List of Archbishops of Canterbury
Encyclopedia
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
is the head of the established 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...
and, symbolically, of the worldwide Anglican Communion
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
. From the time of Augustine of Canterbury
Augustine of Canterbury
Augustine of Canterbury was a Benedictine monk who became the first Archbishop of Canterbury in the year 597...
until the 16th century, the Archbishops of Canterbury were Roman Catholic and in full communion
Full communion
In Christian ecclesiology, full communion is a relationship between church organizations or groups that mutually recognize their sharing the essential doctrines....
with the Bishop of Rome
Diocese of Rome
The Diocese of Rome is a diocese of the Catholic Church in Rome, Italy. The bishop of Rome is the Pope, who is the Supreme Pontiff and leader of the Catholic Church...
, the Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
. During the English Reformation
English Reformation
The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....
the church broke away from the authority of the Pope, at first temporarily and later more permanently. Since then the archbishops have been outside of the succession of the Roman Catholic Church's hierarchy and have led the independent national church.
In the Middle Ages there was considerable variation in the nomination of the archbishop and other bishops—at various times the choice was made by the canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
s of Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, Kent, is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England and forms part of a World Heritage Site....
, the King of England, or the Pope. Since the reformation, the church is explicitly a state church
State religion
A state religion is a religious body or creed officially endorsed by the state...
and the choice is legally that of the British crown
Monarchy of the United Kingdom
The monarchy of the United Kingdom is the constitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories. The present monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, has reigned since 6 February 1952. She and her immediate family undertake various official, ceremonial and representational duties...
; today it is made in the name of the Monarchy of the United Kingdom by the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
, from a shortlist of two selected by an ad hoc committee called the Crown Nominations Commission
Appointment of Church of England bishops
The appointment of Church of England diocesan bishops follows a somewhat convoluted process, reflecting the church's traditional tendency towards compromise and ad hoc solutions, traditional ambiguity between hierarchy and democracy, and traditional role as a semi-autonomous state church...
.
Today, the archbishop fills four main roles:
- He is the diocesanDioceseA diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
bishop of the Diocese of CanterburyDiocese of CanterburyThe Diocese of Canterbury is a Church of England diocese covering eastern Kent, founded by St. Augustine of Canterbury in 597. It is centred on Canterbury Cathedral, and is the oldest see of the Church of England....
, which covers the east of the County of KentKentKent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
and the extreme north-east of SurreySurreySurrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
. Founded by Augustine in 597, it is the oldest bishopricEpiscopal SeeAn episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
in the English church. The bulk of this role is delegated to the suffragan Bishop of DoverBishop of DoverThe Bishop of Dover is an episcopal title used by a suffragan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Canterbury, England. The title takes its name after the town of Dover in Kent...
(who is as such called the "Bishop in Canterbury"). - He is the metropolitanMetropolitan bishopIn Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
of the Province of CanterburyProvince of CanterburyThe Province of Canterbury, also called the Southern Province, is one of two ecclesiastical provinces making up the Church of England...
, encompassing 30 dioceses in the southern two-thirds of England. The remaining 14 dioceses in the north of England fall within the Province of YorkProvince of YorkThe Province of York is one of two ecclesiastical provinces making up the Church of England, and consists of 14 dioceses which cover the northern third of England and the Isle of Man. York was elevated to an Archbishopric in 735 AD: Ecgbert of York was the first archbishop...
, under the aegis of the Archbishop of YorkArchbishop of YorkThe Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man...
. Four dioceses in WalesWalesWales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
were under the Province of Canterbury until they were transferred to the disestablished Church in WalesChurch in WalesThe Church in Wales is the Anglican church in Wales, composed of six dioceses.As with the primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Archbishop of Wales serves concurrently as one of the six diocesan bishops. The current archbishop is Barry Morgan, the Bishop of Llandaff.In contrast to the...
in 1920. - As "Primate of All England", he is the chief religious figure in the Church of England (the British sovereignMonarchy of the United KingdomThe monarchy of the United Kingdom is the constitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories. The present monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, has reigned since 6 February 1952. She and her immediate family undertake various official, ceremonial and representational duties...
is the "Supreme GovernorSupreme Governor of the Church of EnglandThe Supreme Governor of the Church of England is a title held by the British monarchs which signifies their titular leadership over the Church of England. Although the monarch's authority over the Church of England is not strong, the position is still very relevant to the church and is mostly...
" of the church). - As symbolic head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop is recognised as primus inter paresPrimus inter paresPrimus inter pares is Latin phrase describing the most senior person of a group sharing the same rank or office.When not used in reference to a specific title, it may indicate that the person so described is formally equal, but looked upon as an authority of special importance by their peers...
("first among equals") of all AnglicanAnglicanismAnglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
primatesPrimate (religion)Primate is a title or rank bestowed on some bishops in certain Christian churches. Depending on the particular tradition, it can denote either jurisdictional authority or ceremonial precedence ....
.
