The Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral is the senior cleric of the Protestant
St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, elected by the chapter of the cathedral. The office was created in 1219 or 1220, by one of several charters granted to the cathedral by Archbishop
Henry de Loundres between 1218 and 1220.
For centuries, the Dean of St. Patrick's was the only dean in Dublin and documents of those years often refer to him as the "Dean of Dublin" – but from around 1539 there was also the office of "
Dean of Christ Church Cathedral", which had been a priory, headed by a prior and canons.
Election
The right to elect the Dean of St. Patrick's is vested exclusively in the chapter of the cathedral (though before 1870 there could be an exception where a vacancy occurred due to promotion of the dean to the office of a bishop) and has been defended against monarchs and even the
Pope
The pope ( la, papa, from el, πάππας, translit=pappas, 'father'), also known as supreme pontiff ( or ), Roman pontiff () or sovereign pontiff, is the bishop of Rome (or historically the patriarch of Rome), head of the worldwide Cathol ...
.
Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift (30 November 1667 – 19 October 1745) was an Anglo-Irish satirist, author, essayist, political pamphleteer (first for the Whigs, then for the Tories), poet, and Anglican cleric who became Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dubl ...
, perhaps the most famous dean, was appointed against the strong opposition of
Queen Anne, who disliked him. The
Archbishop of Dublin has one of the 28 seats (the dean plus 3 other dignities and 24 canons), used only at the time of election, but no other special authority.
Holders of the office of dean
The following have served as deans (where they are known to have previously held office at the cathedral, this is noted):
Pre-Reformation
* 1219-c.1238 –
William FitzGuido, first dean, appointed by Archbishop
Henry de Loundres
* c.1238-c.1250 –
Richard Gardiner
* c.1250–1275 –
Richard de St. Martin, a sitting prebendary
* 1275–1284 –
John de Sandford,
Franciscan,
Prebendary
A prebendary is a member of the Roman Catholic or Anglican clergy, a form of canon with a role in the administration of a cathedral or collegiate church. When attending services, prebendaries sit in particular seats, usually at the back of th ...
of
Howth; later
Archbishop of Dublin (his brother
Fulk Basset had earlier held that office)
* 1284–1311 –
Thomas de Chaddesworth or Chadsworth, previously Chancellor of the Cathedral, unsuccessfully attempted twice to become
Archbishop of Dublin, but was forced to stand down both times. Later appointed
Vicar-General
A vicar general (previously, archdeacon) is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority and possesses the title of local ordinary. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ...
to the Archbishop.
* 1311-c.1338 –
William de Rodyard, Treasurer; later, first Chancellor of the
first University of Dublin and
Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas
* 1348–1353 –
Adam de Kingston
* 1353–1374 –
William de Bromley, Prebendary of
Lusk; also
Chancellor of the Exchequer of Ireland,
Treasurer of Ireland and Keeper of the
Great Seal of Ireland
* 1374–1382 –
John Colton (also
Lord Chancellor of Ireland, 1379–1382 and afterwards
Archbishop of Armagh in 1382)
* 1382–1391 –
Henry Bowet
Henry Bowet (died 20 October 1423) was both Bishop of Bath and Wells and Archbishop of York.
Life
Bowet was a royal clerk to King Richard II of England, and at one point carried letters of recommendation to Pope Urban VI from the king.Chaplais ...
t, papal chaplain; became
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 ...
in 1401 and was
Archbishop of York
The archbishop of York is a senior bishop in the Church of England, second only to the archbishop of Canterbury. The archbishop is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and the metropolitan bishop of the province of York, which covers th ...
from 1407-1423
* 1396–1401 –
Thomas de Everdon, a sitting prebendary;
Master of the Rolls in Ireland
The Master of the Rolls in Ireland was a senior judicial office in the Irish Chancery under English and British rule, and was equivalent to the Master of the Rolls in the English Chancery. Originally called the Keeper of the Rolls, he was respons ...
.
"In this period, the Pope attempted to assume the power to appoint the Dean, nominating one Landulph, Cardinal of St. Nicholas. The King of England resisted this, and it was eventually conceded that the Chapter alone could choose the Dean – but see the 1401 appointment."
* 1401-?1428 –
John Prene, appointed by Pope
Boniface IX
Pope Boniface IX ( la, Bonifatius IX; it, Bonifacio IX; c. 1350 – 1 October 1404, born Pietro Tomacelli) was head of the Catholic Church from 2 November 1389 to his death in October 1404. He was the second Roman pope of the Western Schism.Richa ...
in breach of the Chapter's right of election but confirmed by the King in London after the dispute on rights was settled. (afterwards
Archbishop of Armagh in 1439)
* ?1428–1457 –
Nicholas Hill,
Archdeacon of Dublin
The Archdeacon of Dublin is a senior ecclesiastical officer within the Anglican Diocese of Dublin and Glendalough. The Archdeacon is responsible for the disciplinary supervision of the clergy within the Dublin part of the diocese, which is by far ...
