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 o ...

of Leicester 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 Britain ...

Diocese of Leicester The Diocese of Leicester is a Church of England diocese based in Leicester and including the current county of Leicestershire. The cathedral is Leicester Cathedral, where the Bishop of Leicester has his episcopal chair. The diocese is divided int ...

History

The first archdeacon of Leicester is recorded before 1092 – around the time when archdeacons were first appointed in England – in the

Diocese of Lincoln The Diocese of Lincoln forms part of the Province of Canterbury in England. The present diocese covers the ceremonial county of Lincolnshire. History The diocese traces its roots in an unbroken line to the Pre-Reformation Diocese of Leices ...

. He was one of eight archdeacons appointed by the bishop:

Lincoln Lincoln most commonly refers to: * Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865), the sixteenth president of the United States * Lincoln, England, cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England * Lincoln, Nebraska, the capital of Nebraska, U.S. * Lincol ...

Huntingdon Huntingdon is a market town in the Huntingdonshire district in Cambridgeshire, England. The town was given its town charter by King John in 1205. It was the county town of the historic county of Huntingdonshire. Oliver Cromwell was born there ...

Northampton Northampton () is a market town and civil parish in the East Midlands of England, on the River Nene, north-west of London and south-east of Birmingham. The county town of Northamptonshire, Northampton is one of the largest towns in England; ...

Oxford Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...

Buckingham Buckingham ( ) is a market town in north Buckinghamshire, England, close to the borders of Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire, which had a population of 12,890 at the 2011 Census. The town lies approximately west of Central Milton Keynes, sou ...

Bedford Bedford is a market town in Bedfordshire, England. At the 2011 Census, the population of the Bedford built-up area (including Biddenham and Kempston) was 106,940, making it the second-largest settlement in Bedfordshire, behind Luton, whilst ...

and

Stow Stow may refer to: Places United Kingdom * Stow, Lincolnshire or Stow-in-Lindsey, a village * Stow of Wedale or Stow, Scottish Borders, a village * Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire, a small town * Stow, Shropshire or Stowe, a village * Stow ...

. In the

Victorian era In the history of the United Kingdom and the British Empire, the Victorian era was the period of Queen Victoria's reign, from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. The era followed the Georgian period and preceded the Edwardia ...

reforms, the archdeaconry became part of Peterborough diocese on 1 May 1839 and, on 12 November 1926, the modern

was founded from Leicester and Loughborough archdeaconries and part of the archdeaconry of Northampton.

List of archdeacons

High Medieval

*bef. 1092–?: Ranulph (first Archdeacon of Leicester) * Godfrey *bef. –aft. :

Walter Walter may refer to: People * Walter (name), both a surname and a given name * Little Walter, American blues harmonica player Marion Walter Jacobs (1930–1968) * Gunther (wrestler), Austrian professional wrestler and trainer Walter Hahn (born 19 ...

*bef. –1148 (res.):

Robert de Chesney Robert de Chesney (died December 1166) was a medieval English Bishop of Lincoln. He was the brother of an important royal official, William de Chesney, and the uncle of Gilbert Foliot, successively Bishop of Hereford and Bishop of London. Educate ...

*bef. 1150–bef. 1159 (res.):

Hugh Barre Hugh Barre was the fifth recorded Archdeacon of Leicester: he served from 1148 until his resignation in 1157. Notes See also * Diocese of Lincoln * Diocese of Peterborough * Diocese of Leicester * Archdeacon of Leicester The Archdeacon of ...

*bef. 1163–aft. 1177:

Baldric de Segillo Baldric de Segillo was Archdeacon of Leicester from 1163 to 1177. He was Master of King Stephen's Writing Chamber and a Prebendary of Lincoln Cathedral. Notes See also * Diocese of Lincoln * Diocese of Peterborough * Diocese of Leicester * ...

