The Archdeacon of Wells has been a senior clergy position in the Church of England

Diocese of Bath and Wells The Diocese of Bath and Wells is a diocese in the Church of England Province of Canterbury in England. The diocese covers the county of Somerset and a small area of Dorset. The Episcopal seat of the Bishop of Bath and Wells is located in the ...

sin the

English reformation The English Reformation took place in 16th-century England when the Church of England broke away from the authority of the pope and the Catholic Church. These events were part of the wider European Protestant Reformation, a religious and poli ...

, before which it was part of the

Roman Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

. The post, having oversight over the archdeaconry of Wells in

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 , lor ...

has existed since the twelfth century. The archdeaconry includes seven deaneries.

List of archdeacons

High Medieval

:Archdeacons without territorial titles: *bef. 1086–aft. 1088: Benselin, Archdeacon of Exon *bef. 1106–aft. 1106: WalkeriusWalkerius and Robert both occur with Gerbert Archdeacon of Bath, so they were each probably either Archdeacon of Wells or of Taunton. *bef. 1106–aft. 1106:

Robert 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 ''Hrōþ, Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory ...

*bef. 1120–aft. 1136: AraldArald occurs with Gerbert Archdeacon of Bath, so he was probably either Archdeacon of Wells or of Taunton. *bef. 1122–bef. 1136: John de Bada ( son of Hildebert)John occurs with Arald, so he was either Archdeacon of Bath, or of either Taunton or Wells (whichever Arald wasn't). :Archdeacons of Wells: *bef. 1142–aft. 1151:

Eustace Eustace, also rendered Eustis, ( ) is the rendition in English of two phonetically similar Greek given names: *Εὔσταχυς (''Eústachys'') meaning "fruitful", "fecund"; literally "abundant in grain"; its Latin equivalents are ''Fæcundus/Fe ...

*bef. 1159–aft. 1166:

*bef. 1168–aft. 1194:

Thomas of Earley Thomas may refer to: People * List of people with given name Thomas * Thomas (name) * Thomas (surname) * Saint Thomas (disambiguation) * Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, and Doctor of the Church * Thomas the A ...

( Erlegh) ''alias'' Agnellus *bef. 1198–aft. 1199:

Simon of Wells Simon of Wells (died 1207) was a medieval Bishop of Chichester. Life Simon was the son of Robert and was in the household of Hubert Walter, Archbishop of Canterbury in 1194.Greenway Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066-1300: Volume 7: Bath and Well ...

(later

Bishop of Chichester The Bishop of Chichester is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Chichester in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese covers the counties of East and West Sussex. The see is based in the City of Chichester where the bishop's sea ...

) *bef. 1204–1209 (res.):

Hugh of Wells Hugh of Wells (died 7 February 1235) was a medieval Bishop of Lincoln. He began his career in the diocese of Bath, where he served two successive bishops, before joining royal service under King John of England. He served in the royal administra ...

(became

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 ...

) *bef. 1215–aft. 1231:

William of Bardney 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 ...

*bef. 1238–1248 (res.):

William of Bitton William of Bitton (died 1264) was a medieval English Bishop of Bath and Wells. Life William was probably born in Bitton in Gloucestershire.Shaw "Button, William" ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' He was a relative of Walter Giffard ...

(uncle; 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 ...

) *aft. 1248–bef. 1249 (res.):

John of Bitton 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 * Seco ...

*bef. 1249–aft. 1254:

Peter Chaceporc Peter Chaceporc (died 1254) was Keeper of the Wardrobe under Henry III of England, and an Archdeacon of Wells. Life Peter was from Poitou, the area of France from which Henry III's half-siblings and a number of his administrators came, and was n ...

*bef. 1263–1267 (res.):

William of Bitton (nephew) William of Bitton (died 1274) was a medieval Bishop of Bath and Wells. Life William was a son of Sir Adam of Bitton in Gloucestershire and the brother of Thomas Bitton who was precentor, archdeacon of WellsGreenway Fasti Ecclesiae Anglican ...