List of archbishops
| bet. | between |
|---|---|
| c. | circa |
| dep. | deposed |
| depr. | deprived |
| el. | elected |
| enth. | enthroned |
| nom. | nominated |
| pos. | postulated |
| tr. | translated Translation (ecclesiastical) Translation is the technical term when a Bishop is transferred from one diocese to another.This can be* From Suffragan Bishop status to Diocesan Bishop*From Coadjutor bishop to Diocesan Bishop*From one country's Episcopate to another... |
| res. | resigned |
Pre-Norman conquest
| From | Until | Incumbent | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 597 | 26 May 604 or 605 | Augustine Augustine of Canterbury Augustine of Canterbury was a Benedictine monk who became the first Archbishop of Canterbury in the year 597... |
Canonised: St Augustine of Canterbury. |
| c. 604 | 2 Feb 619 | Laurence Laurence of Canterbury Laurence was the second Archbishop of Canterbury from about 604 to 619. He was a member of the Gregorian mission sent from Italy to England to Christianize the Anglo-Saxons from their native Anglo-Saxon paganism, although the date of his arrival is disputed... |
(Laurentius, Lawrence) Canonised: St Laurence of Canterbury. |
| 619 | 24 Apr 624 | Mellitus Mellitus Mellitus was the first Bishop of London in the Saxon period, the third Archbishop of Canterbury, and a member of the Gregorian mission sent to England to convert the Anglo-Saxons from their native paganism to Christianity. He arrived in 601 AD with a group of clergymen sent to augment the mission,... |
Translated from London Bishop of London The Bishop of London is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of London in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers 458 km² of 17 boroughs of Greater London north of the River Thames and a small part of the County of Surrey... ; canonised: St Mellitus. |
| 624 | 10 Nov bet. 627 and 631 |
Justus Justus Justus was the fourth Archbishop of Canterbury. He was sent from Italy to England by Pope Gregory the Great, on a mission to Christianize the Anglo-Saxons from their native Anglo-Saxon paganism, probably arriving with the second group of missionaries despatched in 601... |
Translated from Rochester Bishop of Rochester The Bishop of Rochester is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Rochester in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers the west of the county of Kent and is centred in the city of Rochester where the bishop's seat is located at the Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin... ; canonised: St Justus. |
| 627 | 30 Sep 653 | Honorius | Canonised: St Honorius. |
| Mar 655 | 14 Jul 664 | Deusdedit Deusdedit of Canterbury Deusdedit , perhaps originally named Frithona, Frithuwine or Frithonas, was a medieval Archbishop of Canterbury, the first native-born holder of the see of Canterbury. By birth an Anglo-Saxon, he became archbishop in 655 and held the office for more than nine years until his death, probably from... |
Canonised: St Deusdedit. |
| 14 Jul 664 | c. 666 | See vacant | |
| c. 666 | 668 | (Wighard Wighard Wighard was a medieval Archbishop-elect of Canterbury. What little is known about him comes from 8th-century writer Bede, but inconsistencies between various works have led to confusion about the exact circumstances of Wighard's election and whether he was ever confirmed in that office... ) |
(Wigheard) Died of plague before consecration. |
| 26 Mar 668 | 19 Sep 690 | Theodore Theodore of Tarsus Theodore was the eighth Archbishop of Canterbury, best known for his reform of the English Church and establishment of a school in Canterbury.... |
Canonised: St Theodore of Tarsus. |
| 29 Jun 693 | 13 Jan 731 | Berhtwald | (Brihtwald, Beorhtweald, Bertwald, Berthwald, Beorhtwald, or Beretuald) Abbot of Reculver Abbey Reculver Reculver is a hamlet and coastal resort situated about east of Herne Bay in southeast England. It is a ward of the City of Canterbury district in the county of Kent. Reculver once occupied a strategic location at the western end of the Wantsum Channel, between the Isle of Thanet and the Kent... ; canonised: St Berhtwald. |
| 10 Jun 731 | 30 Jul 734 | Tatwine | (Tatwin, Tatuini, or Tadwinus) Canonised: St Tatwine. |
| 735 | 17 Oct 739 | Nothhelm | (Nothelm) Canonised: St Nothelm. |
| c. 740 | 26 Oct 760 | Cuthbert Cuthbert of Canterbury Cuthbert was a medieval Anglo-Saxon Archbishop of Canterbury in England. Prior to his elevation to Canterbury, he was abbot of a monastic house, and perhaps may have been Bishop of Hereford also, but evidence for his holding Hereford mainly dates from after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066... |
Possibly translated from Hereford Bishop of Hereford The Bishop of Hereford is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Hereford in the Province of Canterbury.The see is in the City of Hereford where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of Saint Mary and Saint Ethelbert which was founded as a cathedral in 676.The Bishop's residence is... . |
| 27 Sep 761 | 764 | Bregowine | (Bregwine or Bregwin) Canonised: St Bregwin. |
| 2 Feb 765 | 11/12 Aug 792 | Jænberht | (Jambert, Jaenbeorht, Jænbert, Jaenberht, Jaenbert, or Jaenberht) Abbot of St Augustine's, Canterbury. |