*–1189 (res.): Hamo (afterwards

Dean of Lincoln The Dean of Lincoln is the head of the Chapter of Lincoln Cathedral in the city of Lincoln, England in the Church of England Diocese of Lincoln. Christine Wilson was installed as Dean on 22 October 2016.

) *bef. –1195 (res.):

Roger de Rolleston Roger de Rolleston was a Priest in the Roman Catholic Church. Career Between 1174 and 1184 it is believed that Roger was a clerk to Archbishop of Canterbury Richard of Dover. In or after 1186 he was given by Archbishop of Canterbury Baldwin of ...

(afterwards Dean of Lincoln) *bef. –aft. 1224:

Reimund Reimund was a long serving Archdeacon of Leicester; he was first mentioned in 1198 and lastly in 1225. Notes See also * Diocese of Lincoln * Diocese of Peterborough * Diocese of Leicester * Archdeacon of Leicester The Archdeacon of Leiceste ...

*bef. 1226–aft. 1228:

William Blund of Lincoln William Blund was Archdeacon of Leicester from 1226 to 1229: he was also Chancellor and Precentor of Lincoln Cathedral. Notes See also * Diocese of Lincoln * Diocese of Peterborough * Diocese of Leicester * Archdeacon of Leicester The A ...

*bef. 1229–1232 (res.):

Robert Grosseteste Robert Grosseteste, ', ', or ') or the gallicised Robert Grosstête ( ; la, Robertus Grossetesta or '). Also known as Robert of Lincoln ( la, Robertus Lincolniensis, ', &c.) or Rupert of Lincoln ( la, Rubertus Lincolniensis, &c.). ( ; la, Rob ...

*1232–1234:

William de Dratton William de Dratton was Archdeacon of Leicester from 1232 to 1234: he was also Chancellor he was a native of East Drayton. Notes See also * Diocese of Lincoln * Diocese of Peterborough * Diocese of Leicester * Archdeacon of Leicester The ...

*bef. 1235–1252 (d.):

John of Basingstoke John of Basingstoke (died 1252), also called John Basing, was an Archdeacon of Leicester in the 13th century. Basingstoke was an advocate of Greek literacy and seems to have been instrumental in introducing the apocryphal '' Testament of the Twelve ...

*1252–bef. 1274:

Solomon of Dover Solomon of Dover was Archdeacon of Leicester from 1252 to 1274: he was also Prebendary of St Margaret, Leicester in Lincoln Cathedral. Notes See also * Diocese of Lincoln * Diocese of Peterborough * Diocese of Leicester * Archdeacon of Lei ...

*1275–bef. 1295 (d.):

Roger de Saxenhurst Roger de Saxenhurst was Archdeacon of Leicester from 1275 to 1294: he was also Prebendary of St Margaret, Leicester in Lincoln Cathedral. Notes See also * Diocese of Lincoln * Diocese of Peterborough * Diocese of Leicester * Archdeacon of ...

*16 January 1295 – 16 September 1310 (d.):

Roger Martival Roger Martival (died 14 March 1330) was a medieval Bishop of Salisbury in England. Martival was Archdeacon of Huntingdon (1286–1295), Archdeacon of Leicester (1295–1310) and Dean of Lincoln (1310–1315). From 1293 to 1294, he was Chancello ...

Late Medieval

*13 October 1310 – 5 October 1346 (d.): Guillaume Cardinal de Farges (

cardinal-deacon A cardinal ( la, Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae cardinalis, literally 'cardinal of the Holy Roman Church') is a senior member of the clergy of the Catholic Church. Cardinals are created by the ruling pope and typically hold the title for life. Col ...

Santa Maria Nova Santa Francesca Romana ( it, Basilica di Santa Francesca Romana), previously known as Santa Maria Nova, is a Roman Catholic church situated next to the Roman Forum in the rione Campitelli in Rome, Italy. History An oratory (worship), oratory ...

