The office of Archdeacon of Bedford had no connection with the See of Hereford and is known to have been under the control of the

See of Lincoln The Diocese of Lincoln forms part of the Province of Canterbury in England. The present diocese covers the ceremonial county of Lincolnshire. History The diocese traces its roots in an unbroken line to the Pre-Reformation Diocese of Lei ...

, hence a possible reason for the location the object was found in. The Cantilupe family were feudal barons of Eaton (Bray) in Bedfordshire and were seated (amongst many other places) at Eaton Castle, near Dunstable, not too far from the town of Bedford. A junior branch (see Baron Cantilupe) was seated at Greasley Castle in Nottingham and at

Withcall Withcall is a small farming village and civil parish in the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. It lies within the Lincolnshire Wolds, and south-west from Louth . The village was served by Withcall railway station, a small stat ...

in Lincolnshire, in which county they were prominent.

Nicholas de Cantilupe, 3rd Baron Cantilupe Nicholas is a male given name and a surname. The Eastern Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church, and the Anglican Churches celebrate Saint Nicholas every year on December 6, which is the name day for "Nicholas". In Greece, the name and its ...

(c.1301–1355) of Greasley founded the Cantilupe Chantry in Lincoln Cathedral and was buried in the Cathedral where survives his mutilated recumbent effigy. However the armorials of the Greasley branch include a ''fess vair'', not shown on the seal. The style of the seal with the gothic architectural elements date it to the 13/14th. centuries. Measurements: 32 mm x 51 mm; weight 2.5 g.

List of archdeacons

High Medieval

*bef. May 1092?:

Osbert Osbert is a male given name and a surname. It may refer to: Osbert , a novel by R.A. Currier Given name *Osbert or Osberht of Northumbria (died 867), King of Northumbria *Osbert or Osbeorn Bulax (died c. 1054), son of Siward, Earl of Northumbr ...

Ralph Ralph (pronounced ; or ,) is a male given name of English, Scottish and Irish origin, derived from the Old English ''Rædwulf'' and Radulf, cognate with the Old Norse ''Raðulfr'' (''rað'' "counsel" and ''ulfr'' "wolf"). The most common forms ...

*bef. 1129aft. 1141:

Hugh Hugh may refer to: *Hugh (given name) Noblemen and clergy French * Hugh the Great (died 956), Duke of the Franks * Hugh Magnus of France (1007–1025), co-King of France under his father, Robert II * Hugh, Duke of Alsace (died 895), modern-day ...

*bef. 1145aft. 1175 (d.):

Nicholas Nicholas is a male given name and a surname. The Eastern Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church, and the Anglicanism, Anglican Churches celebrate Saint Nicholas every year on December 6, which is the name day for "Nicholas". In Greece, the n ...

*aft. 1198:

Alan Alan may refer to: People *Alan (surname), an English and Turkish surname * Alan (given name), an English given name **List of people with given name Alan ''Following are people commonly referred to solely by "Alan" or by a homonymous name.'' *A ...

*bef. 1199aft. 1203:

Richard Richard is a male given name. It originates, via Old French, from Frankish language, Old Frankish and is a Compound (linguistics), compound of the words descending from Proto-Germanic language, Proto-Germanic ''*rīk-'' 'ruler, leader, king' an ...

*aft. 1203: Geoffrey *bef. 12061218 (d.):

Alexander of Elstow Alexander is a male given name. The most prominent bearer of the name is Alexander the Great, the king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia who created one of the largest empires in ancient history. Variants listed here are Aleksandar, Al ...

*12181231 (res.):

John de Houton John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...

(afterwards

Archdeacon of Northampton The Archdeacon of Northampton is a senior ecclesiastical officer within the Diocese of Peterborough. As such she or he is responsible for the disciplinary supervision of the clergy within its six rural deaneries: Brackley, Brixworth, Daventry, ...

) *1231 (d?):

Amaury of Buckden Amaury (from the Old French ''Amalric'') or Amauri may refer to: People Surname * Philippe Amaury (1940–2006), French publishing tycoon Given name *Amaury Duval (1760–1838), French writer * Amaury Duval (1808–1885), French painter *Amaur ...

*1246 (res.):

John de Dyham John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...

*bef. 12541260 (d.): John of Crakehall *1260–1268: Peter de Audeham *1268January 1273:

John de Maidenstan John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...

(afterwards Archdeacon of Oxford) *bef. 1275: Nicholas de Hegham (afterwards Archdeacon of Oxford) *bef. 1280October 1282 (d.): Richard de Bradewell *1282–1291: John Hook *?:

Stephen Gardiner Stephen Gardiner (27 July 1483 – 12 November 1555) was an English Catholic bishop and politician during the English Reformation period who served as Lord Chancellor during the reign of Queen Mary I and King Philip. Early life Gardiner was b ...

