The Dean of Wells is the head of the Chapter of

Wells Cathedral Wells Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in Wells, Somerset, England, dedicated to St Andrew the Apostle. It is the seat of the Bishop of Bath and Wells, whose cathedra it holds as mother church of the Diocese of Bath and Wells. Built as a ...

in the

Mendip Mendip may refer to: *Mendip District, a local government district of Somerset, England * Mendip Hills, a group of hills in Somerset, England ** Mendip Way, a footpath across the Mendip Hills **Mendip TV Mast, a transmitter in the Mendips area *For ...

district of

Somerset ( en, All The People of Somerset) , locator_map = , coordinates = , region = South West England , established_date = Ancient , established_by = , preceded_by = , origin = , lord_lieutenant_office =Lord Lieutenant of Somerset , lord_ ...

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

. The

dean Dean may refer to: People * Dean (given name) * Dean (surname), a surname of Anglo-Saxon English origin * Dean (South Korean singer), a stage name for singer Kwon Hyuk * Dean Delannoit, a Belgian singer most known by the mononym Dean Titles * ...

's residence is The Dean's Lodging, 25 The Liberty, Wells.

List of deans

High Medieval

*1140–1164:

Ivo Ivo is a masculine given name, in use in various European languages. The name used in western European languages originates as a Normannic name recorded since the High Middle Ages, and the French name Yves is a variant of it. The unrelated So ...

*1164–1189: Richard of Spaxton *1190–1213:

Alexander 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 ...

*1213–1216: Leonius *1216–1219: Ralph of Lechlade *1219–1236: Peter of Chichester *1236–1241: William of Merton *1241–1253: John Saracenus *1254–1256:

Giles of Bridport Giles of Bridport was a medieval Bishop of Salisbury. Giles was archdeacon of Berkshire in the diocese of Salisbury as well as Dean of Wells

*1256–1284: Edward of Cnoll *1284–1292: Thomas Bytton *1292–1295: William Burnell *1295–1302:

Walter Haselshaw Walter Haselshaw was a medieval English 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 great ...

Late Medieval

*1302–1305:

Henry Husee Henry Husee was the Dean Dean may refer to: People * Dean (given name) * Dean (surname), a surname of Anglo-Saxon English origin * Dean (South Korean singer), a stage name for singer Kwon Hyuk * Dean Delannoit, a Belgian singer most known by t ...

*1305–1333:

John Godelee John Godelee was the Dean Dean may refer to: People * Dean (given name) * Dean (surname), a surname of Anglo-Saxon English origin * Dean (South Korean singer), a stage name for singer Kwon Hyuk * Dean Delannoit, a Belgian singer most known by ...

*1333–1333:

Richard of Bury Richard de Bury (24 January 1287 – 14 April 1345), also known as Richard Aungerville or Aungervyle, was an English priest, teacher, bishop, writer, and bibliophile. He was a patron of learning and one of the first English collectors of books. ...

*1334–1335:

Wibert of Littleton Wibert of Littleton was the Dean Dean may refer to: People * Dean (given name) * Dean (surname), a surname of Anglo-Saxon English origin * Dean (South Korean singer), a stage name for singer Kwon Hyuk * Dean Delannoit, a Belgian singer most kn ...

*1335–1349:

Walter of London Walter of London was the Dean Dean may refer to: People * Dean (given name) * Dean (surname), a surname of Anglo-Saxon English origin * Dean (South Korean singer), a stage name for singer Kwon Hyuk * Dean Delannoit, a Belgian singer most known ...

*1349–1350:

Thomas Fastolf Thomas Fastolf, sometimes spelt Fastolfe (died June 1361), was an English canon lawyer and Bishop of St David's from 1352 until his death. Probably educated at Cambridge and then overseas, he held the degree of Doctor of Laws and his first care ...

*1350–1361:

John of Carleton John of Carleton was the Dean Dean may refer to: People * Dean (given name) * Dean (surname), a surname of Anglo-Saxon English origin * Dean (South Korean singer), a stage name for singer Kwon Hyuk * Dean Delannoit, a Belgian singer most known ...

*1361–1379:

Stephen Penpel Stephen Penpel was the Dean Dean may refer to: People * Dean (given name) * Dean (surname), a surname of Anglo-Saxon English origin * Dean (South Korean singer), a stage name for singer Kwon Hyuk * Dean Delannoit, a Belgian singer most known b ...

*1379–1381:

John Fordham John Fordham (died 1425) was Bishop of Durham and Bishop of Ely. Fordham was keeper of the privy seal of Prince Richard from 1376 to 1377 and Dean of Wells before being named Lord Privy Seal in June 1377. He held that office until December 1381 ...