| 21 Jul 793 | 12 May 805 | Æthelhard Æthelhard Æthelhard was a Bishop of Winchester then an Archbishop of Canterbury in medieval England. Appointed by King Offa of Mercia, Æthelhard had difficulties with both the Kentish monarchs and with a rival archiepiscopate in southern England, and was deposed around 796 by King Eadberht III Præn of Kent... |
(Ethelhard, Æthilheard, or Aethelheard) |
| c. Oct 805 | 21 Mar 832 | Wulfred Wulfred Wulfred was an Anglo-Saxon Archbishop of Canterbury in medieval England. Nothing is known of his life prior to 803, when he attended a church council, but he was probably a nobleman from Middlesex. He was elected archbishop in 805 and spent his time in office reforming the clergy of his cathedral... |
|
| 8 Jun 832 | 30 Aug 832 | Feologild Feologild Feologild was likely a medieval English Archbishop of Canterbury, although slight controversy surrounds his election, with at least a couple of modern historians arguing that instead of being elected, he was merely an unsuccessful candidate for the office... |
(Feologeld) Abbot of an unknown monastery before election. |
| c. 27 Jul 833 | 4 Feb 870 | Ceolnoth Ceolnoth -Biography:Gervase of Canterbury says that Ceolnoth was Dean of the see of Canterbury previous to being elected to the archiepiscopal see of Canterbury, but this story has no confirmation in contemporary records. Ceolnoth was consecrated archbishop on 27 July 833... |
|
| 870 | 30 Jun 888 | Æthelred | (Ethelred) |
| 890 | 2 Aug 923 | Plegmund Plegmund Plegmund , after spending time as a hermit, became Archbishop of Canterbury in England from 890 to 914. He reorganised the Diocese of Winchester, creating four new sees, and worked with other scholars in translating religious works... |
(Plegemund) Clerk to King Alfred Alfred the Great Alfred the Great was King of Wessex from 871 to 899.Alfred is noted for his defence of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of southern England against the Vikings, becoming the only English monarch still to be accorded the epithet "the Great". Alfred was the first King of the West Saxons to style himself... . |
| bet. 923 and 925 | 8 Jan 926 | Athelm Athelm Athelm was an English churchman, who was the first Bishop of Wells, and later Archbishop of Canterbury.-Biography:... |
(Æðelhelm) Translated from Wells 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 vast majority of the county of Somerset and a small area of Dorset. The Episcopal seat is located in the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew in... . |
| c. 926 | 12 Feb 941 | Wulfhelm Wulfhelm Wulfhelm was Bishop of Wells before being promoted to the Archbishopric of Canterbury about 926.-Biography:Wulfhelm was elected and consecrated Bishop of Wells between 923 and September 925. Wulfhelm was translated from the Bishopric of Wells to be Archbishop of Canterbury in about 926... |
Translated from Wells 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 vast majority of the county of Somerset and a small area of Dorset. The Episcopal seat is located in the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew in... . |
| 941 | 2 Jun 958 | Oda | (Odo, Oda the Severe) Translated from Ramsbury Bishop of Ramsbury This page refers to holders of the Saxon bishopric. See Bishop of Ramsbury for the modern suffragan bishop.In Saxon times the village of Ramsbury in Wiltshire was an extremely important location for the Church, and several of the early bishops went on to become Archbishops of Canterbury.The... ; canonised: St Oda. |
| 958 | 959 | Ælfsige | (Aelfsige) |
| 959 | dep. 959 | Byrhthelm | (Beorhthelm or Birthelm) Translated from Wells 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 vast majority of the county of Somerset and a small area of Dorset. The Episcopal seat is located in the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew in... , deposed & returned to Wells. |
| 959 | 19 May 988 | Dunstan Dunstan Dunstan was an Abbot of Glastonbury Abbey, a Bishop of Worcester, a Bishop of London, and an Archbishop of Canterbury, later canonised as a saint. His work restored monastic life in England and reformed the English Church... |
Translated from London Bishop of London The Bishop of London is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of London in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers 458 km² of 17 boroughs of Greater London north of the River Thames and a small part of the County of Surrey... ; canonised: St Dunstan. |
| 988 | Feb 990 | Æthelgar Æthelgar Æthelgar was Archbishop of Canterbury, and previously Bishop of Selsey.-Biography:Æthelgar was a monk at Glastonbury Abbey before he was the discipulus of Aethelwold the Bishop of Winchester. He then continued as a monk at Abingdon Abbey, until 964 when he was appointed Abbot of the newly reformed... |
Translated from Selsey. |
| 990 | 28 Oct 994 | Sigeric the Serious Sigeric the Serious Sigeric was the Archbishop of Canterbury from 990 to 994.It is unclear whether the epithet "The Serious" originated from his learning, or if it derived from transliteration of his name into Latin as Serio.- Biography :... |
Translated from Ramsbury Bishop of Ramsbury This page refers to holders of the Saxon bishopric. See Bishop of Ramsbury for the modern suffragan bishop.In Saxon times the village of Ramsbury in Wiltshire was an extremely important location for the Church, and several of the early bishops went on to become Archbishops of Canterbury.The... . |
