The

Archdeacon An archdeacon is a senior clergy position in the Church of the East, Chaldean Catholic Church, Syriac Orthodox Church, Anglican Communion, St Thomas Christians, Eastern Orthodox churches and some other Christian denominations, above that of mo ...

of Berkshire (also rendered Archdeacon of Berks) is a senior ecclesiastical officer in 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 Oxford The Diocese of Oxford is a Church of England diocese that forms part of the Province of Canterbury. The diocese is led by the Bishop of Oxford (currently Steven Croft), and the bishop's seat is at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford. It contain ...

. The archdeacon is the head of the archdeaconry of Berkshire, a post historically found within the

diocese of Salisbury The Diocese of Salisbury is a Church of England diocese in the south of England, within the ecclesiastical Province of Canterbury. The diocese covers most of Dorset (excepting the deaneries of Bournemouth and Christchurch, which fall within the ...

, and then, from 7 October 1836, within Oxford diocese.

List of archdeacons

:''Some archdeacons without territorial titles are recorded from around the time of the

Norman Conquest The Norman Conquest (or the Conquest) was the 11th-century invasion and occupation of England by an army made up of thousands of Norman, Breton, Flemish, and French troops, all led by the Duke of Normandy, later styled William the Conq ...

; see

Archdeacon of Salisbury The Archdeacon of Sarum is a senior ecclesiastical officer within the Diocese of Salisbury, England. He or she is responsible for the disciplinary supervision of the clergy within the five area deaneries of the Sarum archdeaconry, which cover the ...

.''

High Medieval

*–aft. 1156:

Roger Roger is a given name, usually masculine, and a surname. The given name is derived from the Old French personal names ' and '. These names are of Germanic origin, derived from the elements ', ''χrōþi'' ("fame", "renown", "honour") and ', ' ( ...

*bef. 1173–bef. 1205: Geoffrey de Vernun *bef. 1206–aft. 1215: Alberic *aft. 1204–aft. 1222: Geoffrey *bef. 1224–aft. 1236:

William of Merton William of Merton was the Dean of Wells Wells most commonly refers to: * Wells, Somerset, a cathedral city in Somerset, England * Well, an excavation or structure created in the ground * Wells (name) Wells may also refer to: Places Canada ...

*: Clement *: William de Raley *bef. 1237–aft. 1255: Giles of Bridport *:

William William is a male given name of Germanic origin.Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 276. It became very popular in the English language after the Norman conquest of Engl ...

*bef. 1266–aft. 1268:

Walter Scammel Walter Scammel was a medieval Bishop of Salisbury. Scammel was archdeacon of Berkshire in the diocese of Salisbury, treasurer of that diocese, and finally Dean of Salisbury. He was elected to the deanery on 9 September 1271.

*bef. 1275–bef. May 1284: Stephen of Newbury *aft. June 1284–bef. 1313: William de Berges

Late Medieval

*10 March 1313–bef. December 1313: Richard de Bello *bef. December 1313–bef. August 1331 (d.): Tydo de Varesio *14 September 1317: '' Gilbert de Stapleton'' (ineffective royal grant) *21 August 1331–aft. 1333:

Robert de Ayleston The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honou ...

(previously Archdeacon of Wiltshire) *bef. 1334–aft. 1359:

Edmund de la Beche Edmund is a masculine given name or surname in the English language. The name is derived from the Old English elements ''ēad'', meaning "prosperity" or "riches", and ''mund'', meaning "protector". Persons named Edmund include: People Kings an ...

(

collate Collation is the assembly of written information into a standard order. Many systems of collation are based on numerical order or alphabetical order, or extensions and combinations thereof. Collation is a fundamental element of most office filin ...

d 12 September 1339) *aft. 1359–bef. 1365 (res.):

Thomas Paxton Thomas Charles Paxton (November 27, 1820July 3, 1887) was a Canadian politician, businessman and sheriff. As a partner in industrial business ventures, he was one of the founding fathers of Port Perry. He helped establish the first steam-power ...

*10 December 1365 – 1366 (res.):

John Harewell John Harewell was a Bishop of Bath and Wells in medieval England. Harewell came from Harwell in Berkshire (now in Oxfordshire). He was in the employ of the Black Prince, before being collated Archdeacon of Berkshire The Archdeacon of Berkshi ...

*bef. 1371–aft. 1384: Guillaume Cardinal d'Aigrefeuille
(Cardinal-priest of St Stephen al Monte Celio) *26 October 1389–aft. 1392: Thomas Yokflete *papal grants: **?–1390: '' Andrea Cardinal Bontempi Martini
(Cardinal-priest of SS Marcellinus and Peter)'' **1390–22 April 1395 (exch.): '' Christopher Cardinal Marini
(Cardinal-priest of

San Ciriaco alle Terme Diocleziane San Ciriaco alle Terme Diocleziane was a church in the Baths of Diocletian in Rome. It was made a titulus by the Roman synod of 1 March 499. According to a list written by Pietro Mallio during the pontificate of pope Alexander III, it was linked ...

