Bishop of Shaftesbury
Encyclopedia
The Bishop of Shaftesbury was an episcopal
title used by a Church of England
suffragan bishop
. The title takes its name after the town of Shaftesbury
in Dorset
and was first created under the Suffragan Bishops Act 1534
.
There has only been one suffragan bishop, John Bradley, who was consecrated on the 23 March 1539. Until 1542, Shaftsbury had been part of the diocese of Salisbury
, then became part of the diocese of Bristol
from 1542-1836. Since 1836, it is again part of the diocese of Salisbury.
Episcopal polity
Episcopal polity is a form of church governance that is hierarchical in structure with the chief authority over a local Christian church resting in a bishop...
title used by a Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
suffragan bishop
Suffragan bishop
A suffragan bishop is a bishop subordinate to a metropolitan bishop or diocesan bishop. He or she may be assigned to an area which does not have a cathedral of its own.-Anglican Communion:...
. The title takes its name after the town of Shaftesbury
Shaftesbury
Shaftesbury is a town in Dorset, England, situated on the A30 road near the Wiltshire border 20 miles west of Salisbury. The town is built 718 feet above sea level on the side of a chalk and greensand hill, which is part of Cranborne Chase, the only significant hilltop settlement in Dorset...
in Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
and was first created under the Suffragan Bishops Act 1534
Suffragan Bishops Act 1534
The Suffragan Bishops Act 1534 was an Act of the Parliament of England that authorised the appointment of suffragan bishops in England and Wales...
.
There has only been one suffragan bishop, John Bradley, who was consecrated on the 23 March 1539. Until 1542, Shaftsbury had been part of the diocese of Salisbury
Diocese of Salisbury
The Diocese of Salisbury is a Church of England diocese in the south of England. The diocese covers Dorset and most of Wiltshire and is a constituent diocese of the Province of Canterbury. The diocese is led by the Bishop of Salisbury and the diocesan synod...
, then became part of the diocese of Bristol
Diocese of Bristol
The Diocese of Bristol is a Church of England diocese in the Province of Canterbury, England. It is based in the city of Bristol and covers South Gloucestershire and parts of north Wiltshire to Swindon...
from 1542-1836. Since 1836, it is again part of the diocese of Salisbury.
List of the Bishops of Shaftesbury
| No. | Incumbent | From | Until | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John Bradley John Bradley (bishop) John Bradley, the last abbot of Milton Abbey, Blandford Forum was appointed Bishop of Shaftesbury, Dorset under the provisions of the Suffragan Bishops Act 1534 in February, 1539, but relieved of his duties on on 11 March 1539 .-Notes:... |
February 1539 | March 1539 | Formerly Abbot Abbot The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery... of Milton Abbey Milton Abbey Milton Abbey School is a British independent school in the Dorset countryside. It has 227 pupils in six boarding Houses, called Athelstan, Bancks, Damer, Hambro, Middleton and Tregonwell. Founded in 1954, it welcomes boys from 13 to 16 years and is coeducational in the sixth form.The school has a... . |
| – | in abeyance | March 1539 | present |