*1381–1396: Thomas Thebaud ( of Sudbury) *1397–1398:

Henry Beaufort Cardinal Henry Beaufort (c. 1375 – 11 April 1447), Bishop of Winchester, was an English prelate and statesman who held the offices of Bishop of Lincoln (1398) then Bishop of Winchester (1404) and was from 1426 a Cardinal of the Church of Ro ...

*1398–1401:

Nicholas Slake Nicholas Slake was the Dean of Wells during 1398. Career He was appointed: *Prebendary of Erdington in Bridgnorth 1394 *Prebendary of Shirecote in Tamworth *Prebendary of Wenlocksbarn in St Paul's Cathedral 1394 - 1395 *Prebendary of Brightli ...

*1401–1410: Thomas Tuttebury *1410–1413: Richard Courtenay *1413–1413: Thomas Karneka *1413–1423: Walter Medeford *1423–1424: John Stafford *1425–1446:

John Forest John Forest (1471 – 22 May 1538) was an English Franciscan friar and martyr. Confessor to Queen Catherine of Aragon, Forest was burned to death at Smithfield for heresy, in that he refused to acknowledge the King as head of the church. Life ...

*1446–1467: Nicholas Carent *1467–1472:

William Witham William Witham (or Wytham) was incumbent at St Marylebone until 12 November 1454, when he exchanged the office for that of Archdeacon of Stow. He was then Archdeacon of Leicester (from 1458), Dean of Arches (from ) and Dean of Wells The Dean of ...

*1472–1498:

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 ...

Early modern

*1498–1525:

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. ...

*1525–1529:

Thomas Wynter Thomas Wynter or Winter (c. 1510 – c. 1546) was the Archdeacon of York, Richmond, Cornwall, Provost of Beverley, Dean of Wells Cathedral and the illegitimate son of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey. Biography Thomas Wynter's exact date of birth is ...

(also

Archdeacon of York The Archdeacon of York (or of the West Riding) is a senior clergy position in an archdeaconry subdivision of the Church of England Diocese of York in the Province of York. It is named for the City of York and consists of the seven rural deanerie ...

, Archdeacon of Richmond (1526–1529),

Archdeacon of Suffolk The Archdeacon of Suffolk is a senior cleric in the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich. The archdeacon is responsible for the disciplinary supervision of the clergy in the territory of the archdeaconry. History Originally in the Dioceses of No ...

(1526–1529) and

Archdeacon of Norfolk The Archdeacon of Norfolk is a senior ecclesiastical officer in the Church of England Diocese of Norwich, who exercises supervision of clergy and responsibility for church buildings within the geographical area of their archdeaconry. The current a ...

(from 1529)) *1529–1537: Richard Woleman *1537–1540:

Thomas Cromwell Thomas Cromwell (; 1485 – 28 July 1540), briefly Earl of Essex, was an English lawyer and statesman who served as chief minister to King Henry VIII from 1534 to 1540, when he was beheaded on orders of the king, who later blamed false charge ...

*1540–1547: William Fitzwilliam (''or''

Fitzjames The House of FitzJames Stuart, or simply FitzJames, is a noble house founded by James FitzJames, 1st Duke of Berwick. He was the illegitimate son of James II & VII, King of England, Scotland and Ireland, a monarch of the House of Stuart.Ruvigny, ...

) *1548–1550:

John Goodman John Stephen Goodman (born June 20, 1952) is an American actor. He gained national fame for his role as the family patriarch Dan Conner in the ABC comedy series '' Roseanne'' (1988–1997; 2018), for which he received a Golden Globe Award, an ...

''(deprived)'' *1551–1554: William Turner ''(deprived)'' *1554–1561: John Goodman ''(reinstated)'' *1561–1568: William Turner ''(restored)'' *1570–1573: Robert Weston *1574–1589:

Valentine Dale Valentine Dale (died 1589) was an English jurist and diplomat. He served as Judge of the High Court of Admiralty from 1584 to 1589. Life He supplicated the university of Oxford in 1541 for the degree of B.A., but does not appear to have been ...

*1590–1602: John Herbert *1602–1607: Benjamin Heydon *1607–1621: Richard Meredith *1621–1631:

Ralph Barlow Ralph Barlow (1876 – 1897) was an English Association football, footballer who played for Port Vale F.C., Burslem Port Vale in the mid-1890s. Career Barlow joined Port Vale F.C., Burslem Port Vale in January 1895, making his debut in a 2– ...

*1631–1641: George Warburton *1642–1644:

Walter Ralegh Sir Walter Raleigh (; – 29 October 1618) was an English statesman, soldier, writer and explorer. One of the most notable figures of the Elizabethan era, he played a leading part in English colonisation of North America, suppressed rebellion ...

