The Dean of the Chapel Royal, in any kingdom, can be the title of an official charged with oversight of that kingdom's chapel royal, the ecclesiastical establishment which is part of the royal household and ministers to it.

England

In England, the Dean of the Chapels Royal was appointed by royal warrant and appointed its officers and staff. The office of dean (dating from 1312) has been by custom held by the

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 ...

since 1748 ( or 1723, see below). In practice, the chapel, its choir, and the various chapel buildings associated with it come under the oversight of the Sub-Dean, who is the King's residential chaplain. As in 2019 the Chapels Royal in England consisted of: The Queen’s Chapel; the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace; the Chapel Royal, Hampton Court Palace; the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula (Tower of London); the Chapel of St John the Evangelist (Tower of London); and The Queen's Chapel of the Savoy.

Office holders

;Edward III (1327) *: John de Wodeford *: John de Leek ;Richard II (1377) *: Thomas de Lynton ( canon of Windsor, 1378–1387) *: John Boor (canon of Windsor, 1389–1402) ;Henry IV (1399) *: Richard Kyngeston,

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 ...

and canon of Windsor *:

Richard Prentys Richard Prentys ( fl. 1390s - 1410s) was a Canon of Windsor from 1403 to 1404''Fasti Wyndesorienses'', May 1950. S.L. Ollard. Published by the Dean and Canons of St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle and Dean of the Chapel Royal. Career He was appo ...

Archdeacon of West Ham The Archdeacon of West Ham is a senior ecclesiastical officer – in charge of the Archdeaconry of West Ham – in the Church of England Diocese of Chelmsford. The current archdeacon is Elwin Cockett. Brief history Historically, the Archdeaconr ...

and canon of Windsor ;Henry V (1413) *1414:

Edmund Lacey Edmund Lacey (or Lacy; died 1455) was a medieval Bishop of Hereford and Bishop of Exeter in England. Lacey was educated at University College, Oxford, where he was a mature commoner, then Fellow, and subsequently Master of the College from 1 ...

, canon of Windsor (became Bishop of Hereford, 1417) *1417–1432: Robert Gilbert (later

, 1436) ;Henry VI (1422) *1432–1438: Richard Praty (became

Bishop of Chichester The 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 based in the City of Chichester where the bishop's sea ...

, 1438) *1438–1444: John Croucher, Dean of Chichester *1444–1449 (d.): Robert Ayscogh (possibly Robert Aiscough, later

Archdeacon of Exeter The Archdeacon of Exeter is a senior ecclesiastical officer of the Diocese of Exeter in the Church of England. The modern diocese is divided into four archdeaconries: the archdeacon of Exeter supervises clergy and buildings within the area of the ...

) *1449–1468 (d.): William Say,

Dean of St Paul's The dean of St Paul's is a member of, and chair of the Chapter of St Paul's Cathedral in London in the Church of England. The dean of St Paul's is also ''ex officio'' dean of the Order of the British Empire. The current dean is Andrew Tremlett, ...

from 1457 and

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, ...

from 1464 ;Edward IV (1461);Henry VI (restored 1470) *1469–1470 (d.): Thomas Bonyfaunt ;Edward IV (restored 1471) *: William Dudley, canon then

Dean of Windsor The Dean of Windsor is the spiritual head of the canons of St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, England. The dean chairs meetings of the Chapter of Canons as ''primus inter pares''. The post of Dean of Wolverhampton was assimilated to the dea ...

(became

Bishop of Durham The Bishop of Durham is the Anglican bishop responsible for the Diocese of Durham in the Province of York. The diocese is one of the oldest in England and its bishop is a member of the House of Lords. Paul Butler has been the Bishop of Durham ...

) *1476:

John Gunthorpe John Gunthorpe (died 1498) was an English administrator, Clerk of the Parliament, Keeper of the Privy Seal and Dean of Wells. Education and career Gunthorpe was a student at Cambridge University and had already entered into the clergy and rece ...

Dean of Wells The Dean of Wells is the head of the Chapter of Wells Cathedral in the Mendip district of Somerset, England. The dean's residence is The Dean's Lodging, 25 The Liberty, Wells. List of deans High Medieval *1140–1164: Ivo *1164–1189: Ric ...

and, until 1478, Archdeacon of Essex *: William Chauntre,

Archdeacon of Derby The Archdeacon of Derby is a senior ecclesiastical officer in the Church of England Diocese of Derby. The archdeacon has responsibility for church buildings and clergy discipline in her/his archdeaconry – the Archdeaconry of Derby – which rough ...

