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, Medway, Rochester, Kent. The church is the cathedral of the Diocese of Rochester in the Church o ...

, 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 Brit ...

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 signa ...

. The current dean is Philip Hesketh, who has served in that role since June 2016.

List of deans

Early modern

*1541–1570 Walter Phillips *1570–1572

Edmund Freke Edmund Freke (also spelled Freake or Freak; c. 1516–1591) was an English dean and bishop. Life He was born in Essex, and educated at Cambridge, gaining his M.A. there c. 1550. In 1565 he was appointed Canon of the sixth stall at St George's ...

*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 15 ...

*1615–1620 Robert Scott ''(elder)'' *1621–1624 Godfrey Goodman *1625–1639 Walter Balcanquhall *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 *1670–1673 Peter Mews *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 E ...

*1688 '' Simon Lowth (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 Portugal, ...

*1706–1723

Samuel Pratt Samuel Pratt (October 6, 1807March 24, 1877) was an American farmer, Republican politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. He was an early settler at Spring Prairie, Wisconsin, and represented his region in the Wisconsin State Assembly and State Senat ...

*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 17 ...

*1732–1743 Thomas Herring *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 *1775–1779 Thomas Thurlow *1779–1782 Richard Cust *1782–1802 Thomas Dampier

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 (''Petroi ...

*1808–1820 William Busby *1820–1870 Robert Stevens *1870–1870 Thomas Dale *1870–1887 Robert Scott ''(younger)'' *1887–1904 Samuel Hole *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 *1932–1937

Francis Underhill Francis Underhill (16 May 187824 January 1943) was an Anglican bishop in the first half of the 20th century. Underhill was educated at Shrewsbury School and Exeter College, Oxford. He was ordained in 1901 and was a curate at St Paul's Swin ...

*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 pri ...

*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 he ...

*1959–1966 Robert Stannard *1966–1977

Stanley Betts Stanley Woodley Betts CBE (23 March 1912 – 7 June 2003) was an Anglican bishop in the 20th century. Life Betts was educated at Perse School and Jesus College, Cambridge. He was ordained in 1936 and was successively a wartime chaplain with t ...

*1978–1989 John Arnold *1989–2003 Edward Shotter *2003–2005 '' Jonathan Meyrick (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: Philip HeskethRochester 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 Kent-related lists Dean of Rochester