| el. 21 Apr 995 | 16 Nov 1005 | Ælfric of Abingdon | (Ælfric of Wessex) Translated from Winchester Bishop of Winchester The Bishop of Winchester is the head of the Church of England diocese of Winchester, with his cathedra at Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire.The bishop is one of five Church of England bishops to be among the Lords Spiritual regardless of their length of service. His diocese is one of the oldest and... ; canonised: St Aelfric. |
| 1006 | 19 Apr 1012 | Ælfheah | (Alphege, Elphege, Alfege, or Godwine) Translated from Winchester Bishop of Winchester The Bishop of Winchester is the head of the Church of England diocese of Winchester, with his cathedra at Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire.The bishop is one of five Church of England bishops to be among the Lords Spiritual regardless of their length of service. His diocese is one of the oldest and... ; canonised: St Alphege. |
| 1013 | 12 Jun 1020 | Lyfing | Translated from Wells 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 vast majority of the county of Somerset and a small area of Dorset. The Episcopal seat is located in the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew in... . |
| 13 Nov 1020 | c. 29 Oct 1038 | Æthelnoth | (Aethelnoth, Ethelnoth, Egelnodus, or Ednodus) Formerly Dean of Canterbury Dean of Canterbury The Dean of Canterbury is the head of the Chapter of the Cathedral of Christ Church, Canterbury, England. The office of dean originated after the English Reformation, and its precursor office was the prior of the cathedral-monastery... . |
| 1038 | 29 Oct 1050 | Eadsige | (Eadsige, Eadsimus, or Eadsin) |
| Mar 1051 | dep. Sep 1052 | Robert of Jumièges Robert of Jumièges Robert of Jumièges was the first Norman Archbishop of Canterbury. He had previously served as prior of the Abbey of St Ouen at Rouen in France, before becoming abbot of Jumièges Abbey, near Rouen, in 1037... |
(Robert Chambert or Robert Champart) Deposed. |
| 1052 | depr. 11 Apr 1070 | Stigand Stigand Stigand was an English churchman in pre-Norman Conquest England. Although his birthdate is unknown, by 1020, he was serving as a royal chaplain and advisor. He was named Bishop of Elmham in 1043, and then later Bishop of Winchester and Archbishop of Canterbury... |
Concurrently Bishop of Winchester Bishop of Winchester The Bishop of Winchester is the head of the Church of England diocese of Winchester, with his cathedra at Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire.The bishop is one of five Church of England bishops to be among the Lords Spiritual regardless of their length of service. His diocese is one of the oldest and... ; deprived of both sees. |
| Source(s): | |||
Pre-Reformation
| From | Until | Incumbent | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Aug 1070 | 28 May 1089 | Lanfranc Lanfranc Lanfranc was Archbishop of Canterbury, and a Lombard by birth.-Early life:Lanfranc was born in the early years of the 11th century at Pavia, where later tradition held that his father, Hanbald, held a rank broadly equivalent to magistrate... |
Abbot of St. Étienne Abbaye-aux-Hommes The Abbaye aux Hommes is a former abbey church in the French city of Caen, Normandy. Dedicated to Saint Stephen , it is considered, along with the neighbouring Abbaye aux Dames , to be one of the most notable Romanesque buildings in Normandy. Like all the major abbeys in Normandy, it was Benedictine... , Caen. |
| 4 Dec 1093 | 21 Apr 1109 | Anselm Anselm of Canterbury Anselm of Canterbury , also called of Aosta for his birthplace, and of Bec for his home monastery, was a Benedictine monk, a philosopher, and a prelate of the church who held the office of Archbishop of Canterbury from 1093 to 1109... |
Abbot of Bec Bec Abbey Bec Abbey in Le Bec Hellouin, Normandy, France, once the most influential abbey in the Anglo-Norman kingdom of the twelfth century, is a Benedictine monastic foundation in the Eure département, in the Bec valley midway between the cities of Rouen and Bernay.Like all abbeys, Bec maintained annals... ; Canonised: St Anselm. |
| 21 Apr 1109 | 26 Apr 1114 | See vacant | |
| el. 26 Apr 1114 | 2 Oct 1122 | Ralph d'Escures Ralph d'Escures Ralph , also known as Ralph d'Escures from the family estate Escures, near Sées in Normandy, was a medieval Abbot of Séez, Bishop of Rochester and then Archbishop of Canterbury. He studied at the school at the Abbey of Bec. In 1079 he entered the abbey of St Martin at Séez, and became abbot there... |
Translated from Rochester Bishop of Rochester The Bishop of Rochester is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Rochester in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers the west of the county of Kent and is centred in the city of Rochester where the bishop's seat is located at the Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin... . |
| 18 Feb 1123 | 21 Nov 1136 | William de Corbeil William de Corbeil William de Corbeil or William of Corbeil was a medieval Archbishop of Canterbury. Very little is known of William's early life or his family, except that he was born at Corbeil in the outskirts of Paris and that he had two brothers... |
(William of Corbeil) Prior of St Osyth. |
| 21 Nov 1136 | 8 Jan 1139 | See vacant | |