;Richard III (1483) *1483: William Beverley, Dean of Middleham, Yorkshire ;Henry VII (1485) *: Richard Hill,

Thomas Jane Thomas Jane (born Thomas Elliott III; February 22, 1969) is an American actor. He is known for appearing in the films Padamati Sandhya Ragam (1987), ''Boogie Nights'' (1997), '' Deep Blue Sea'' (1999), '' The Punisher'' (2004), '' The Mist'' ( ...

Bishop of Norwich The 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 bishop of Norwich is Graham Usher. The see is in t ...

*1497-1501: Richard Nikke,

Archdeacon of Wells The Archdeacon of Wells has been a senior clergy position in the Church of England Diocese of Bath and Wells sin the English reformation, before which it was part of the Roman Catholic Church. The post, having oversight over the archdeaconry of We ...

(later

, 1501-1535) *: Geoffrey Simeon (later

Dean of Lincoln The Dean of Lincoln is the head of the Chapter of Lincoln Cathedral in the city of Lincoln, England in the Church of England Diocese of Lincoln. Christine Wilson was installed as Dean on 22 October 2016.

) *1502: William Atwater, canon of Windsor 1504–1514, then

Bishop of Lincoln The Bishop of Lincoln is the ordinary (diocesan bishop) of the Church of England Diocese of Lincoln in the Province of Canterbury. The present diocese covers the county of Lincolnshire and the unitary authority areas of North Lincolnshire and ...

;Henry VIII (1509); Edward VI (1547); Mary I (1553) *1514–1519:

John Vesey John Vesey or Veysey ( – 23 October 1554) was Bishop of Exeter from 1519 until his death in 1554, having been briefly deposed 1551–3 by King Edward VI for his opposition to the Reformation. Origins He was born (as "John Harman"), probabl ...

(Bishop of Exeter, 1519-1551) *?1519–>1525:

Richard Sampson Richard Sampson (died 25 September 1554) was an English clergyman and composer of sacred music, who was Anglican bishop of Chichester and subsequently of Coventry and Lichfield. Biography He was educated at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, the Paris S ...

, Archdeacon of Cornwall, 1517 *1534–1558: Thomas Thirlby,

Bishop of Westminster The Diocese of Westminster was a short-lived diocese of the Church of England, extant from 1540–1550. Westminster Abbey served as its cathedral. History The diocese was one of six founded by Henry VIII in 1539–40, with the churches of dis ...

, 1540–1550 ;Elizabeth I (1558) *1558–1583: George Carew,

Dean of Bristol The Dean of Bristol is the head of the Chapter of the Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, Bristol, England. The Dean is Mandy Ford, since her installation on 3 October 2020. List of deans Early modern *1542–1551 William Sno ...

*1583–1603: ''No appointment'' ;James I (1603) *1603–1618: James Montague,

Dean of Lichfield The Dean of Lichfield is the head (''primus inter pares'' – first among equals) and chair of the chapter of canons, the ruling body of Lichfield Cathedral. The dean and chapter are based at the ''Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and S ...

*1618–1626:

Lancelot Andrewes Lancelot Andrewes (155525 September 1626) was an English bishop and scholar, who held high positions in the Church of England during the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I. During the latter's reign, Andrewes served successively as Bishop of Chi ...

, Bishop of Ely until 1619, then Bishop of Winchester ;Charles I (1625) *1626:

William Laud William Laud (; 7 October 1573 – 10 January 1645) was a bishop in the Church of England. Appointed Archbishop of Canterbury by Charles I in 1633, Laud was a key advocate of Charles I's religious reforms, he was arrested by Parliament in 1640 ...

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, ...

until 1626, then

Bishop of Bath and Wells The Bishop of Bath and Wells heads the Church of England Diocese of Bath and Wells in the Province of Canterbury in England. The present diocese covers the overwhelmingly greater part of the (ceremonial) county of Somerset and a small area of D ...

until 1628, then Bishop of London until 1633, then Archbishop of Canterbury *1643–?1651:

Richard Steward Richard Steward or Stewart (1593? – 1651) was an English royalist churchman, clerk of the closet to Charles I of England, Charles I and designated Dean of St. Paul's and Westminster, though not able to take up his position because of the warti ...

