Archdeacon of Lichfield

Last updated August 14, 2023

The Archdeacon of Lichfield (called Archdeacon of Stafford until 1980) is a senior cleric in the Diocese of Lichfield who is responsible for pastoral care and discipline of clergy in the Lichfield archdeaconry.

The archdeaconry was erected – as the Archdeaconry of Stafford – in the ancient Diocese of Coventry (later called Coventry and Lichfield, Lichfield and Coventry & Lichfield) before 1135, around the time when archdeacons were first being appointed across England. On 24 July 1877, the archdeaconry of Stoke-upon-Trent was created from the northern part of the Stafford archdeaconry.^[1] After the deanery of Stafford was transferred on 26 September 1979 to the Stoke archdeaconry,^[2] Stafford archdeaconry was renamed the archdeaconry of Lichfield on 25 April 1980.^[3] The present archdeacon is Dr Sue Weller.

List of archdeacons

High Medieval

At its creation, the archdeaconry was in the Diocese of Coventry.

1135–1145: Robert
bef. c. 1146–aft. c. 1146: William
bef. c. 1149–aft. c. 1159: Helias
bef. 1175–aft. 1175: Ralph de Thamewood
1175–1182: Alan
bef. 1191–aft. 1191: Henry Marshal (disputed)
bef. 1191–aft. 1191: Alexander
bef. 1194–1213 (res.): Henry de Loundres
bef. c. 1213–aft. c. 1213: Helyas
5 March 1213 – 1222 (d.): Robert of Gloucester (also Archdeacon of Sudbury from bef. 1220)

From 1228, the diocese became the Diocese of Coventry and Lichfield.

bef. 1238–aft. 1224: William of York
bef. 1234–aft. 1234: R. de Langdon
bef. 1244–aft. 1244: Robert of Stafford
bef. 1259–aft. 1259: Richard de Mepham
bef. 1265–1275 (res.): Thomas de Cantilupe
bef. c. 1290–aft. c. 1290: Adam Paine
?–bef. 1301 (d.): Rayner de Vichio/Florence

Late Medieval

6 June 1301 – 19 January 1322 (res.): John de Brunforte, son of Octavian
8 December 1321 – 20 August 1323 (exch.): Robert de Patrika
20 August 1323–June 1336 (d.): John Clarel
?–bef. 1349 (d.): William de Apeltre
26 June 1349–bef. 1349 (d.): Roger de Depyng
27 August 1349 – 4 June 1353 (exch.): Richard de Birmingham
1349–bef. 1355 (d.): Roger de Dorkyng (unsuccessful claimant)
4 June 1353 – 14 May 1356 (exch.): John de Marisco
14 May 1356–bef. 1358 (d.): William de Grenburgh
16 October 1358–bef. 1374 (d.): John de Sulgrave
29 March 1374 – 1381 (res.): John de Outheby
28 December 1381–bef. 1400 (res.): Richard de Toppeclyve
1 September 1400–aft. 1413: Henry Davyd
bef. 1415–aft. 1415: John Fyton
bef. 1418–1418 (res.): Thomas Barton
13 July 1418–bef. 1422 (res.): John Fyton (again)
1 March 1422–bef. 1432 (d.): William de Admondeston
4 July 1432–bef. 1442 (d.): Ralph Prestbury
bef. 1442–bef. June 1442 (res.): Roger Wall
29 June 1442 – 1459 (res.): John Wendesley, illegitimate son of Sir Thomas Wensley (d.1403) (or Wendesley) of Wensley in Derbyshire, five times a Member of Parliament for Derbyshire.
27 May 1459–bef. 1467 (res.): Thomas Hawkins (became Archdeacon of Worcester)
6 December 1467–March 1497 (d.): William Moggys
30 March 1497–aft. 1497: William Duffield
bef. 1501–30 June 1501 (res.): Edward Willoughby

30 June 1501–July 1515 (d.): John Wardroper
20 July 1515–bef. 1529: Adam Grafton (died 23 June 1529)
bef. 1530–1530 (res.): Geoffrey Blythe (nephew of Bishop Blythe)
3 October 1530–aft. 1530: John Blythe (another Blythe nephew)
bef. 1536–1540 (res.): Nicholas Heath

From 1539, the diocese became the Diocese of Lichfield and Coventry.