* 1457–1466 –
Philip Norris,
Prebendary
A prebendary is a member of the Roman Catholic or Anglican clergy, a form of canon with a role in the administration of a cathedral or collegiate church. When attending services, prebendaries sit in particular seats, usually at the back of th ...
of Yagoe;
excommunicated
Excommunication is an institutional act of religious censure used to end or at least regulate the communion of a member of a congregation with other members of the religious institution who are in normal communion with each other. The purpose ...
by the Pope for attacks on
mendicant friars, but succeeded in getting the sentence reversed
* 1466–1506 –
John Alleyne,
Precentor
A precentor is a person who helps facilitate worship. The details vary depending on the religion, denomination, and era in question. The Latin derivation is ''præcentor'', from cantor, meaning "the one who sings before" (or alternatively, "first ...
* 1506–1522 –
Thomas Rochfort, Precentor (and
Master of the Rolls in Ireland
The Master of the Rolls in Ireland was a senior judicial office in the Irish Chancery under English and British rule, and was equivalent to the Master of the Rolls in the English Chancery. Originally called the Keeper of the Rolls, he was respons ...
)
* 1522–1527 –
John Rycardes (also
Master of the Rolls in Ireland
The Master of the Rolls in Ireland was a senior judicial office in the Irish Chancery under English and British rule, and was equivalent to the Master of the Rolls in the English Chancery. Originally called the Keeper of the Rolls, he was respons ...
)
* 1527–1528 –
Robert Sutton Robert Sutton may refer to:
Politicians
*Robert Sutton (died 1414), MP for Lincoln
*Robert Sutton (MP for Derby), see Derby
*Robert Dudley alias Sutton (died 1539), MP
*Robert Sutton, 1st Baron Lexinton (1594–1668), Member of Parliament for Nott ...
, Archdeacon of Dublin
* 1528–1529 –
Thomas Darcy, Prebendary of Howth (and
Master of the Rolls in Ireland
The Master of the Rolls in Ireland was a senior judicial office in the Irish Chancery under English and British rule, and was equivalent to the Master of the Rolls in the English Chancery. Originally called the Keeper of the Rolls, he was respons ...
)
* 1529–1537 –
Geoffrey Fyche, Treasurer
Post-Reformation to Disestablishment
''The Reformation took effect in Ireland following a hiatus in the office of Archbishop of Dublin after the death of Archbishop Alen in 1534, and the election of
George Browne to that office by the Chapters of both Cathedrals under pressure from King Henry VIII.''
* 1537–1547 –
Edward Bassenet, a sitting prebendary, for whose election pressure was exerted by the State, Archbishop George Browne writing to the King that the Chapter had elected him "only in respect of your Grace's desire"
''From 1547 to 1555, St. Patrick's was suppressed as a Foundation, reduced to the status of a parish church, without its Chapter or Dean – the Dean and other senior officials being pensioned off by the King. It was restored in 1555.''
* 1555–1560 –
Thomas Leverous, appointed by Queen Mary, formerly tutor to the powerful FitzGerald family; became
Bishop of Kildare
The Bishop of Kildare was an episcopal title which took its name after the town of Kildare in County Kildare, Ireland. The title is no longer in use by any of the main Christian churches having been united with other bishoprics. In the Roman Cath ...
, and was one of the two Irish Bishops to refuse to take the Oath of Supremacy, after which he was deprived of both offices and ran a school in Adare
* 1560–1565 –
Alexander Craike, Prebendary of Clonmethan; (also
Bishop of Kildare
The Bishop of Kildare was an episcopal title which took its name after the town of Kildare in County Kildare, Ireland. The title is no longer in use by any of the main Christian churches having been united with other bishoprics. In the Roman Cath ...
)
* 1565–1567 –
Adam Loftus, also
Archbishop of Armagh, then resigned to become
Archbishop of Dublin; later first
Provost of Trinity College, Dublin; died 1605
* 1567–1573 –
Robert Weston (a layman, also
Lord Chancellor of Ireland 1567–1573 and
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 ...
1570–1573)
* 1573–1581 – Sir
William Gerard, a layman who was also
Lord Chancellor of Ireland 1576–1581 (a contemporary wrote that he "confessed how greatly he had been tormented in conscience with keeping the deanery", but never relinquished it.)
