The Dean of Rochester is the head of the chapter of canons at

Rochester Cathedral Rochester Cathedral, formally the Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary, is an English church of Norman architecture in Rochester, Kent. The church is the cathedral of the Diocese of Rochester in the Church of England and the s ...

, the mother church of 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 Rochester The Diocese of Rochester is a Church of England diocese in the English county of Kent and the Province of Canterbury. The cathedral church of the diocese is Rochester Cathedral in the former city of Rochester. The bishop's Latin episcopal signat ...

. The current dean is

Philip Hesketh Philip John Hesketh (born 15 November 1964) is a British Anglican priest. Since June 2016, he has served as the Dean of Rochester, the head of the chapter of Rochester Cathedral and the most senior priest in the Diocese of Rochester. Early lif ...

, who has served in that role since June 2016.

List of deans

Early modern

*1541–1570 Walter Phillips *1570–1572 Edmund Freke *1572–1581 Thomas Willoughby *1581–1591 John Coldwell *1592–1611 Thomas Blague *1611–1615

Richard Milbourne Richard Milbourne (died 1624) was an English bishop. Life He was born in London, and educated at Winchester School and Queens' College, Cambridge, where he matriculated in 1579, and graduated B.A. in 1582. He was Fellow of Queens' from 1582 to ...

*1615–1620 Robert Scott ''(elder)'' *1621–1624

Godfrey Goodman Godfrey Goodman, also called Hugh; (28 February 1582 or 158319 January 1656) was the Anglican Bishop of Gloucester, and a member of the Protestant Church. He was the son of Godfrey Goodman (senior) and Jane Croxton, landed gentry living in Wales ...

*1625–1639

Walter Balcanquhall Walter Balcanquhall (1586? – 1645) was a Scottish clergyman who became a staunch royalist and supporter of the church policy of Charles I of England. He was chosen by James I as a delegate from the Church of Scotland to the Synod of Dort. ...

*1639–1642 Henry King *1642–1644 Thomas Turner *1644–1660 ''Vacancy (

Commonwealth A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has been synonymous with "republic". The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the ...

)'' *1660

Benjamin Lany Benjamin Lany (or Laney; 1 January 1591 – 24 January 1675) was an English academic and bishop. Early life The son of John Laney, Benjamin Lany was born in Ipswich. He entered Christ's College, Cambridge in 1608, graduating B.A. 1612, M.A ...

*1661–1670

Nathaniel Hardy Nathaniel Hardy (1618–1670) was an English churchman, Dean of Rochester from 1660. Life He was son of Anthony Hardy of London, born in the Old Bailey, 14 September 1618, and was baptised in the church of St. Martin's, Ludgate. After being ed ...

*1670–1673

Peter Mews Peter Mews (25 March 1619 – 9 November 1706) was an English Royalist theologian and bishop. He was a captain captured at Naseby and he later had discussions in Scotland for the Royalist cause. Later made a Bishop he would report on non-confor ...

*1673–1688

Thomas Lamplugh Thomas Lamplugh (1615 – 5 May 1691) was an English churchman who became Archbishop of York. Life He was the son of Christopher Lamplugh of Thwing, East Riding of Yorkshire, Yorkshire and his wife Anne, daughter and coheir of Thomas Roper of ...

*1676–1688

John Castilion 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 ...

*1688 ''

Simon Lowth Simon Lowth (1636–1720) was an English nonjuring schism, nonjuring clergyman, nominated by James II as Dean of Rochester, and later a controversialist on the position of bishops. Life He studied at Clare College, Cambridge, Clare Hall, Cambridge ...

(nominated)'' *1689–1706

Henry Ullock Henry may refer to: People * Henry (given name) * Henry (surname) * Henry Lau, Canadian singer and musician who performs under the mononym Henry Royalty * Portuguese royalty ** King-Cardinal Henry, King of Portugal ** Henry, Count of Portuga ...

*1706–1723 Samuel Pratt *1724–1732

Nicholas Clagett Nicholas Clagett (14 April 1686 – 8 December 1746) was an English bishop. Life Claggett was from a clerical family of Bury St Edmunds. He went up to Trinity College, Cambridge aged 16 in April 1702, graduating B.A. in 1705–6, M.A. in 1 ...

*1732–1743

Thomas Herring Thomas Herring (169323 March 1757) was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1747 to 1757. Early life and education He was the son of John Herring, rector of Walsoken in Norfolk, who had previously been vicar of Foxton, near Cambridge, and his wife, ...