)'' **22 April 1395 – 25 November 1397 (res.): '' Walter Cook'' *royal grants: **22 September 1395: '' John Southam'' **28 September 1395: ''Walter Cook'' **20 October 1395: '' Ralph Repyngton'' **: '' John Wynwyk'' *9 February 1397 – 30 January 1404 (exch.): John Southam (afterwards

Archdeacon of Oxford The Archdeacon of Oxford is a senior ecclesiastical officer in the Diocese of Oxford, England. The office responsibility includes the care of clergy and church buildings within the area of the ''Archdeaconry of Oxford.'' History The first arch ...

) *30 January–15 March 1404 (d.): Thomas Southam *bef. 10 June 1404–?: John Fraunceys *aft. 10 June–26 December 1404 (exch.):

Simon Sydenham Simon Sydenham (died 1438) was a medieval Dean of Salisbury and Bishop of Chichester. Sydenham was briefly Archdeacon of Berkshire in 1404, then Archdeacon of Salisbury from 1404 to 1418 and Dean of Salisbury from 1418 to 1431. Between 1417 and ...

*26 December 1404– (exch.): Walter Medford *–bef. 31 May 1427: Peter de Alcobasso *25 June 1427 – 1431 (res.):

Thomas Brunce Thomas Brunce ( c. 1388 – 6 December 1445) was a 15th-century Bishop of Rochester and then Bishop of Norwich. Life Brunce was the son of William Brunce of Brunce's Court in Sutton Courtenay in Berkshire (now Oxfordshire). He studied at O ...

*15 September 1431–bef. 1432: John Castell ''(possibly the Master of Univ)'' *24 September 1432 – 1433 (d.): Alexander Sparrow *18 October 1433 – 1462 (d.): John Norton ''(probably the

Chancellor of Oxford This is a list of chancellors of the University of Oxford in England by year of appointment. __TOC__ Chronological list See also *List of vice-chancellors of the University of Oxford * List of University of Oxford people * List of chancel ...

)'' *15 February 1462 – 1464 (d.):

Richard Ewen Richard Ewen was an English priest in the second half of the 15th century. Ewen was Archdeacon of Leicester from 1454 to 1458; and Archdeacon of Lincoln from 1458 to 1463. Notes See also * Diocese of Lincoln * Diocese of Peterborough * Dioc ...

*9 March 1464 – 1465 (res.):

Robert Stillington Robert Stillington (about 1405 – May 1491) was an English cleric and administrator who was Bishop of Bath and Wells from 1465 and twice served as Lord Chancellor under King Edward IV. In 1483 he was instrumental in the accession of King Richa ...

*28 February 1466 – 1476 (res.): John Russell *6 November 1476 – 1478 (res.): John Morton *31 December 1478 – 1482 (res.): Richard Martyn (also

Archdeacon of London The Archdeacon of London is a senior ecclesiastical officer in the Church of England. They are responsible for the eastern Archdeaconry (the Archdeaconry of London) of the Two Cities (London and Westminster) in the Diocese of London, an area wit ...

and Archdeacon of Hereford; became

Bishop of St David's The Bishop of St Davids is the ordinary of the Church in Wales Diocese of St Davids. The succession of bishops stretches back to Saint David who in the 6th century established his seat in what is today the city of St Davids in Pembrokeshire, ...

) *bef. 1 December 1488 – 1492 (res.):

Oliver King Oliver King (29 August 1503) was a Bishop of Exeter and Bishop of Bath and Wells who restored Bath Abbey after 1500. Early life King was educated at Eton, where he was a king's scholar, and King's College, Cambridge, where he graduated Mast ...

*15 January 1493 – 1507 (res.): Stephen Bereworth *5 February 1507 – 1509 (d.): Christopher Twineho *20 December 1509 – 24 December 1510 (res.): Stephen Bereworth ''(again)'' *24 December 1510 – 1522 (d.): William Grey *14 February 1522 – 1545 (d.): Robert Audley

Early modern

*18 July 1545 – 1547 (d.): John Crayford (also Master of

University College, Oxford University College (in full The College of the Great Hall of the University of Oxford, colloquially referred to as "Univ") is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. It has a claim to being the oldest college of the unive ...

, 1546-7) *24 September 1547 – 3 September 1557 (d.): William Pye (afterwards

Dean of Chichester The Dean of Chichester is the dean of Chichester Cathedral in Sussex, England. Bishop Ralph is credited with the foundation of the current cathedral after the original structure built by Stigand was largely destroyed by fire in 1114. Ralph ...