* 1581–1585 –
Thomas Jones, Chancellor; afterwards
Bishop of Meath 1584 and then
Archbishop of Dublin
* 1585–1597 –
Richard Meredyth, (appointed
Bishop of Leighlin
The Lord Bishop of Leighlin was a separate episcopal title which took its name after the small town of Old Leighlin in County Carlow, Ireland.
The title is now united with other bishoprics. In the Church of Ireland, it is held by the Lord Bis ...
1589, with deanery ''in commendam'')
* 1597–1608 –
John Ryder, who became
Bishop of Killaloe
The Bishop of Killaloe ( ) is an episcopal title which takes its name after the town of Killaloe in County Clare, Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with other bish ...
* 1608–1625 –
Thomas Moigne, Prebendary of Monmohenock; (appointed
Bishop of Kilmore and Ardagh
The Bishop of Kilmore and Ardagh was the Ordinary of the Church of Ireland diocese of Kilmore and Ardagh in the Province of Armagh. The Diocese of Kilmore composed most of County Cavan and parts of counties Leitrim, Fermanagh, Meath and Sli ...
1620, with deanery ''in commendam'')
* 1625–1649 –
Benjamin Culme (d.1657), of
Molland
Molland is a small village, civil parish, dual ecclesiastical parish with Knowstone, located in the foothills of Exmoor in Devon, England. It lies within the North Devon local government district. At the time of the 2001 Census, the village ...
-Champson and
Canonsleigh, Devon, Prebendary of Mulhuddart
''1649–1660 – office vacant during period of Parliamentary governance; a Robert Chambers was appointed "Reader at St. Patrick's" following Dean Culme's retirement''
* 1660–1666 –
William Fuller, who became
Bishop of Limerick
The Bishop of Limerick is an episcopal title which takes its name after the city of Limerick in the Province of Munster, Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it still continues as a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been un ...
1663 and later of
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 ...
, and who composed an anthem for the Restoration in Ireland, celebrated on 27 January 1660 with the consecration at the cathedral of twelve bishops
* 1666–1675 –
Thomas Seele
Thomas Seele (c. 1611-1675) was an Irish Anglican, dean of St Patrick's Cathedral, and Provost of Trinity College Dublin
, name_Latin = Collegium Sanctae et Individuae Trinitatis Reginae Elizabethae juxta Dublin
, motto ...
, Chancellor; Fellow, and later
Provost of Trinity College, Dublin
* 1675–1678 –
Benjamin Parry
Benjamin Parry (February 1634 – 4 October 1678) was Church of Ireland Bishop of Ossory from 27 January 1678 until his death later the same year.
Life
Parry was born in February 1634 in Dublin and baptised on 12 March, the son of Edward Par ...
, Prebendary of Castleknock (became
Bishop of Ossory 1677 with deanery ''in commendam'')
* 1678–1689 –
John Worth, Chancellor, previously
Dean of Kildare
The Dean of Kildare is based at The Cathedral Church of St Brigid, Kildare in the united Diocese of Meath and Kildare within the Church of Ireland.
The current Dean is the Very Reverend Tim Wright.
List of deans of Kildare
*1272 - after 1279 St ...
* 1689–1691 –
William King, Chancellor, became
Bishop of Derry
The Bishop of Derry is an episcopal title which takes its name after the monastic settlement originally founded at Daire Calgach and later known as Daire Colm Cille, Anglicised as Derry. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains a separate title, b ...
1691, later
Archbishop of Dublin, Lord Justice; (1650-1729)
* 1691–1694 –
Michael Jephson, previously Chancellor of Christ Church Cathedral
* 1694–1696 –
Thomas Lindsay, became
Bishop of Killaloe
The Bishop of Killaloe ( ) is an episcopal title which takes its name after the town of Killaloe in County Clare, Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with other bish ...
,
Bishop of Raphoe
The Bishop of Raphoe ( ) is an episcopal title which takes its name after the town of Raphoe in County Donegal, Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with another bis ...
, and then
Archbishop of Armagh
* 1696-1699-
Edward Smyth, Fellow of Trinity College Dublin and Chaplain to King William III; became Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dublin and later
Bishop of Down and Connor
* 1699–1705 –
Jerome Ryves, previously Chancellor of Christ Church Cathedral
* 1705–1713 –
John Sterne, Chancellor, rebuilt Dean's house in 1713; became
Bishop of Dromore, and later of
Clogher, and appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dublin in 1721
* 1713–1745 –
Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift (30 November 1667 – 19 October 1745) was an Anglo-Irish satirist, author, essayist, political pamphleteer (first for the Whigs, then for the Tories), poet, and Anglican cleric who became Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dubl ...