*1660–1670:

Robert Creighton Robert Creighton or Crichton (1593–1672) was a Scottish royalist churchman who became Bishop of Bath and Wells. Life He was son of Thomas Creighton and Margaret Stuart, who claimed kinship with the ancient Lords of Ruthven, and was born at Du ...

*1670–1704:

Ralph Bathurst Ralph Bathurst, FRS (1620 – 14 June 1704) was an English theologian and physician. Early life He was born in Hothorpe, Northamptonshire in 1620 and educated at King Henry VIII School, Coventry. He graduated with a B.A. degree from Trinity C ...

*1704–1713: William Grahme (''or''

Graham Graham and Graeme may refer to: People * Graham (given name), an English-language given name * Graham (surname), an English-language surname * Graeme (surname), an English-language surname * Graham (musician) (born 1979), Burmese singer * Clan ...

) *1713–1733: Matthew Brailsford *1733–1736:

Isaac Maddox Isaac Maddox (27 July 1697 – 27 September 1759) was an Anglican clergyman, successively bishop of St Asaph and of Worcester. Life Isaac was the son of a Dissenter, Edward Maddox, stationer of London. He was orphaned at an early age, and b ...

*1736–1738: John Harris *1739–1766:

Samuel Creswicke Samuel Creswicke was an Anglican priest. He was the 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 ...

*1766–1799:

Lord Francis Seymour Lord Francis Seymour (1725 - 16 Feb 1799) was a clergyman of the Church of England and a younger son of Edward Seymour, 8th Duke of Somerset. He was Dean of Wells from 1766 until his death. Biography Seymour was the fifth child and fourth son of E ...

Late modern

*1799–1812:

George Lukin George William Lukin was the Dean of Wells between 1799 and his death on 27 November 1812. He was born in Braintree, Essex on 26 September 1739 and educated at Eton and Christ's College, Cambridge. He was Prebendary of Westminster Westmin ...

*1812–1831: Hon

Henry Ryder Henry Dudley Ryder (21 July 1777 – 31 March 1836) was a prominent English evangelical Anglican bishop in the early years of the nineteenth century. He was the first evangelical to be raised to the Anglican episcopate. Life Ryder was the ...

*1831–1845:

Edmund Goodenough Edmund Goodenough (1786–1845) was an English churchman, dean of Wells from 1831. Life Goodenough was the youngest son of Samuel Goodenough, bishop of Carlisle, by his wife, Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Dr. James Ford, physician extraordinary ...

*1845–1854:

Richard Jenkyns Richard Jenkyns (1782 – 16 March 1854) was a British academic administrator at the University of Oxford and Dean at Wells Cathedral. Life Jenkyns was born at Evercreech in Somerset, where he was baptised on 21 December 1782. He was the eldest ...

*1854–1881: George Johnson *1881–1891:

Edward Plumptre Edward Hayes Plumptre (6 August 1821 – 1 February 1891) was an English divine and scholar born in London. Life He was born on 6 August 1821, being the son of Edward Hallows Plumptre, a London solicitor. Charles John Plumptre was his brother. ...

*1891–1911:

Thomas Jex-Blake Thomas William Jex-Blake (1832–1915) was an Anglican priest and educationalist. He was born on 26 January 1832, the son of lawyer Thomas Jex-Blake and the brother of Sophia Jex-Blake, who was a pioneer in women doctors in the United Kingdom. He ...

*1911–1933:

Armitage Robinson Joseph Armitage Robinson (9 January 1858 – 7 May 1933) was a priest in the Church of England and scholar. He was successively Dean of Westminster (1902–1911) and of Wells (1911–1933). Biography Robinson was born the son of a poor vicar ...

*1933–1950:

Richard Malden Richard Henry Malden, BD, (19 October 1879 – August 1951), Dean of Wells, was a prominent Anglican churchman, editor, classical and Biblical scholar, and a writer of ghost stories. Career Educated at Eton College and King's College, Cambridge ...

*1951–1958:

Frederic Harton Frederic Percy Harton (10 June 18893 November 1958) was an Anglican priest and author during the twentieth century. He was the husband of writer Sibyl Harton. He trained for the priesthood at King's College, London (spending time at Bishop's Co ...

*1958–1962: Christopher Woodforde *1962–1973: Irven Edwards *1973–1989: Patrick Mitchell *1990–2003:

Richard Lewis Richard, Rich, Richie, Rick, Ricky or Dick Lewis may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Richard Field Lewis Jr. (1907–1957), American radio network owner * Dick "Rocko" Lewis (Richard Henry Lewis III, 1908–1966), American entertainer * Rich ...

*2004–31 December 2015 (ret.): John Clarke *31 December 2015 – 20 November 2016: Andrew Featherstone (Acting) *20 November 2016 – present: John Davies

List of deans

High Medieval

Late Medieval

Early modern

Late modern

References

Further reading