13 November 1540–bef. 1547 (exch.): John Redman (Master of Trinity from 1546)

Early modern

bef. 1547–?: John Dakyn (unsuccessful exchange)
5 August 1547–September 1567 (d.): Richard Walker
12 May 1567 – 1586 (res.): Thomas Bickley
2 February 1586 – 12 October 1614 (d.): Humphrey Tyndall
1613–bef. 1636 (d.): John Fulnetby
27 December 1636–bef. 1660 (d.): Martin Tinley
6 December 1660 – 4 May 1682 (d.): Francis Coke
14 July 1682 – 4 May 1721 (d.): Nathaniel Ellison
3 May 1721–bef. 1732 (d.): Thomas Allen (also Dean of Chester from 1722)
30 June 1732–bef. 1763 (d.): James Brooks
3 February 1763 – 1769 (res.): Edmund Law
15 March 1769 – 8 May 1782 (res.): John Carver (afterwards Archdeacon of Surrey)
23 May 1782 – 24 April 1801 (res.): William Brereton
28 April 1801 – 23 March 1829 (d.): Robert Nares
9 May 1829 – 13 August 1855 (d.): George Hodson

On 24 January 1837, the diocese lost the Coventry archdeaconry to the Diocese of Worcester ^[4] and became the Diocese of Lichfield.

December 1855–18 July 1876 (d.): Henry Moore

Late modern

1876–bef. 1888: John Iles (died 1888)^[5]

Stoke archdeaconry was split off on 24 July 1877.

1888–3 June 1898 (d.): Melville Scott ^[6]
1898–1910 (ret.): Robert Hodgson ^[7]
1911–7 June 1922 (d.): Charles Blakeway ^[8]
1922–1933 (ret.): Hugh Bright ^[9]
1935–1944 (res.): Robert Hodson ^[10]
1945–1959 (res.): William Parker ^[11]
1959–1974 (ret.): Basil Stratton (afterwards archdeacon emeritus)^[12]
1974–1980: Richard Ninis (became Archdeacon of Lichfield)^[13]

The archdeaconry was renamed Lichfield on 25 April 1980.

1980–1998 (ret.): Richard Ninis (previously Archdeacon of Stafford)^[13]
1998–2000 (ret.): George Frost ^[14]
3 March 2001 – 5 May 2013 (ret.): Chris Liley ^[15]^[16]
18 July 2013 –31 May 2019 (res.):^[17] Simon Baker ^[18]
September 2019 –present: Sue Weller ^[19]

Related Research Articles

The Archdeacon of Cleveland is a senior ecclesiastical officer of an archdeaconry, or subdivision, of the Church of England diocese and province of York. The Archdeaconry of Cleveland stretches west from Thirsk, north to Middlesbrough, east to Whitby and south to Pickering. It has a varied geography, including the southern parts of the conurbation of Teesside and the open moors of the North York Moors National Park.

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 rural deaneries of Beverley, Bridlington, Harthill, Howden, Hull, North Holderness, Scarborough and South Holderness.

The Archdeacon of Nottingham is a senior ecclesiastical officer in the Church of England Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham, who exercises supervision of clergy and has responsibility for church buildings within the Archdeaconry of Nottingham.

The Archdeacon of London is a senior ecclesiastical officer in the Church of England. They are responsible for the eastern Archdeaconry of the Two Cities in the Diocese of London, an area without area bishop and, rather, overseen by the (diocese-leading) Bishop of London. The immediate western counterpart in this area is the Archdeacon(ry) of Charing Cross.

The Archdeacon of West Ham is a senior ecclesiastical officer – in charge of the Archdeaconry of West Ham – in the Church of England Diocese of Chelmsford. The current archdeacon is Elwin Cockett.

The Archdeacon of Lincoln is a senior ecclesiastical officer in the Diocese of Lincoln – he or she has responsibilities within his archdeaconry including oversight of church buildings and some supervision, discipline and pastoral care of the clergy.

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.

The Archdeacon of Middlesex is a senior cleric in the Church of England, co-responsible for the Archdeaconry of "Middlesex", which mirrors the "Kensington" episcopal area of the Diocese of London — the other person responsible being the Bishop of Kensington.

The Archdeacon of Gloucester is a senior ecclesiastical officer in the Diocese of Gloucester, England whose responsibilities include the care of clergy and church buildings within the area of the Archdeaconry of Gloucester.

The Archdeaconry of Surrey is the ecclesiastical officer in charge of the archdeaconry of Surrey, a subdivision of the Church of England Diocese of Guildford in the Province of Canterbury.

The Archdeacon of Colchester is a senior ecclesiastical officer in the Diocese of Chelmsford – she or he has responsibilities within her archdeaconry including oversight of church buildings and some supervision, discipline and pastoral care of the clergy.

The Archdeacon of Leicester is a senior ecclesiastical officer in the Church of England Diocese of Leicester.

The Archdeacon of Derby is a senior ecclesiastical officer in the Church of England Diocese of Derby. The archdeacon has responsibility for church buildings and clergy discipline in her/his archdeaconry – the Archdeaconry of Derby – which roughly covers the southern half of Derbyshire.