, Prebendary of Dunlavin; the famous writer
* 1745–1746 –
Gabriel James Maturin, Prebendary of Mulhuddart; previously
Dean of Kildare
The Dean of Kildare is based at The Cathedral Church of St Brigid, Kildare in the united Diocese of Meath and Kildare within the Church of Ireland.
The current Dean is the Very Reverend Tim Wright.
List of deans of Kildare
*1272 - after 1279 St ...
* 1746–1775 –
Francis Corbet, Treasurer
* 1775–1794 –
William Cradock, Prebendary of
St. Audoen's
* 1794–
Robert Fowler Robert Fowler may refer to:
* Robert Fowler (archbishop of Dublin) (1724–1801), bishop in the Church of Ireland
* Robert Fowler (artist) (1853–1926), English artist
* Robert Fowler (athlete) (1882–1957), American marathoner
* Robert Fowler (A ...
later (1813),
Bishop of Ossory
* 1794–1810 –
James Verschoyle, previously a Minor Canon, Vicar-Choral, Prebendary, Archdeacon of Glendalough and Precentor; later,
Bishop of Killala and Achonry, 1810
* 1810–1818 –
John William Keatinge, last Chaplain to the Irish House of Commons
* 1818–1828 –
Richard Ponsonby, Precentor; later
Bishop of Killaloe
The Bishop of Killaloe ( ) is an episcopal title which takes its name after the town of Killaloe in County Clare, Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with other bish ...
, 1828 then
Bishop of Derry
The Bishop of Derry is an episcopal title which takes its name after the monastic settlement originally founded at Daire Calgach and later known as Daire Colm Cille, Anglicised as Derry. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains a separate title, b ...
* 1828–1842 –
Henry Richard Dawson, oversaw both some renovation of the building, and reorganisation of worship
* 1842–1842 –
Robert Daly, Prebendary of Stagonil; election subsequently contested; later
Bishop of Cashel and Waterford
The Bishop of Cashel and Waterford (''Full title'': Bishop of Cashel and Emly with Waterford and Lismore) was the Ordinary of the Church of Ireland diocese of Cashel and Waterford; comprising all of County Waterford, the southern part of County ...
* 1843–1864 –
Henry Pakenham
''Note that from 1846 to 1872, the office of Dean of Christ Church was united to that of Dean of St. Patrick's.''
* 1864–1889 –
John West, Archdeacon of Dublin
Post-Disestablishment
* 1889–1901 –
Henry Jellett, Prebendary of Tymothan and Archdeacon of Cloyne
* 1902–1911 –
John Henry Bernard, Treasurer, later
Bishop of Ossory, then
Archbishop of Dublin and
Provost of Trinity College, Dublin
* 1911–1924 –
Charles Thomas Ovenden, Prebendary of Monmohenock
* 1924–1933 –
Hugh Jackson Lawlor, formerly Professor of Ecclesiastical History, Trinity College, Dublin
* 1933–1935 –
Thomas Arnold Harvey, afterwards
Bishop of Cashel and Waterford
The Bishop of Cashel and Waterford (''Full title'': Bishop of Cashel and Emly with Waterford and Lismore) was the Ordinary of the Church of Ireland diocese of Cashel and Waterford; comprising all of County Waterford, the southern part of County ...
, 1935
* 1935–1950 –
David Frederick Ruddell Wilson
* 1950–1968 –
William Cecil De Pauley
William Cecil de Pauley (1893 – 30 March 1968) was a Church of Ireland bishop and author in the 20th century.
Education and Ministry
De Pauley was born in Portrush and educated at the Coleraine Academical Institution and Trinity College, Dubl ...
* 1958–1968 –
John Ward Armstrong, afterwards
Bishop of Cashel and Waterford
The Bishop of Cashel and Waterford (''Full title'': Bishop of Cashel and Emly with Waterford and Lismore) was the Ordinary of the Church of Ireland diocese of Cashel and Waterford; comprising all of County Waterford, the southern part of County ...
, 1968 and later
Archbishop of Armagh, 1980
* 1969–1991 –
Victor Gilbert Benjamin Griffin
* 1991–1999 –
Maurice Evan Stewart
* 1999–2012 –
Robert MacCarthy
* 2012–2016 –
Victor Stacey
* 2016 – present-
William Morton
Sources
* London, G. Bell and Sons, 1924: St. Patrick's Cathedral Dublin; Bernard, J.H., former Dean of St. Patrick's, later Provost of Trinity College Dublin and Archbishop of Dublin
References
St. Patrick's Cathedral website
{{Deans in the Church of Ireland
Dublin, St Patricks
Diocese of Dublin and Glendalough