? *30 December 129110 September 1319: Roger Rothwell/ Rowell (deprived)

Late Medieval

*10 September 131926 January 1230:

Thomas Neville Thomas Neville or variant spellings may refer to: * Thomas Neville (died 1460) (c. 1429 – 1460), Yorkist captain during the early years of the Wars of the Roses * Thomas Neville (died 1471) (1429–1471), rebel during the Wars of the Roses * ...

(set aside) *26 January 13201333 (d.): Edmund London *1333–?: John Daubeny *?30 August 1351 (exch.): Philip Daubeny *30 August 1351bef. 1372: Thomas Cumpton *bef. 1372bef. 1375: John Irtlingburgh *bef. 13751405 (d.): Thomas Stowe *19 November 14051423 (d.): William Aghton *17 April 14231431 (res.): Richard Caudray (afterwards Archdeacon of Lincoln) *14311439 (d.): William Derby *14 February 14391450 (d.): Robert Thornton *21 May 14501460 (d.):

Thomas Salisbury Sir Thomas Salisbury (or Salusbury) (1564 – 21 September 1586) was one of the conspirators executed for his involvement in the Babington Plot. Early life Salisbury was the elder son of Katheryn of Berain and her first husband, Sir John Salusb ...

*15 December 14601468 (res.): John Rudying (afterwards

) *4 December 14681471 (res.): John Collinson (afterwards Archdeacon of Northampton) *6 Auguster 1471bef. April 1489 (res.): Henry Sharp *April 14891494 (res.): Thomas Hutton (afterwards

Archdeacon of Huntingdon The Archdeacon of Huntingdon and Wisbech is a senior ecclesiastical officer in the Diocese of Ely. The archdeacon is responsible for some clergy discipline and pastoral care in the Archdeaconry of Huntingdon and Wisbech. History The Archdeaconry ...

) *17 February 14941525 (d.):

William Cosyn William Cosyn was priest, a JP for Somerset from 1506–1516, and Dean of Wells Cathedral from 1498–1525. Biography William Cosyn was born between 1470 and 1475 in London to Robert Cosyn and his wife Elizabeth (née King).Aelred Watkin, ed. ...

*11 January 15251549 (d.):

John Chambre John Chambre (also Chamber or Chambers) (1470–1549) was an English churchman, academic and physician. Early life Born in Northumberland, Chambre studied at Oxford, where he was elected fellow of Merton College in 1492. Having taken holy ord ...

Early modern

*7 July 15491554 (res.): Gilbert Bourne *1 May 155411 November 1558 (d.): John Pope *15 November 1558February 1559 (d.): Michael Dunning (deprived) *14 March 15591560 (res.):

Richard Barber Richard William Barber FRSL FSA FRHistS (born 30 October 1941) is a British historian who has published several books about medieval history and literature. His book ''The Knight and Chivalry'', about the interplay between history and literat ...

(afterwards

Archdeacon of Leicester The Archdeacon of Leicester is a senior ecclesiastical officer in the Church of England Diocese of Leicester. History The first archdeacon of Leicester is recorded before 1092 – around the time when archdeacons were first appointed in England ...

) *24 December 15601574 (d.): William Todd *31 May 15741598 (d.): John Robinson *14 March 15986 December 1599 (res.):

Roger Parker Roger Parker (born London United Kingdom, 2 August 1951) is an English musicologist and, since January 2007, has been Thurston Dart Professor of Music at King's College London. His work has centred on opera. Between 2006 and 2010, while Profess ...

*4 February 16001631 (d.): George Eland *4 October 16311661 (res.):

John Hacket John Hacket (Born Halket) (1 September 1592 – 28 October 1670) was an English churchman, Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry from 1661 until his death. Life He was born in London and educated at Westminster and Trinity College, Cambridge. On ta ...

(afterwards

Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry The Bishop of Lichfield is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Lichfield in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese covers 4,516 km2 (1,744 sq. mi.) of the counties of Powys, Staffordshire, Shropshire, Warwickshire and West M ...

, 1661) *May 166216 July 1667 (d.): Francis Wilford *August 166722 November 1678 (d.):

Theophilus Dillingham Theophilus Dillingham (1613–1678) was an English churchman and academic, Master of Clare Hall, Cambridge and Archdeacon of Bedford. Life The son of Thomas Dillingham, and nephew of Francis Dillingham, he was born at Over Dean, Bedfordshire. He ...

*15 February 16793 April 1704 (d.):

John Skelton John Skelton may refer to: *John Skelton (poet) (c.1460–1529), English poet. * John de Skelton, MP for Cumberland (UK Parliament constituency) *John Skelton (died 1439), MP for Cumberland (UK Parliament constituency) *John Skelton (American footb ...