) *1346–26 February 1347 (res.):

Raynald Orsini Raynald Orsini was a 14th-century Italian priest: he was Archdeacon of Leicester from 1346 until his resignation in 1347. Notes See also * Diocese of Lincoln * Diocese of Peterborough * Diocese of Leicester * Archdeacon of Leicester The Ar ...

*''Arnald de Gavarreto'' was unsuccessfully provided to the archdeaconry in 1347 and was still claiming it – unsuccessfully – in 1355. *1347–bef. 1354 (d.):

Henry Chaddesden Henry Chaddesden was a 14th-century English priest: he was Archdeacon of Leicester from 1347 until his death in 1354.During this period there was a counter-claimant, ''Arnald de Gavarreto'' Notes See also * Diocese of Lincoln * Diocese of P ...

*12 May 1354 – 1361 (d.): William Doune *bef. 1371–27 August 1372 (d.): Philippe Cardinal de Cabassoles (Cardinal-

Bishop of Sabina 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 ...

and

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 deanerie ...

) *1372–13 August 1379 (d.): Giacomo Cardinal Orsini, Dean of Salisbury (cardinal-deacon of

San Giorgio in Velabro San Giorgio in Velabro is a church in Rome, Italy, dedicated to St. George. The church is located next to the Arch of Janus in the rione of Ripa in the ancient Roman Velabrum. According to the founding legend of Rome, the church was built wh ...

) *1380–2 February 1395 (d.): ''Poncello Orsini'' (

cardinal-priest A cardinal ( la, Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae cardinalis, literally 'cardinal of the Holy Roman Church') is a senior member of the clergy of the Catholic Church. Cardinals are created by the ruling pope and typically hold the title for life. Col ...

San Clemente San Clemente (; Spanish for " St. Clement") is a city in Orange County, California. Located in the Orange Coast region of the South Coast of California, San Clemente's population was 64,293 in at the 2020 census. Situated roughly midway betwee ...

; papal claimant, never in actual possession) *1390– (res.): John Bottlesham (royal grant) *4 August 1392–bef. 1421:

John Elvet John Elvet was an English priest in the late 14th and early 15th centuries. Elvet was born in Durham and was in the service of John of Gaunt. The Master of the Jewel Office, he was Archdeacon of Leicester from 1392 to 1404. He was succeeded as ...

*1392–1392 (rev.): ''Richard Holland'' (mistaken royal grant; revoked) *bef. 1414–1424 (exch.):

Richard Elvet Richard Elvet was an English priest in the early 15th century. Elvet was born in Durham and was in the service of John of Gaunt. He succeeded his brother John as Archdeacon of Leicester in 1404. In 1424 he exchanged the Archdeaconry with John L ...

*29 October 1424–bef. 1430:

John Legbourne John Legbourne was an English priest in the early 15th century. Elvet was born in Durham and was an executor of John of Gaunt. The Master of the Jewel Office, in 1424 he exchanged the benefice of Sedgefield for the Archdeaconry of Leicester w ...

*bef. 1430–aft. 1431: Thomas Barnsley *14 August 1454 – 1458 (res.):

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 ...

(afterwards Archdeacon of Lincoln) *1458–bef. 1473 (d.):

William Witham William Witham (or Wytham) was incumbent at St Marylebone until 12 November 1454, when he exchanged the office for that of Archdeacon of Stow. He was then Archdeacon of Leicester (from 1458), Dean of Arches (from ) and Dean of Wells The Dean of ...

(also

Dean of Arches The Dean of the Arches is the judge who presides in the provincial ecclesiastical court of the Archbishop of Canterbury. This court is called the Arches Court of Canterbury. It hears appeals from consistory courts and bishop's disciplinary trib ...

from 1460 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: Rich ...

from 1467) *1473–bef. 1478: Roger Rotherham *1478–1479 (res.): John Morton *1485–bef. 1508 (d.): Richard Lavender *18 March 1508–bef. 1515:

William Spark William Spark (28 October 1823 - 16 June 1897) was an English musician, writer, composer and organist based in Leeds. Early life and education Spark was born in Exeter on 28 October 1823 and died in Leeds on 16 June 1897. He was a chorister at ...