(

Provost of Eton Provost may refer to: People * Provost (name), a surname Officials Government * Provost (civil), an officer of local government, including the equivalent of a mayor in Scotland * Lord provost, the equivalent of a lord mayor in Scotland Milita ...

and

(but not installed), 1642–1651)) ;Commonwealth (1649) ;Charles II (1660) *7 June 1660:

Gilbert Sheldon Gilbert Sheldon (19 June 1598 – 9 November 1677) was an English religious leader who served as the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1663 until his death. Early life Sheldon was born in Stanton, Staffordshire in the parish of Ellastone, on 19 J ...

, Bishop of London *2 October 1663:

George Morley George Morley, 27 February 1598 to 29 October 1684, was a senior member of the Church of England from London, who served as Bishop of Worcester from 1660 to 1662, and of Winchester from 1662 to 1684. Early life Morley was born in London, Eng ...

, Bishop of Winchester *7 February 1668: Herbert Croft, Bishop of Hereford *5 April 1669: Walter Blandford,

Bishop of Oxford The 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. The current bishop is Steven Croft, following the confirmation of his elect ...

until 1671, then Bishop of Worcester *15 July 1675: Henry Compton, Bishop of London ;James II (1685) *28 December 1685:

Nathaniel Crew Nathaniel Crew, 3rd Baron Crew (31 January 163318 September 1721) was Bishop of Oxford from 1671 to 1674, then Bishop of Durham from 1674 to 1721. As such he was one of the longest-serving bishops of the Church of England. Crew was the son of Joh ...

;William III (1689) *20 September 1689: Henry Compton, Bishop of London ''(again)'' ;Anne (1702) *17 July 1713: John Robinson,

Bishop of Bristol 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 ...

until 1714, then Bishop of London ;George I (1714) *15 March 1718: William Talbot,

Bishop of Salisbury The 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. The see is in the City of Salisbury where the bishop's seat ...

;George II (1727) *17 November 1721 – 1748:

Edmund Gibson Edmund Gibson (16696 September 1748) was a British divine who served as Bishop of Lincoln and Bishop of London, jurist, and antiquary. Early life and career He was born in Bampton, Westmorland. In 1686 he was entered a scholar at Queen's Col ...

, Bishop of Lincoln until 1723, then Bishop of London *''For deans after 1748 see

'' ;Elizabeth II (1952) *29 November 1995:

Richard Chartres Richard John Carew Chartres, Baron Chartres , FBS (; born 11 July 1947) is a retired bishop of the Church of England. He was area Bishop of Stepney from 1992 to 1995 and Bishop of London from 1995 to 2017. He was sworn of the Privy Council in t ...

''Following his 2017 retirement as Bishop of London,

remained as Dean while Sarah Mullally became accustomed to her various duties and responsibilities as Bishop of London; as such he assisted at the Baptism of Prince Louis on 9 July 2018'' and the traditional Epiphany service at the Chapel Royal on 6 January 2019. Chartres retired as Dean of the Chapel Royal in July 2019. *12 July 2019: Sarah Mullally,

Sources

* *

Scotland

In Scotland, the title first appears in the fifteenth century, when it may have referred to a prebend in the church of St Mary on the Rock, St Andrews. In 1501

James IV James IV (17 March 1473 – 9 September 1513) was King of Scotland from 11 June 1488 until his death at the Battle of Flodden in 1513. He inherited the throne at the age of fifteen on the death of his father, James III, at the Battle of Sauch ...

founded a new Chapel Royal in Stirling Castle, but from 1504 onwards the deanery was held by successive Bishops of Galloway with the title of Bishop of the Chapel Royal and authority over all the royal palaces within Scotland. The deanery was annexed to the bishopric of

Dunblane Dunblane (, gd, Dùn Bhlàthain) is a small town in the council area of Stirling in central Scotland, and inside the historic boundaries of the county of Perthshire. It is a commuter town, with many residents making use of good transport links ...

in 1621, and the Chapel Royal was removed to Holyrood. The office of Dean was suppressed with the abolition of prelacy in 1689, and the revenues of the Chapel Royal reverted to

the Crown The Crown is the state in all its aspects within the jurisprudence of the Commonwealth realms and their subdivisions (such as the Crown Dependencies, overseas territories, provinces, or states). Legally ill-defined, the term has different ...