(became Bishop of Bath and Wells) *1267–1268 (res.):

Godfrey Giffard Godfrey Giffard ( 12351302) was Chancellor of the Exchequer of England, Lord Chancellor of England and Bishop of Worcester. Early life Giffard was a son of Hugh Giffard of Boyton in Wiltshire,Archdeacon of Barnstaple The Archdeaconry of Barnstaple or Barum is one of the oldest archdeaconries in England. It is an administrative division of the Diocese of Exeter in the Church of England. History The Diocese of Exeter was divided into four archdeaconries in No ...

until May 1267; 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 dean ...

from 1267; became

Bishop of Worcester A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...

) *bef. 1269–aft. 1269: S. (''i.e. either'' Simon de Micham ''or'' Stephen of Chichester) *bef. 1270–1284 (res.): Thomas Bytton (became

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 ...

) *bef. 1286–aft. 1295:

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 ...

(later Dean of Wells) *bef. 1295–24 January 1303 (d.):

Peter de Insula Peter may refer to: People * List of people named Peter, a list of people and fictional characters with the given name * Peter (given name) ** Saint Peter (died 60s), apostle of Jesus, leader of the early Christian Church * Peter (surname), a su ...

(previously

Archdeacon of Exeter The Archdeacon of Exeter is a senior ecclesiastical officer of the Diocese of Exeter in the Church of England. The modern diocese is divided into four archdeaconries: the archdeacon of Exeter supervises clergy and buildings within the area of the ...

)

Late Medieval

*aft. 1303–24 May 1326 (res.): Thomas de Charlton *24 May–13 June 1326 (exch.): Wibert de Lutleton *13 June 1326–bef. 1334: Robert de Wamberg (bishop's candidate; admitted but disputed by king's candidates) *29 June 1329 – 1330: Simon de Montacute (royal grant; never admitted) *15 October 1330 – 1332:

Thomas Upton Thomas may refer to: People * List of people with given name Thomas * Thomas (name) * Thomas (surname) * Saint Thomas (disambiguation) * Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, and Doctor of the Church * Thomas the ...

(royal grant; never admitted) *bef. 1334–aft. 1336:

Robert Mortimer Robert Cecil Mortimer (6 December 190211 September 1976) was an Anglican bishop in the Church of England. Mortimer was educated at St Edward's School, Oxford and Keble College in the same city. He was made deacon at Michaelmas 1926 (3 Oc ...

*bef. 1344–aft. 1344: Hugh *bef. 1346–1352 (res.):

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 ...

(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, ...

) *3 January 1353 – 12 June 1361 (d.): William de Court *27 October 1361–bef. 1369 (res.): Étienne Cardinal Aubert (Cardinal-deacon of

Santa Maria in Aquiro Santa Maria in Aquiro is a church in Rome, Italy. It is dedicated to Mary, mother of Jesus, and is located on Piazza Capranica. The church is ancient – it was restored by Pope Gregory III in the 8th century, and thus must have existed before ...

) *21 February 1369 – 22 July 1376 (d.): Simon Cardinal Langham (former

archbishop of Canterbury The archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and a principal leader of the Church of England, the ceremonial head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. The current archbishop is Just ...

; cardinal-priest of San Sisto Vecchio until 1373, then Cardinal-

Bishop of Palestrina The Roman Catholic Suburbicarian Diocese of Palestrina ( la, Diocesis Praenestina) is a Roman Catholic suburbicarian diocese centered on the comune of Palestrina in Italy. The current bishop of Palestrina is Domenico Sigalini, who from 3 Novem ...

; also

from 1374) *bef. 1385–aft. 1388: Andrew Baret *1386–aft. 1391: John de Rypon (royal grant) *13 September 1388:

John Beer John Bernard Beer, FBA (31 March 1926 – 10 December 2017) was a British literary critic. He was emeritus professor of English literature at the University of Cambridge and a fellow of Peterhouse, Cambridge. Best known as a scholar and critic ...

(unsuccessful royal grant) *6 June 1391: Thomas Tuttebury (unsuccessful royal grant; became

) *28 August 1391 – 4 May 1398 (exch.):

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 ...