| 8 Jan 1139 | 18 Apr 1161 | Theobald of Bec Theobald of Bec Theobald was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1139 to 1161. He was a Norman; his exact birth date is unknown. Some time in the late 11th or early 12th century Theobald became a monk at the Abbey of Bec, rising to the position of abbot in 1137. King Stephen of England chose him to be Archbishop of... |
(Tedbald) Abbot of Bec Bec Abbey Bec Abbey in Le Bec Hellouin, Normandy, France, once the most influential abbey in the Anglo-Norman kingdom of the twelfth century, is a Benedictine monastic foundation in the Eure département, in the Bec valley midway between the cities of Rouen and Bernay.Like all abbeys, Bec maintained annals... . |
| 18 Apr 1161 | 3 Jun 1162 | See vacant | |
| 3 Jun 1162 | 29 Dec 1170 | Thomas Becket Thomas Becket Thomas Becket was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in 1170. He is venerated as a saint and martyr by both the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion... |
(Thomas of London, Thomas à Becket) Previously Archdeacon of Canterbury and Lord Chancellor Lord Chancellor The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign... ; canonised: St Thomas of Canterbury. |
| 1173 | (Roger de Bailleul Roger de Bailleul Roger de Bailleul was a medieval Archbishop of Canterbury-elect.Roger was the abbot of Bec Abbey when he was elected archbishop by the cathedral chapter of Canterbury after the murder of Thomas Becket. He declined the election. His election was overturned on 5 April 1173.-References:... ) |
Abbot of Le Bec-Hellouin; elected but declined the see. | |
| 7 Apr 1174 | 16 Feb 1184 | Richard Richard of Dover Richard was a medieval Benedictine monk and Archbishop of Canterbury. Employed by Thomas Becket immediately before Becket's death, Richard arranged for Becket to be buried in Canterbury Cathedral and eventually succeeded Becket at Canterbury in a contentious election... |
(Richard of Dover) Prior of Dover Dover Priory The Priory of St. Mary the Virgin and St. Martin of the New Work, or Newark, commonly called Dover Priory, was a priory at Dover in southeast England... . |
| tr. Dec 1184 | Nov 1190 | Baldwin of Forde | Translated from Worcester Bishop of Worcester The Bishop of Worcester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury, England. He is the head of the Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury... . |
| el. 27 Nov 1191 | 26 Dec 1191 | (Reginald Fitz Jocelin Reginald Fitz Jocelin Reginald fitz Jocelin was a medieval Bishop of Bath and an Archbishop of Canterbury-elect in England. A member of an Anglo-Norman noble family, he was the son of a bishop, and was educated in Italy... ) |
(Reginald Italus, Richard the Lombard, or Reginald Lombardus) Translated from Wells 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 vast majority of the county of Somerset and a small area of Dorset. The Episcopal seat is located in the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew in... ; elected, however, appeals against it were sent to Pope Celestine III Pope Celestine III Pope Celestine III , born Giacinto Bobone, was elected Pope on March 21, 1191, and reigned until his death. He was born into the noble Orsini family in Rome, though he was only a cardinal deacon before becoming Pope... , but Reginald died before they were heard. |
| 26 Dec 1191 | 29 May 1193 | See vacant | |
| tr. 29 May 1193 | 13 Jul 1205 | Hubert Walter Hubert Walter Hubert Walter was an influential royal adviser in the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries in the positions of Chief Justiciar of England, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Lord Chancellor. As chancellor, Walter began the keeping of the Charter Roll, a record of all charters issued by the... |
Translated from Salisbury Bishop of Salisbury The Bishop of Salisbury is the ordinary of the Church of England's Diocese of Salisbury in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers much of the counties of Wiltshire and Dorset... ; Lord Chancellor Lord Chancellor The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign... ; Chief Justiciar Justiciar In medieval England and Ireland the Chief Justiciar was roughly equivalent to a modern Prime Minister as the monarch's chief minister. Similar positions existed on the Continent, particularly in Norman Italy. The term is the English form of the medieval Latin justiciarius or justitiarius In... . |
| el. bet. Jul and Oct 1205 |
bet. Oct and Dec 1206 |
(Reginald Reginald (sub-prior) Reginald was a medieval Archbishop of Canterbury-elect.He was the sub-prior of the cathedral chapter of Canterbury when the monks chose him to succeed Hubert Walter before October 1205. The election was quashed by the pope before 20 December 1206.... ) |
Sub-prior, elected but set aside by King John John of England John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death... . |
| pos. 11 Dec 1205 | c. 30 Mar 1206 | (John de Gray John de Gray John de Gray was Bishop of Norwich in the English county of Norfolk, as well as being elected Archbishop of Canterbury, but was never confirmed as archbishop.-Life:... ) |
Bishop of Norwich 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 see is in the City of Norwich where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided... ; chosen by the monks but set aside by Pope Innocent III Pope Innocent III Pope Innocent III was Pope from 8 January 1198 until his death. His birth name was Lotario dei Conti di Segni, sometimes anglicised to Lothar of Segni.... . |