. Grants from these revenues were made to individual

Church of Scotland The Church of Scotland ( sco, The Kirk o Scotland; gd, Eaglais na h-Alba) is the national church in Scotland. The Church of Scotland was principally shaped by John Knox, in the Reformation of 1560, when it split from the Catholic Church ...

ministers and from 1727 onwards part was allocated to three royal

chaplains A chaplain is, traditionally, a cleric (such as a minister, priest, pastor, rabbi, purohit, or imam), or a lay representative of a religious tradition, attached to a secular institution (such as a hospital, prison, military unit, intellige ...

, known collectively as the Deans of the Chapel Royal. Replacement of these chaplains by professors of the Divinity Faculties in the

University of Glasgow , image = UofG Coat of Arms.png , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of arms Flag , latin_name = Universitas Glasguensis , motto = la, Via, Veritas, Vita , ...

, the

University of Aberdeen , mottoeng = The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom , established = , type = Public research universityAncient university , endowment = £58.4 million (2021) , budget ...

, the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...

and the

University of St Andrews (Aien aristeuein) , motto_lang = grc , mottoeng = Ever to ExcelorEver to be the Best , established = , type = Public research university Ancient university , endowment ...

took place between 1860 and 1868. In 1886 the office of Dean was revived and united by royal warrant to that of

Dean of the Thistle The Dean of the Thistle is an office of the Order of the Thistle, re-established in 1687. The office is normally held by a minister of the Church of Scotland, and forms part of the Royal Household in Scotland. In 1886 the office of Dean of ...

, eventually being separated in 1969. Under the 1886 royal warrant, the Dean is also titular

Abbot of Crossraguel The Abbot of Crossraguel was the leader of the Cluniac monastic community of Crossraguel Abbey, near Maybole in Carrick, south-west Scotland. It was founded in 1260s by Donnchadh mac Gille Brigte, earl of Carrick with monks from Paisley Abbey. Ow ...

and

Abbot of Dundrennan The Abbot of Dundrennan was the head of the Cistercians, Cistercian monastic community of Dundrennan Abbey, Galloway. It was founded by Fergus of Galloway in 1142. Dundrennan was a large and powerful monastery in the context of the south-west. It ...

Office holders since revival

*1824-1841: William Bryce, minister of Aberdour *1887–1910: Cameron Lees, Minister of

St Giles' Cathedral St Giles' Cathedral ( gd, Cathair-eaglais Naomh Giles), or the High Kirk of Edinburgh, is a parish church of the Church of Scotland in the Old Town of Edinburgh. The current building was begun in the 14th century and extended until the early 1 ...

until 1906 and

*1910–1926: Wallace Williamson, Minister of St Giles' Cathedral and Dean of the Thistle *1926–1969:

Charles Warr Charles Laing Warr KCVO FRSE (1892–1969) was a Church of Scotland minister and author in the 20th century. Life Warr was born on 20 May 1892, the second son of the Reverend Alfred Warr, sometime minister of Rosneath in Dunbartonshire, a ...

, Dean of the Thistle and sometime Minister of St Giles' Cathedral *1969–1973: James Longmuir, sometime Minister at Chirnside *1974–1981: Hugh Douglas, Minister at Dundee until 1977 *1981–1991:

Robin Barbour Robert Alexander Stewart "Robin" Barbour (11 May 1921 – 18 October 2014) was a Church of Scotland minister and an author. Robin Barbour was born on 11 May 1921 in Edinburgh to George Freeland Barbour and Helen Hepburne-Scott. His fathe ...

New Testament The New Testament grc, Ἡ Καινὴ Διαθήκη, transl. ; la, Novum Testamentum. (NT) is the second division of the Christian biblical canon. It discusses the teachings and person of Jesus, as well as events in first-century Chri ...

professor,

*1991–1996:

William Morris William Morris (24 March 1834 – 3 October 1896) was a British textile designer, poet, artist, novelist, architectural conservationist, printer, translator and socialist activist associated with the British Arts and Crafts Movement. He ...

, Minister of

Glasgow Cathedral Glasgow Cathedral ( gd, Cathair-eaglais Ghlaschu) is a parish church of the Church of Scotland in Glasgow, Scotland. It is the oldest cathedral in mainland Scotland and the oldest building in Glasgow. The cathedral was the seat of the Archbisho ...

*1996–2006: James Harkness, Chaplain-in-Ordinary to the Queen *2006–2013: John Cairns, Minister at Riverside Parish Church,

Dumbarton Dumbarton (; also sco, Dumbairton; ) is a town in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, on the north bank of the River Clyde where the River Leven flows into the Clyde estuary. In 2006, it had an estimated population of 19,990. Dumbarton was the ca ...