) *24 September 1557 – 12 June 1588 (d.): Thomas Whyte *16 June 1588 – 1605 (d.): Martin Culpepper, Dean of Chichester *9 November 1605–bef. 1631 (d.):

Leonel Sharp Leonel Sharp (1559 – 1631) was an English churchman and courtier, a royal chaplain and archdeacon of Berkshire, imprisoned for sedition in 1614. As a writer he took a strong anti-papal and anti-Spanish line. Life He was second son of Robert Shar ...

(imprisoned for sedition) *26 January 1631 – 1634 (res.): Edward Davenant *20 November 1634 – 19 August 1665 (d.): John Ryves *29 August 1665 – 1673 (res.): Peter Mews *26 April 1673 – 1689 (res.): John Sharp (also

Dean of Norwich The Dean of Norwich is the head of the Chapter of Norwich Cathedral in Norwich, England. The role is vacant since Jane Hedges' retirement on 1 May 2022. List of deans Early modern *1538–1539 William Castleton (last prior) *1539–1554 ...

from 1681) *6 December 1689 – 1698 (res.): William Richards *12 May 1698–bef. 1710 (d.): Jonas Proast *25 April 1710 – 2 December 1716 (d.): Richard West *13 May 1717 – 9 December 1720 (d.): Edward Talbot *10 January 1721 – 1735 (res.): Martin Benson *8 March 1735 – 9 December 1746 (d.): Samuel Knight *2 January 1747 – 21 October 1763 (d.): John Spry *25 October 1763 – 23 October 1785 (d.):

William Dodwell William Dodwell (1709–1785) was an English cleric known as a theological writer, archdeacon of Berkshire from 1763. Life He was born at Shottesbrooke, Berkshire, on 17 June 1709, was the second son and fifth child of Henry Dodwell the elder, the ...

*12 November 1785 – 15 October 1817 (d.):

Arthur Onslow Arthur Onslow (1 October 169117 February 1768) was an English politician. He set a record for length of service when repeatedly elected to serve as Speaker of the House of Commons, where he was known for his integrity. Early life and educat ...

(also

Dean of Worcester The Dean of Worcester is the head of the Chapter of Worcester Cathedral in Worcester, England. The current dean is Peter Atkinson, who lives at The Deanery, College Green, Worcester. Crockford's on-line accessed by subscription Tuesday 11 June ...

from 1795) *5 December 1817 – 25 August 1832 (d.):

John Fisher John Fisher (c. 19 October 1469 – 22 June 1535) was an English Catholic bishop, cardinal, and theologian. Fisher was also an academic and Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. He was canonized by Pope Pius XI. Fisher was executed by o ...

*7 September 1832–''1836'':

Edward Berens The Ven Edward Berens, a Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford, and son in law of the Bishop of Exeter, was Archdeacon of Berkshire from 1832 until 1855.”Multiple News Items” The Morning Post ''The Morning Post'' was a conservative daily newsp ...

:''Archdeaconry transferred to Diocese of Oxford, 7 October 1836'' *''1836''–1855 (res.): Edward Berens *21 March 1855 – 3 September 1869 (res.): James Randall

Late modern

*1870–1903 (res.): Alfred Pott *1903–17 March 1922 (d.): William Ducat *1922–1942 (res.): Richard Wickham Legg *1942–1954 (res.): Arthur Parham, Bishop suffragan of Reading *1955–1967 (res.):

Eric Knell Eric Henry Knell (1 April 1903 – January 1987) was the Bishop of Reading from 1954 until 1972. Knell was educated at Trinity College, Oxford and ordained in 1929. Beginning his ministry with a curacy at ''St Barnabas, Southfields'' he was ...

, Bishop suffragan of Reading *1968–1973 (res.): Eric Wild (also Bishop suffragan of Reading from 1972) *1973–1976 (res.):

Raymond Birt The Venerable William Raymond Birt (25 August 1911 – 11 March 2002) was the Archdeacon of Berkshire from 1973 until 1978. Birt was educated at Christ's Hospital. ''Who Was Who 1897–2007''. London, A & C Black, 2007 His first job was as a ...

*1978–1986 (res.): John Brown *1987–1992 (res.): David Griffiths *1992–1998 (res.): Mike Hill *1998–31 May 2013 (ret.): Norman Russell *11 October 201319 November 2019: Olivia Graham (became Bishop of Reading) *29 February 2020present: Stephen Pullin

References

Sources

* * * *
Account of Purley on Thames – Archdeacons (PDF)
(accessed 4 December 2012) {{DEFAULTSORT:Berkshire, Archdeacon of Lists of Anglicans