*1515–bef. 1518: Henry Wilcocks *1518–bef. 1531 (d.): Richard Maudeley *25 March 1531–December 1531 (res.):

Stephen Gardiner Stephen Gardiner (27 July 1483 – 12 November 1555) was an English Catholic bishop and politician during the English Reformation period who served as Lord Chancellor during the reign of Queen Mary I and King Philip. Early life Gardiner was b ...

*14 December 1531 – 1535 (res.):

Edward Foxe Edward Foxe (c. 1496 – 8 May 1538) was an English churchman, Bishop of Hereford. He played a major role in Henry VIII's divorce from Catherine of Aragon, and he assisted in drafting the ''Ten Articles'' of 1536. Early life He was born at Durs ...

*9 October 1535 – 1539 (res.):

Edmund Bonner Edmund Bonner (also Boner; c. 15005 September 1569) was Bishop of London from 1539 to 1549 and again from 1553 to 1559. Initially an instrumental figure in the schism of Henry VIII from Rome, he was antagonised by the Protestant reforms intro ...

*24 September 1539–bef. 1541 (d.): William More, Bishop suffragan of Colchester

Early modern

*19 February 1541–bef. 1560 (deprived): Thomas Robertson (deprived; also

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

from 1558, from which point archdeacon ''

in commendam In canon law, commendam (or ''in commendam'') was a form of transferring an ecclesiastical benefice ''in trust'' to the ''custody'' of a patron. The phrase ''in commendam'' was originally applied to the provisional occupation of an ecclesiastical ...

'') *1560–15 February 1589 (d.):

Richard Barber Richard William Barber FRSL FSA FRHistS (born 30 October 1941) is a British historian who has published several books about medieval history and literature. His book ''The Knight and Chivalry'', about the interplay between history and literatur ...

*10 May 1589 – 16 September 1590 (res.): Hugh Blythe *19 April 1591–bef. 1625 (d.):

Robert Johnson Robert Leroy Johnson (May 8, 1911August 16, 1938) was an American blues musician and songwriter. His landmark recordings in 1936 and 1937 display a combination of singing, guitar skills, and songwriting talent that has influenced later generati ...

*1 August 1625–bef. 1631 (d.): Richard Pilkington *21 September 1631–bef. 1641 (d.):

William Warr William Warr, D.D. was an English Anglican priest. Warr was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge. He was ordained in 1617. He held livings at Welbourn, and was Archdeacon of Leicester The Archdeacon of Leicester is a senior ecclesiastical ...

*16 October 1641 – 1661 (res.):

Henry Ferne Henry Ferne (1602 – 16 March 1662) was an English bishop. Life Ferne was born in York. He was educated at Uppingham School to which he was sent by Sir Thomas Nevill of Holt who had married his mother. He was admitted to St Mary Hall, Oxf ...

*18 June 1661 – 27 June 1662 (exch.):

Robert Hitch Robert Hitch, D.D. was an English Anglican priest. Hitch was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge. The Rector of Adel, he became Archdeacon of Leicester in 1661, Archdeacon of the East Riding The Archdeacon of the East Riding is a senior ...

(afterwards

Archdeacon of the East Riding The Archdeacon of the East Riding is a senior ecclesiastical officer of an archdeaconry, or subdivision, of the Church of England Diocese of York in the Province of York. It is named for the East Riding of Yorkshire and consists of the eight rur ...

, 1662 and

Dean of York Dean may refer to: People * Dean (given name) * Dean (surname), a surname of Anglo-Saxon English origin * Dean (South Korean singer), a stage name for singer Kwon Hyuk * Dean Delannoit, a Belgian singer most known by the mononym Dean Titles * ...