*2013–2019:

Iain Torrance Iain Richard Torrance, (born 13 January 1949) is a retired Church of Scotland minister, theologian and academic. He is Pro-Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen, Honorary Professor of Early Christian Doctrine and Ethics at the University o ...

, Pro-Chancellor,

, Chaplain-in-Ordinary to the Queen and Dean of the Thistle *2019–present: David Fergusson, Professor of Divinity,

, Chaplain-in-Ordinary to the Queen and Dean of the Thistle

Ireland

The Chapel Royal (Irish: ''Séipéal Ríoga'') in Dublin Castle was the official Church of Ireland chapel of the Household of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from 1814 until the creation of the Irish Free State in 1922. From 1831, the principal chaplain to the Lord Lieutenant was usually styled Dean of the Chapel Royal.

Office holders

*1831–1843:

Charles Vignoles Charles Blacker Vignoles (31 May 1793 – 17 November 1875) was an influential British railway engineer, and eponym of the Vignoles rail. Early life He was born at Woodbrook, County Wexford, Ireland in May 1793 the son of Capt. C ...

Dean of Ossory The Dean of Ossory or Dean of Kilkenny is based at The Cathedral Church of St Canice, Kilkenny in the united Diocese of Cashel and Ossory within the Church of Ireland. The current Dean is the Very Reverend Stephen Farrell, formerly Rector of Zio ...

from 1843 *1843–1860:

Usher Tighe Hugh Usher Tighe (b Castletowndevlin 27 February 1802 – d Newtownstewart 11 August 1874) was a Dean of the Church of England. He was educated at Corpus Christi College, Oxford and ordained deacon in 1826 and priest in 1827. He began his e ...

Dean of Leighlin The Dean of Leighlin is based at the Cathedral Church of St Laserian, Old Leighlin in the united Diocese of Cashel and Ossory within the Church of Ireland. The current incumbent is Thomas W. Gordon. List of deans of Leighlin *1603/4–1614 ...

until 1854, then

Dean of Ardagh The Dean of Elphin and Ardagh is based in St John the Baptist Cathedral, Sligo in the Diocese of Elphin and Ardagh within the united bishopric of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh of the Church of Ireland. The dioceses of Elphin and Ardagh were merged ...

until 1858 (became

Dean of Derry The Dean of Derry is based at St Columb's Cathedral, Derry in the Diocese of Derry and Raphoe in the Church of Ireland. The current Dean of Derry is Raymond Stewart. He was appointed to the cathedral in December 2016 and inaugurated on 28 March ...

) *1860–1866: Charles Graves,

Dean of Clonfert The Dean of Killaloe is based at the Cathedral Church of St Flannan in Killaloe in the united diocese of Limerick, Killaloe and Ardfert within the Church of Ireland. The Dean of Killaloe is also Dean of St Brendans, Clonfert, Dean of Kilfenora, ...

from 1864 (became

Bishop of Limerick, Ardfert and Aghadoe The Bishop of Limerick, Ardfert and Aghadoe was the Ordinary of the Church of Ireland diocese of Limerick, Ardfert and Aghadoe, which was in the Province of Cashel until 1833, then afterwards in the Province of Dublin. History The title was ...

) *1866–1868:

William Connor Magee William Connor Magee (17 December 1821 – 5 May 1891) was an Irish clergyman of the Anglican church, Bishop of Peterborough 1868–1891 and Archbishop of York for a short period in 1891. Life He was born in Cork, Ireland. His father was a ...

Dean of Cork Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral ( ga, Ardeaglais Naomh Fionnbarra) is a Gothic Revival three-spire Church of Ireland cathedral in the city of Cork. It is located on the south bank of the River Lee and dedicated to Finbarr of Cork, patron saint ...

(became Bishop of Peterborough) *1868–1905: Hercules Dickinson (died 1905) *1905–1913: Reginald Godfrey Michael Webster (Acting Dean from c. 1902) *1913–1922: Charles O'Hara Mease (died 1922) Hugh Jackson Lawlor, ‘The Chapel of Dublin Castle, with Note on the Plate of the Chapel Royal’, Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 13, no. 1 (1923), 34–73 (68–71).

England

Office holders

Sources

Scotland

Office holders since revival

Ireland

Office holders

References

See also