| 17 Jun 1207 | 9 Jul 1228 | Cardinal Stephen Langton Stephen Langton Stephen Langton was Archbishop of Canterbury between 1207 and his death in 1228 and was a central figure in the dispute between King John of England and Pope Innocent III, which ultimately led to the issuing of Magna Carta in 1215... |
Created a cardinal Cardinal (Catholicism) A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and... in 1206. |
| el. 3 Aug 1228 | Jan 1229 | (Walter d'Eynsham Walter d'Eynsham Walter d'Eynsham, also known as Walter de Hempsham was a medieval Archbishop of Canterbury-elect.Walter was a monk of Christ Church Priory in Canterbury, when he was chosen to be the Archbishop of Canterbury on 3 August 1228 by his fellow monks of the cathedral chapter. His appointment was... ) |
(Walter de Hempsham) Elected but set aside by King Henry III of England Henry III of England Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready... and Pope Gregory IX Pope Gregory IX Pope Gregory IX, born Ugolino di Conti, was pope from March 19, 1227 to August 22, 1241.The successor of Pope Honorius III , he fully inherited the traditions of Pope Gregory VII and of his uncle Pope Innocent III , and zealously continued their policy of Papal supremacy.-Early life:Ugolino was... . |
| 10 Jun 1229 | 3 Aug 1231 | Richard le Grant Richard le Grant Richard le Grant was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1229 to 1231.-Biography:Grant was a native of Nazeing, Essex and had a brother and sister whom he provided for after he became archbishop... |
(Richard Grant or Richard Wethershed) Formerly Chancellor of the see of Lincoln 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 :... . |
| pos. 22 Sep 1231 | 20 Dec 1231 | (Ralph Neville Ralph Neville Ralph Neville was a medieval clergyman and politician who served as Bishop of Chichester, Keeper of the Great Seal and Lord Chancellor of England... ) |
(Ralf Nevill) Bishop of Chichester 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 in the City of Chichester where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity... , election quashed by Pope Gregory IX Pope Gregory IX Pope Gregory IX, born Ugolino di Conti, was pope from March 19, 1227 to August 22, 1241.The successor of Pope Honorius III , he fully inherited the traditions of Pope Gregory VII and of his uncle Pope Innocent III , and zealously continued their policy of Papal supremacy.-Early life:Ugolino was... . |
| el. 16 Mar 1232 | 12 Jun 1232 | (John of Sittingbourne John of Sittingbourne John of Sittingbourne was Archbishop of Canterbury-elect in 1232.John was a monk of Christ Church Priory, Canterbury, and was selected as prior of Christ Church in 1222... ) |
election quashed by Pope Gregory IX Pope Gregory IX Pope Gregory IX, born Ugolino di Conti, was pope from March 19, 1227 to August 22, 1241.The successor of Pope Honorius III , he fully inherited the traditions of Pope Gregory VII and of his uncle Pope Innocent III , and zealously continued their policy of Papal supremacy.-Early life:Ugolino was... . |
| el. 26 Aug 1232 | 1 Jun 1233 | (John Blund John Blund John Blund was an English scholastic philosopher, known for his work on the nature of the soul, the Tractatus de anima, one of the first works of western philosophy to make use of the recently translated De Anima by Aristotle and especially the Arab philosopher Avicenna's work on the soul,... ) |
(Johannes Blund, Iohannes Blondus, Iohannes Blundus) election quashed by Pope Gregory IX Pope Gregory IX Pope Gregory IX, born Ugolino di Conti, was pope from March 19, 1227 to August 22, 1241.The successor of Pope Honorius III , he fully inherited the traditions of Pope Gregory VII and of his uncle Pope Innocent III , and zealously continued their policy of Papal supremacy.-Early life:Ugolino was... . |
| 2 Apr 1234 | 16 Nov 1240 | Edmund Rich Edmund Rich Edmund Rich was a 13th century Archbishop of Canterbury in England... |
Prebendary of Salisbury; canonised: St Edmund of Abingdon. |
| el. 1 Feb 1241 | 14 Jul 1270 | Boniface of Savoy | Translated from Belley Roman Catholic Diocese of Belley-Ars The Roman Catholic Diocese of Belley-Ars, is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church in France. Erected in the 5th century the diocese was renamed in 1988 from the former Diocese of Belley , to the Diocese of Belley-Ars. Coextensive with the civil department of Ain, in the Region of... in France |
| el. 9 Sep 1270 | summer 1272 | (William Chillenden) | (Adam of Chillenden) Prior of Christ Church, Canterbury; elected but set aside by Pope Gregory X Pope Gregory X Pope Blessed Gregory X , born Tebaldo Visconti, was Pope from 1271 to 1276. He was elected by the papal election, 1268–1271, the longest papal election in the history of the Roman Catholic Church.... . |
| 26 Feb 1273 | res. 5 Jun 1278 | Cardinal Robert Kilwardby Robert Kilwardby Robert Kilwardby was an Archbishop of Canterbury in England and as well as a cardinal.-Life:Kilwardby studied at the University of Paris, then was a teacher of grammar and logic there. He then joined the Dominican Order and studied theology, and became regent at Oxford University before 1261,... |