*4 May 1398–bef. 1419 (d.): John Ikelyngton *13 April 1419–bef. 1449 (d.): Thomas Bubwith *15 April 1450 – 1 April 1470 (d.): Andrew Holes *bef. 1471–bef. 1473 (d.): Thomas Bridlington *12 April 1473–bef. 1494 (res.): William Nykke *10 July 1494 – 1500 (res.):

Richard Nykke Richard Nykke (or Nix or Nick; c. 1447–1535) became bishop of Norwich under Pope Alexander VI in 1515. Norwich at this time was the second-largest conurbation in England, after London. Nykke is often called the last Catholic bishop of the ...

(became

Bishop of Norwich The Bishop of Norwich is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Norwich in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese covers most of the county of Norfolk and part of Suffolk. The bishop of Norwich is Graham Usher. The see is in t ...

) *30 December 1500–bef. 1502 (res.): François de Busleyden,

Archbishop of Besançon In Christian denominations, an archbishop is a bishop of higher rank or office. In most cases, such as the Catholic Church, there are many archbishops who either have jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province in addition to their own archdio ...

*19 November 1502 – 1507 (d.): Thomas Beaumont (previously

Archdeacon of Bath The Archdeacon of Bath is a senior ecclesiastical officer in the Church of England Diocese of Bath and Wells. The post, having oversight over the archdeaconry of Bath, has existed since the twelfth century. The archdeaconry includes five deanerie ...

) *1 January 1508 – 26 December 1546 (res.):

Polydore Vergil Polydore Vergil or Virgil (Italian: ''Polidoro Virgili''; commonly Latinised as ''Polydorus Vergilius''; – 18 April 1555), widely known as Polydore Vergil of Urbino, was an Italian humanist scholar, historian, priest and diplomat, who spent ...

(also called Castellensis)

Early modern

:''Archdeaconry resigned to the crown and abolished, 1547.'' *bef. 1547–aft. 1554: ''Vergil still called Archdeacon of Wells'' *bef. 1554–?: ''Cotterell already called Archdeacon of Wells'' :''Archdeaconry re-erected, 1556.'' *bef. 1559–1572 (d.): John Cotterell *bef. 1572–bef. 1582 (d.): John Rugge *March 1582–?:

Bartholomew Clerke Bartholomew Clerke (1537?–1590) was an English jurist, politician and diplomat. Background He was grandson of Richard Clerke, gentleman, of Livermere in Suffolk, and son of John Clerke of Wells, Somerset, by Anne, daughter and heiress of Henr ...

(a layman) *4 February 1589–aft. 1605: John Langworth *1611–aft. 1645: Gerard Wood *1645–bef. 1649: '' William Watts (never took possession)'' *1660–27 April 1680 (d.):

Grindal Sheafe Edmund Grindal ( 15196 July 1583) was Bishop of London, Archbishop of York, and Archbishop of Canterbury during the reign of Elizabeth I. Though born far from the centres of political and religious power, he had risen rapidly in the church durin ...

*28 April 1680 – 1683 (d.):

Charles Thirlby Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English and French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''*karilaz'' (in Latin alphabet), whose meaning was "f ...

*10 November 1683 – 8 October 1705 (d.): Edwin Sandys *11 October 1705 – 7 March 1716 (d.):

Samuel Hill Samuel Hill (13 May 1857 – 26 February 1931), usually known as Sam Hill, was an American businessman, lawyer, railroad executive, and advocate of good roads. He substantially influenced the Pacific Northwest region's economic dev ...

*4 May 1716 – 24 November 1726 (d.): Henry Layng *7 December 1726 – 1 October 1739 (d.): Edmund Archer (previously

Archdeacon of Taunton The Archdeacon of Taunton has been, since the twelfth century, the senior ecclesiastical officer in charge of the archdeaconry of Taunton in the Diocese of Bath and Wells (in the Church of England). The archdeaconry includes seven deaneries. His ...

) *26 November 1739 – 14 November 1742 (d.): John Wicksted *24 November 1742 – 20 April 1749 (d.): George Shakerley *19 August 1749 – 7 November 1757 (d.): Edmund Aubery *26 April 1758 – 26 February 1760 (d.): Lionel Seaman (previously Archdeacon of Taunton) *9 August 1760 – 1 October 1767 (d.):

Francis Potter Francis Potter (1594–1678) was an English painter, clergyman, Biblical commentator, and experimentalist, and an early Fellow of the Royal Society. Life Francis Potter was the second son of Richard Potter (died 1628), prebendary of Worcester, ...

