King Henry VI decreed that the City should be "of one Mayor and one commonalty, wholly corporate for ever". The first mayor elected under royal charter was John Lynde. The responsibilities of mayors have diminished over the years. They were once in charge of keeping the peace, serving as chief magistrate and presiding over the local lawcourt. This caused problems as the mayor could be asked to chair sessions without experience or knowledge of law. The Justices of the Peace Act of 1968 decreed that mayors were no longer entitled to sit as magistrates by virtue of their office alone.www.canterbury.gov.uk, 'The History of Office of Mayor'The dignity and title of lord mayor was granted on 13 July 1988 whilst the 12th Lambeth Conference of the Anglican Church was being held in the city. A complete chronological list of bailiffs (1380–1447) and mayors (1448–1800) is given in Edward Hasted, ''The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent'', vol. 12 (1801) pp. 603–611, available online fro
, consulted 10 January 2010.
Mayors of Canterbury
15th century
16th century
17th century
18th century
19th century
20th century
Lord Mayors of Canterbury
See also
* Sheriff of CanterburyReferences
{{Lists of mayors in the United Kingdom People from Canterbury History of Canterbury