*April 17042 March 1731 (d.):

Thomas Frank Thomas may refer to: People * List of people with given name Thomas * Thomas (name) * Thomas (surname) * Saint Thomas (disambiguation) * Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, and Doctor of the Church * Thomas the Ap ...

*22 May 17311745 (d.):

John Dudley John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland (1504Loades 2008 – 22 August 1553) was an English general, admiral, and politician, who led the government of the young King Edward VI from 1550 until 1553, and unsuccessfully tried to install Lady Ja ...

*15 March 17451756 (res.): John Taylor (afterwards Archdeacon of Leicester) *16 July 17561757 (res.): Charles Jenner (afterwards

) *28 April 175728 February 1771 (d.):

Richard Grey Sir Richard Grey (1457 – 25 June 1483) was an English knight and the half-brother of King Edward V of England. Early life Richard Grey was the younger son of Sir John Grey of Groby and Elizabeth Woodville. Richard was a 3-year-old child whe ...

*20 March 17711782 (d.): Hadley Cox *18 May 17821 June 1783 (d.):

William Done William Done (4 October 1815 – 17 August 1895) was an English cathedral organist, who served at Worcester Cathedral Background He was born in Worcester on 4 October 1815, the son of a baker. He was a chorister at Worcester Cathedral from 182 ...

*19 June 17833 January 1809 (d.):

Richard Shepherd Sir Richard Charles Scrimgeour Shepherd (6 December 1942 – 19 February 2022) was a British politician who was Member of Parliament for Aldridge-Brownhills from 1979 to 2015. A Eurosceptic, Shepherd was one of the Maastricht Rebels that had ...

*12 January 18091821 (d.):

Samuel Vince Samuel Vince FRS (6 April 1749 – 28 November 1821) was an English clergyman, mathematician and astronomer at the University of Cambridge. Life He was born in Fressingfield. The son of a plasterer, Vince was admitted as a sizar to Caius Colle ...

*10 December 18211845 (res.):

Henry Bonney Henry Kaye Bonney Doctor of Divinity, D.D. (22 May 1780 – 24 December 1862) was an English churchman, photographer and author. Life Bonney was born on 22 May 1780, the son of Henry Kaye Bonney, rector of Kings Cliffe, Northamptonshire, and pre ...

:''The archdeaconry was transferred from the diocese of Lincoln to the diocese of Ely by Order-in-Council on 30 May 1837'' *12 March 184529 June 1866 (res.):

Henry Tattam Henry Tattam (28 December 1789 – 8 January 1868, Stanford Rivers, Essex) was a Church of England clergyman and Coptic scholar. Life Tattam was Rector of St Cuthbert's Bedford, 1822–1849, and from 1831 to 1849 also Rector of Great Woolston ...

Late modern

*186631 January 1873 (d.): Henry Rose *187323 September 1910 (d.): Frederick Bathurst *19101914 (res.):

Noel Hodges Edward Noel Hodges (1849 – 18 May 1928) was an Anglican bishop. Edward Noel Hodges was born in 1849 in Old Dalby, Leicestershire, England, the fourth son and the sixth of nine children of Abraham Hodges (1819-1910) and Jane née Rule (1808-190 ...

(also

assistant bishop An assistant bishop in the Anglican Communion is a bishop appointed to assist a diocesan bishop. Church of England In the established Church of England, assistant bishops are usually retired (diocesan or suffragan) bishops – in which case they ...

) :''Since the diocese's erection on 13 April 1914, the Archdeaconry of Bedford has been part of the Diocese of St Albans'' *19241933 (res.): Arthur Parnell *193314 November 1934 (d.): Gerard Lander (also Assistant Bishop of St Albans; former Bishop of Victoria) *19351945 (ret.): William Robins *19461955 (res.): Donald Harris *19561958 (res.): Basil Guy (also Bishop suffragan of Bedford from 1957) *19581962 (res.):

Basil Snell The Ven. Basil Clark Snell (2 February 1907 – 12 June 1986) was an eminent Anglican priest in the mid twentieth century. Snell was educated at The King's School, Canterbury and Queens' College, Cambridge. He was ordained in 1933 and began his ...

*19621973 (res.): John Hare (also Bishop suffragan of Bedford from 1968) *19741979 (ret.): Robert Brown *19791985 (res.): Christopher Mayfield *19861993 (res.):

Michael Bourke Michael Gay Bourke (born 28 November 1941) was the second area and third overall Bishop of Wolverhampton from 1993 until 2007. Education and career Bourke studied Modern Languages at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge and then Theology at Cambrid ...

*19932003 (ret.): Malcolm Lesiter (archdeacon emeritus since retirement) *September 200331 December 2018 (ret.): Paul Hughes (afterwards archdeacon emeritus) *30 March 2019present: Dave Middlebrook

References

Sources

* * * *
Bedfordshire County Council page
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bedford, Archdeacon of Lists of Anglicans Lists of English people Diocese of St Albans