(previously Archdeacon of Taunton) *20 October 1767 – 12 May 1815 (d.): William Willes (previously Archdeacon of Taunton) *7 July 1815 – 5 April 1826 (d.): Charles Sandiford *4 October 1826 – 1862 (res.):

Henry Law Henry Law (29 September 1797 – 25 November 1884) was Dean of Gloucester from 1862 until his death. Biography Law was born at Kelshall rectory, Hertfordshire, on 29 September 1797. He was the third son of George Henry Law who was Bishop of Ch ...

(became

Dean of Gloucester The Dean of Gloucester is the head (''primus inter pares'': first among equals) and chair of the chapter of canons - the ruling body of Gloucester Cathedral - and senior priest of the Diocese of Gloucester. The dean and chapter are based at Glouce ...

)

Late modern

*1862–?: Fitzhardinge Portman (died 1893) *April 1863–24 December 1897 (d.): Augustus Otway Fitzgerald, Rector of

Charlton Mackrell Charlton Mackrell is a village in civil parish of The Charltons, in the county of Somerset, England, situated east of Somerton in the South Somerset district. The village has a population of 1,020. The parish consists of two villages, Charlton ...

(St Mary) until 1876, then Vicar of Brent Knoll *March 1898–20 September 1899 (d.): Edwin Arthur Salmon, Vicar of Brent Knoll *1899–1 May 1917 (d.):

Frederick Brymer Frederick Augustus Brymer (15 October 1850 – 1 May 1917) was a British Church of England priest, most notably Archdeacon of Wells from 1899 until his death. Brymer was educated at Radley and Christ Church, Oxford. He was ordained as deacon in ...

, Rector of Charlton Mackrell (St Mary) *1917–19 December 1934 (d.):

Walter Farrer Walter Farrer (18 May 1862 – 19 December 1934) was a British Church of England priest, most notably Archdeacon of Wells from 1917 until his death. Farrer was educated at Balliol College, Oxford and Wells Theological College. He was ordained ...

, Vicar of St Cuthbert's, Wells until 1919 *1935–1940 (res.):

George Hollis George Hollis Victoria Cross, VC (October 1833 – 16 May 1879) was an England, English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to United Kingdom, Bri ...

, Bishop suffragan of Taunton *1940–1951 (ret.): Walter Norman Higgins, Rector of Mells until 1944 *1951–1962 (ret.):

Harold Bryant Salmon Harold Bryant Salmon (1891-1965) was a British Church of England priest, most notably Archdeacon of Wells from 1951 to 1962. Higgins was educated at Haileybury; and Jesus College, Cambridge. During World War I he was a Lieutenant in the Royal G ...

*1963–1973 (ret.): John Lance *1974–1982 (res.): Peter Haynes (became

Dean of Hereford The Dean of Hereford is the head (''primus inter pares'' – first among equals) and chair of the chapter of canons, the ruling body of Hereford Cathedral. The dean and chapter are based at the ''Cathedral Church of Blessed Virgin Mary and St Eth ...

) *1983–1993 (ret.): Ted Thomas *1993–2003 (ret.): Richard Acworth *2003–2006: Peter Maurice (became Bishop suffragan of Taunton) *April 200717 September 2016 (res.):

Nicola Sullivan Nicola Ann Sullivan (born 15 August 1958) is a British Church of England priest. She is the current dean of Southwell and previously Archdeacon of Wells Early life and education Sullivan was brought up in Suffolk. She qualified as a nurse in 1 ...

(became Dean of Southwell) *5 September 201620 May 2017: Kevin Roberts (Acting) *20 May 2017present:

Anne Gell Anne Elizabeth Gell (born 1963) is a British Church of England priest: she is the Archdeacon of Wells. Gell was educated at St Hugh's College, Oxford and the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine. After several years working as a doctor she ...

Diocese of Bath and Wells — Bishop announces next Archdeacon of Wells
(Accessed 13 January 2017)

Notes

References

Sources

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Wells, Archdeacon of Lists of Anglicans Lists of English people