Created a cardinal Cardinal (Catholicism) A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and... in 1278; and resigned. |
| pos. Jun or Jul 1278 | Jan 1279 | (Robert Burnell Robert Burnell Robert Burnell was an English bishop who served as Lord Chancellor of England from 1274 to 1292. A native of Shropshire, he served as a minor royal official before entering into the service of Prince Edward, the future King Edward I of England... ) |
(Robert Burnel) Bishop of Bath & Wells 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 vast majority of the county of Somerset and a small area of Dorset. The Episcopal seat is located in the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew in... ; elected but set aside by Pope Nicholas III Pope Nicholas III Pope Nicholas III , born Giovanni Gaetano Orsini, Pope from November 25, 1277 to his death in 1280, was a Roman nobleman who had served under eight Popes, been made cardinal-deacon of St... . |
| 19 Feb 1279 | 8 Dec 1292 | John Peckham John Peckham John Peckham was Archbishop of Canterbury in the years 1279–1292. He was a native of Sussex who was educated at Lewes Priory and became a Franciscan friar about 1250. He studied at Paris under Bonaventure, where he later taught theology. From his teaching, he came into conflict with Thomas... |
(John Pecham) English Provincial of the Franciscan Order. |
| 12 Sep 1294 | 11 May 1313 | Robert Winchelsey Robert Winchelsey Robert Winchelsey was an English Christian theologian and Archbishop of Canterbury. He studied at the universities of Paris and Oxford, and later taught at both. Influenced by Thomas Aquinas, he was a scholastic theologian... |
(Robert Winchelsea) Formerly Archdeacon of Essex; Chancellor of Oxford |
| el. 28 May 1313 | 1 Oct 1313 | (Thomas Cobham) | Election quashed. |
| tr. 1 Oct 1313 | 16 Nov 1327 | Walter Reynolds Walter Reynolds Walter Reynolds was Bishop of Worcester and then Archbishop of Canterbury as well as Lord High Treasurer and Lord Chancellor.-Life:... |
Translated from Worcester Bishop of Worcester The Bishop of Worcester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury, England. He is the head of the Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury... ; Lord Chancellor Lord Chancellor The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign... ; Lord Treasurer. |
| 5 Jun 1328 | 12 Oct 1333 | Simon Mepeham Simon Mepeham Simon Mepeham was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1328 to 1333.-Early Ministry:The Archbishop was educated at Oxford between the years 1290 through 1296 at Merton College where he devoted himself to the study of theology and was ordained priest on 21 September 1297 by Archbishop Robert Winchelsey in... |
(Simon Meopham) Prebendary of Chichester Cathedral; excommunicated. |
| pos. 3 Nov 1333 | 23 Aug 1348 | John de Stratford John de Stratford John de Stratford was Archbishop of Canterbury and Treasurer and Chancellor of England.-Life:John was born at Stratford-on-Avon and educated at Merton College, Oxford, afterwards entering the service of Edward II.... |
Translated from Winchester Bishop of Winchester The Bishop of Winchester is the head of the Church of England diocese of Winchester, with his cathedra at Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire.The bishop is one of five Church of England bishops to be among the Lords Spiritual regardless of their length of service. His diocese is one of the oldest and... ; Lord Chancellor Lord Chancellor The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign... . |
| nom. 24 Sep 1348 | 20 May 1349 | (John de Ufford John de Ufford John de Ufford, sometimes John de Offord or John Offord was chancellor and head of the royal administration to Edward III as well as being appointed to the Archbishopric of Canterbury.-Early life:... ) |
Dean of Lincoln; Lord Chancellor Lord Chancellor The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign... ; died of plague before consecration. |
| 19 Jul 1349 | 26 Aug 1349 | Thomas Bradwardine Thomas Bradwardine Thomas Bradwardine was an English scholar, scientist, courtier and, very briefly, Archbishop of Canterbury. As a celebrated scholastic philosopher and doctor of theology, he is often called Doctor Profundus, .-Life:He was born either at Hartfield in Sussex or at Chichester, where his family were... |
Died of plague |
| 20 Dec 1349 | 26 Apr 1366 | Simon Islip Simon Islip Simon Islip was an English prelate. He served as Archbishop of Canterbury between 1349 and 1366.-Lord Privy Seal:In 1347, possibly in September, Simon was appointed keeper of the Privy Seal. Previously he had held the seal of Lionel, who was the regent in England... |
Prebendary of St Paul's; secretary to the king and keeper of the Privy Seal. |
| 1366 | (William Edington) | (William Edendon) Bishop of Winchester Bishop of Winchester The Bishop of Winchester is the head of the Church of England diocese of Winchester, with his cathedra at Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire.The bishop is one of five Church of England bishops to be among the Lords Spiritual regardless of their length of service. His diocese is one of the oldest and... ; elected but refused the see. |
|