The Archdeacon of Hereford is a senior ecclesiastical officer in the Church of England Diocese of Hereford. The archdeacon is the senior priest with responsibility over the area of the archdeaconry of Hereford.

The Archdeacon of St Albans is an ecclesiastical post in the Church of England Diocese of St Albans in the Province of Canterbury.

The Archdeacon of Coventry is a senior ecclesiastical officer in the Church of England Diocese of Coventry. The post has been called the Archdeacon Pastor since 2012.

The Archdeacon of Chester is a senior ecclesiastical officer in the diocese of Chester. The area in which she, or he, has statutory duties is the Archdeaconry of Chester – those duties include some pastoral care and disciplinary supervision of the clergy in that area.

The Archdeacon of Durham is a senior ecclesiastical officer of the diocese of Durham. They have, within the geographical area the archdeaconry of Durham, pastoral oversight of clergy and care of church buildings.

The Archdeacon of Salop is a senior ecclesiastical officer in the Church of England Diocese of Lichfield. The incumbent is Paul Thomas.

The Archdeacon of Ludlow is a senior ecclesiastical officer within the Diocese of Hereford. Prior to 1876 the post was known by its previous title of Archdeacon of Shropshire or alternatively as the Archdeacon of Salop in the Diocese of Hereford.

References

↑ "No. 24486". The London Gazette . 24 July 1877. pp. 4316–4318.
↑ "No. 47968". The London Gazette . 2 October 1979. p. 12359.
↑ "No. 48179". The London Gazette . 8 May 1980. p. 6814.
↑ "No. 19460". The London Gazette . 24 January 1837. pp. 167–170.
↑ "BELLS AND BELLRINGING IN SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE". Archived from the original on 20 September 2011. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
↑ "Scott, Melville Horne" . Who's Who & Who Was Who . Vol. 1920–2008 (December 2007 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 17 October 2013.(Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
↑ "Hodgson, Robert" . Who's Who & Who Was Who . Vol. 1920–2008 (December 2007 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 17 October 2013.(Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
↑ "Blakeway, Charles Edward" . Who's Who & Who Was Who . Vol. 1920–2008 (December 2007 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 17 October 2013.(Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
↑ "Bright, Hugh" . Who's Who & Who Was Who . Vol. 1920–2008 (December 2007 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 17 October 2013.(Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
↑ "Hodson, Robert Leighton" . Who's Who & Who Was Who . Vol. 1920–2008 (December 2012 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 17 October 2013.(Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
↑ "Parker, William Alonzo" . Who's Who & Who Was Who . Vol. 1920–2008 (December 2012 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 17 October 2013.(Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
↑ "Stratton, Basil" . Who's Who & Who Was Who . Vol. 1920–2008 (December 2012 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 17 October 2013.(Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
1 2 "Ninis, Richard Betts" . Who's Who . Vol. 2013 (December 2012 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 17 October 2013.(Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
↑ "Frost, George" . Who's Who . Vol. 2013 (December 2012 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 17 October 2013.(Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
↑ "Liley, Christopher Frank" . Who's Who . Vol. 2013 (December 2012 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 17 October 2013.(Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
↑ Diocese of Lichfield – Archdeacon Announces Retirement Archived January 19, 2013, at the Wayback Machine (Accessed 2 January 2013)
↑ "Diocese of Lichfield - News - Archdeacon Simon to stand down". www.lichfield.anglican.org. Archived from the original on 9 February 2019.
↑ Diocese of Lichfield – New Appointee is Manna from Tunstall Archived 2013-07-19 at the Wayback Machine (Accessed 19 April 2013)
↑ "Diocese of Lichfield - News - Sue named as new Archdeacon Missioner". www.lichfield.anglican.org. Archived from the original on 27 June 2019.

Sources

Le Neve, John; Hardy, Sir Thomas Duffus (1854). Archdeacons of Lichfield . Fasti ecclesiae Anglicanae. Vol. 1. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 570–573 – via Wikisource.
Jones, B. (1964), Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1300–1541, vol. 10, pp. 18–20
Horn, Joyce M. (2003), Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1541–1857, vol. 10, pp. 14–16

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[1] "No. 24486". The London Gazette . 24 July 1877. pp. 4316–4318.

[2] "No. 47968". The London Gazette . 2 October 1979. p. 12359.

[3] "No. 48179". The London Gazette . 8 May 1980. p. 6814.

[4] "No. 19460". The London Gazette . 24 January 1837. pp. 167–170.

[5] "BELLS AND BELLRINGING IN SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE". Archived from the original on 20 September 2011. Retrieved 15 June 2012.