, 1665) *27 June 1662–bef. 1669 (d.): Clement Breton *30 July 1669 – 23 August 1679 (d.): William Owtram *10 September 1679 – 27 August 1683 (d.):

Francis Meres Francis Meres (1565/1566 – 29 January 1647) was an English churchman and author. His 1598 commonplace book includes the first critical account of poems and plays by Shakespeare. Career Francis Meres was born in 1565 at Kirton Meres in the par ...

*5 September 1683–bef. 1703 (d.):

Byrom Eaton Byrom Eaton Doctor of Divinity, D.D. (1613–1703) was an English priest. Eaton was born in Grappenhall and educated at Brasenose College, Oxford. He was Principal (academia), Principal of Gloucester Hall from 1662 and 1692; and Rector (ecclesias ...

*1703–9 May 1715 (d.): John Rogers *17 May 1715 – 18 May 1756 (d.): David Trimnel *7 July 1756 – 29 August 1772 (d.): John Taylor *17 December 1772 – 23 December 1785 (d.): James Bickham *25 January 1786 – 9 March 1812 (d.): Andrew Burnaby *31 March 1812 – 13 November 1830 (d.): Thomas Parkinson *22 January 1831 – 7 April 1863 (d.): Thomas Bonney :''Upon the death of

Herbert Marsh Herbert Marsh (10 December 1757 – 1 May 1839) was a bishop in the Church of England. Life The son of Richard Marsh (1709–1779), Vicar of Faversham in Kent, Marsh was born there and educated at Faversham Grammar School, the King's School, ...

on 1 May 1839, Leicester archdeaconry become part of the Diocese of Peterborough.''

Late modern

*1863–1884 (ret.):

Henry Fearon The Ven. Henry Fearon (born Ockenden, 20 June 1802; died Loughborough 13 June 1885) was Archdeacon of Leicester from 1863 until 1884. Fearon was born in Ockenden, Cuckfield, Sussex on 20 June 1802, the son of the Rev. Joseph Francis Fearon. He ...

*1884–1886 (d.):

Assheton Pownall Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Assheton Pownall (3 October 1877 – 29 October 1953) was a British Conservative Party politician who served as Member of Parliament for Lewisham East from 1918 to 1945. Pownall was born in Warwick, Warwickshire, the so ...

*1886–1899 (ret.): John Mitchinson (former

Bishop of Barbados The Diocese of Barbados is one of eight dioceses of the Anglican Communion that is part of the Province of the West Indies. History The diocese was established in 1824 as one of a pair, the other being the Diocese of Jamaica, which covered the ...

then of the Windward Islands) *1899–1920 (ret.): John Stocks *1921–1938 (ret.): Frederick MacNutt :''From 12 November 1926, the archdeaconry formed part of the new Leicester diocese.'' *1938–1956 (ret.): Cecil Matthews (afterwards archdeacon emeritus) *1956–1963 (res.): Irven Edwards *1963–1980 (ret.):

Berkeley Cole The Venerable (Ronald) Berkeley Cole (1913–1996) was an eminent Anglican priest and author in the first half of the mid 20th century. After an earlier career as a Registrar (education), Registrar with the London County Freehold and Leasehold ...

(afterwards archdeacon emeritus) *1980–1994 (res.): David Silk *1994–2002 (res.): Mike Edson *2002–April 2012 (res.): Richard Atkinson *20128 September 2018 (res.):

Tim Stratford Timothy Richard Stratford (born 26 February 1961) is an Anglican priest and author. Since 2018, he has been Dean of Chester in the Church of England. He was previously Archdeacon of Leicester from 2012 to 2018. Early life and education Stratfor ...

(became

Dean of Chester The Dean of Chester is based at Chester Cathedral in the Diocese of Chester and is the head of the Chapter at the cathedral. List of deans Early modern *1541 Thomas Clerk (first Dean of Chester) *1541–1547 Henry Man (afterwards Bishop of S ...

) *4 November 2018present: Richard Worsfold
/ref>

References

Citations

Sources

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

Diocese of Leicester