*1743–1744 William Barnard *1744–1765

John Newcombe John David Newcombe AO OBE (born 23 May 1944) is an Australian former professional tennis player. He is one of the few men to have attained a world No. 1 ranking in both singles and doubles. At the majors, he won seven singles titles, a fo ...

*1765–1767 William Markham *1767–1775

Benjamin Newcombe Benjamin Newcombe was an Anglican priest in the late 18th century. Newcom(b)e was educated at Queens' College, Cambridge. He held livings at Tolleshunt Knights, Siddington, Lamberhurst, Putney and St Mildred, Poultry with St Mary Colechurch ( ...

*1775–1779 Thomas Thurlow *1779–1782 Richard Cust *1782–1802

Thomas Dampier Thomas Dampier (1748 – 13 May 1812) served as Bishop of Rochester and Bishop of Ely. Life He was eldest son of Dr Thomas Dampier, who was lower master at Eton College and from 1774 Dean of Durham. He was educated at Eton College, and in 17 ...

Late modern

*1802–1808

Samuel Goodenough Samuel Goodenough ( – 12 August 1827) was the Bishop of Carlisle from 1808 until his death in 1827, and an amateur botanist and collector. He is honoured in the scientific names of the plant genus ''Goodenia'' and the red-capped robin (''Petro ...

*1808–1820 William Busby *1820–1870 Robert Stevens *1870–1870

Thomas Dale Sir Thomas Dale ( 1570 − 19 August 1619) was an English naval commander and deputy-governor of the Virginia Colony in 1611 and from 1614 to 1616. Governor Dale is best remembered for the energy and the extreme rigour of his administration in ...

*1870–1887 Robert Scott ''(younger)'' *1887–1904

Samuel Hole Samuel Reynolds Hole (5 December 1819 – 27 August 1904) was an English Anglican priest, author and horticulturalist in the late 19th century and the early part of the 20th. Life Hole was born at Ardwick near Manchester the only son of Samue ...

*1904–1913

Ernald Lane Ernald Lane (born 3 March 1836) was an Anglican priest in the late 19th century and the early part of the 20th. He was born the son of John Newton Lane of King's Bromley, Staffordshire and educated at Balliol College, Oxford. Through his father, h ...

*1913–1928 John Storrs *1928–1932

Reginald Talbot Major General Sir Reginald Arthur James Talbot, (11 July 1841 – 15 January 1929) was a British Army officer, Member of Parliament, and Governor of Victoria in Australia. Early life Talbot was born in London, the third son of Henry, Viscount ...

*1932–1937 Francis Underhill *1937–1943

Ernest Blackie Ernest Morell Blackie (19 August 18675 March 1943) was a British Anglican bishop in the 20th century. Early life and ministry Blackie was born in Leamington Spa and educated at Cheltenham Grammar School and the University of London. Ordained p ...

*1943–1958

Thomas Crick Thomas Crick, (17 March 1885 – 13 November 1970) was an Anglican priest in the middle part of the 20th century. Life Crick was born in 1885 and educated at St Edmund's School, Canterbury and Brasenose College, Oxford. Ordained in 1909 ...

*1959–1966 Robert Stannard *1966–1977 Stanley Betts *1978–1989 John Arnold *1989–2003

Edward Shotter Edward Frank Shotter (29 June 1933 – 3 July 2019) was an Anglican priest. Shotter was educated at Humberstone Foundation School and Durham University and ordained in 1961. He began his ordained ministry as a curate at St Peter's Plymouth, a ...

*2003–2005 ''

Jonathan Meyrick Cyril Jonathan Meyrick (born 23 April 1952) is a British Anglican retired bishop. He is a former Bishop of Lynn and Dean of Exeter. Early life and education Meyrick was born on 23 April 1952. He was educated at Lancing College and St John's C ...

(Acting)'' *2005–2011 Adrian Newman *2011–2012 ''Philip Hesketh (Acting)'' *2012–25 January 2015 (res.): Mark Beach *25 January 2015 – 16 June 2016: ''Philip Hesketh (Acting)'' *16 June 2016–present:

Rochester Cathedral — Installation of new Dean
(Accessed 30 June 2016)

Sources

British History Online – Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1541–1857 – Deans of RochesterThe Archives of the Dean and Chapter of Rochester, 1541-1907

References

{{Deans of Rochester Diocese of Rochester

Deans 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 ...

Kent-related lists

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 ...