[6] "Scott, Melville Horne" . Who's Who & Who Was Who . Vol. 1920–2008 (December 2007 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 17 October 2013.(Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[7] "Hodgson, Robert" . Who's Who & Who Was Who . Vol. 1920–2008 (December 2007 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 17 October 2013.(Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[8] "Blakeway, Charles Edward" . Who's Who & Who Was Who . Vol. 1920–2008 (December 2007 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 17 October 2013.(Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[9] "Bright, Hugh" . Who's Who & Who Was Who . Vol. 1920–2008 (December 2007 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 17 October 2013.(Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[10] "Hodson, Robert Leighton" . Who's Who & Who Was Who . Vol. 1920–2008 (December 2012 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 17 October 2013.(Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[11] "Parker, William Alonzo" . Who's Who & Who Was Who . Vol. 1920–2008 (December 2012 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 17 October 2013.(Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[12] "Stratton, Basil" . Who's Who & Who Was Who . Vol. 1920–2008 (December 2012 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 17 October 2013.(Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[ninis-13] 1 2 "Ninis, Richard Betts" . Who's Who . Vol. 2013 (December 2012 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 17 October 2013.(Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[14] "Frost, George" . Who's Who . Vol. 2013 (December 2012 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 17 October 2013.(Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[15] "Liley, Christopher Frank" . Who's Who . Vol. 2013 (December 2012 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 17 October 2013.(Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[16] Diocese of Lichfield – Archdeacon Announces Retirement Archived January 19, 2013, at the Wayback Machine (Accessed 2 January 2013)

[17] "Diocese of Lichfield - News - Archdeacon Simon to stand down". www.lichfield.anglican.org. Archived from the original on 9 February 2019.

[18] Diocese of Lichfield – New Appointee is Manna from Tunstall Archived 2013-07-19 at the Wayback Machine (Accessed 19 April 2013)

[19] "Diocese of Lichfield - News - Sue named as new Archdeacon Missioner". www.lichfield.anglican.org. Archived from the original on 27 June 2019.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

v t e Archdeacons of Stafford and of Lichfield
High Medieval (Stafford)	Robert William Helias Ralph de Thamewood Alan Henry Marshal Alexander Henry de Loundres Helyas Robert of Gloucester William of York R. de Langdon Robert of Stafford Richard de Mepham Thomas de Cantilupe Adam Paine Rayner de Vichio/Florence
Late Medieval (Stafford)	John de Brunforte Robert de Patrika John Clarel William de Apeltre Roger de Depyng Richard de Birmingham Roger de Dorkyng John de Marisco William de Grenburgh John de Sulgrave John de Outheby Richard de Toppeclyve Henry Davyd John Fyton Thomas Barton John Fyton (again) William de Admondeston Ralph Prestbury Roger Wall John Wendesley Thomas Hawkins William Moggys William Duffield Edward Willughby John Wardroper Adam Grafton Geoffrey Blythe John Blythe Nicholas Heath John Redman
Early modern (Stafford)	John Dakyn Richard Walker Thomas Bickley Humphrey Tyndall John Fulnetby Martin Tinley Francis Coke Nathaniel Ellison Thomas Allen James Brooks Edmund Law John Carver William Brereton Robert Nares George Hodson Henry Moore
Late modern (Stafford)	John Iles Melville Scott Robert Hodgson Charles Blakeway Hugh Bright Robert Hodson William Parker Basil Stratton Richard Ninis (became Archdeacon of Lichfield)
Lichfield	Richard Ninis (previously Archdeacon of Stafford) George Frost Chris Liley Simon Baker Sue Weller (designate)

v t e Diocese of Lichfield
Lichfield Cathedral Bishop's House, Lichfield St Mary's House, Lichfield Area scheme (1992–present)
Office holders	Michael Ipgrave, Bishop of Lichfield Sarah Bullock, area Bishop of Shrewsbury Matthew Parker, area Bishop of Stafford area Bishop of Wolverhampton (vacant) Jan McFarlane, Canon and honorary assistant bishop AEO: the Bishop suffragan of Oswestry & Rob Munro, Bishop suffragan of Ebbsfleet Dean of Lichfield (vacant) Paul Thomas, Archdeacon of Salop Sue Weller, Archdeacon of Lichfield Julian Francis, Archdeacon of Walsall Megan Smith, Archdeacon of Stoke
Provincial episcopal visitors	Paul Thomas, Bishop suffragan of Oswestry
Historic offices	Archdeacon of Chester (12th century –1541; erected into Chester diocese) Archdeacon of Stafford (12 C. –1980; renamed to Lichfield archdeaconry) Archdeacon of Coventry (12 C. –1837; moved to Worcester then erected into Coventry diocese) Archdeacon of Derby (12th C. –1884; moved to Southwell then erected into Derby diocese)