| tr. 24 Jul 1366 | res. 28 Nov 1368 | Cardinal Simon Langham | Translated from Ely Bishop of Ely The Bishop of Ely is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Ely in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese roughly covers the county of Cambridgeshire , together with a section of north-west Norfolk and has its see in the City of Ely, Cambridgeshire, where the seat is located at the... ; created a cardinal Cardinal (Catholicism) A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and... in 1368; and resigned the see. He was elected a second time in 1374, but Pope Gregory XI Pope Gregory XI Gregory XI was pope from 1370 until his death.-Biography:He was born Pierre Roger de Beaufort, in Maumont, in the modern commune of Rosiers-d'Égletons, Limousin around 1336. He succeeded Pope Urban V in 1370, and was pope until 1378... refused to confirm the election. |
| tr. 11 Oct 1368 | Jun 1374 | William Whittlesey William Whittlesey William Whittlesey was a Bishop of Rochester, then Bishop of Worcester, then finally Archbishop of Canterbury... |
(William Wittlesey) Translated from Worcester Bishop of Worcester The Bishop of Worcester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury, England. He is the head of the Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury... . |
| tr. 4 May 1375 | 14 Jun 1381 | Simon Sudbury Simon Sudbury Simon Sudbury, also called Simon Theobald of Sudbury and Simon of Sudbury was Bishop of London from 1361 to 1375, Archbishop of Canterbury from 1375 until his death, and in the last year of his life Lord Chancellor of England.... |
(Simon de Sudbury; Simon Tibold; Simon Theobold) Translated from London Bishop of London The Bishop of London is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of London in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers 458 km² of 17 boroughs of Greater London north of the River Thames and a small part of the County of Surrey... ; Lord Chancellor Lord Chancellor The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign... ; beheaded during the Peasants' Revolt Peasants' Revolt The Peasants' Revolt, Wat Tyler's Rebellion, or the Great Rising of 1381 was one of a number of popular revolts in late medieval Europe and is a major event in the history of England. Tyler's Rebellion was not only the most extreme and widespread insurrection in English history but also the... . |
| tr. 31 Jul 1381 | 31 Jul 1396 | William Courtenay William Courtenay William Courtenay , English prelate, was Archbishop of Canterbury, having previously been Bishop of Hereford and Bishop of London.-Life:... |
Translated from London Bishop of London The Bishop of London is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of London in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers 458 km² of 17 boroughs of Greater London north of the River Thames and a small part of the County of Surrey... ; Lord Chancellor. |
| tr. 25 Sep 1396 | dep. 1397 | Thomas Arundel Thomas Arundel Thomas Arundel was Archbishop of Canterbury in 1397 and from 1399 until his death, an outspoken opponent of the Lollards.-Family background:... |
(Thomas Fitz-Alan) Translated from York Archbishop of York The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man... ; Lord Chancellor; charged with high treason under Richard II Richard II of England Richard II was King of England, a member of the House of Plantagenet and the last of its main-line kings. He ruled from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. Richard was a son of Edward, the Black Prince, and was born during the reign of his grandfather, Edward III... , fled but restored later. |
| nom. 8 Nov 1397 | depr. 19 Oct 1399 | Roger Walden Roger Walden -Life:Little is now known of Walden's birth nor of his early years. He had some connection with the Channel Islands, and resided for some time in Jersey where he was rector of the Parish Church of St Helier from 1371 to 1378. He then held livings in Yorkshire and in Leicestershire before he... |
Deprived. |
| restored 19 Oct 1399 |
19 Feb 1414 | Thomas Arundel (again) | (Thomas Fitz-Alan) Restored by Henry IV Henry IV of England Henry IV was King of England and Lord of Ireland . He was the ninth King of England of the House of Plantagenet and also asserted his grandfather's claim to the title King of France. He was born at Bolingbroke Castle in Lincolnshire, hence his other name, Henry Bolingbroke... . |
| tr. 12 Mar 1414 | 12 Apr 1443 | Henry Chichele Henry Chichele Henry Chichele , English archbishop, founder of All Souls College, Oxford, was born at Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire, in 1363 or 1364... |
(Henry Chicheley; Henry Checheley) Translated from St David's Bishop of St David's The Bishop of St David's is the ordinary of the Church in Wales Diocese of St David's.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 David's in Pembrokeshire, founding St David's Cathedral. The current Bishop of St... . |
| tr. 13 May 1443 | 25 May 1452 | John Stafford | Translated from Bath & Wells 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 vast majority of the county of Somerset and a small area of Dorset. The Episcopal seat is located in the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew in... ; Lord Chancellor Lord Chancellor The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign... ; Lord Treasurer Lord High Treasurer The post of Lord High Treasurer or Lord Treasurer was an English government position and has been a British government position since the Act of Union of 1707. A holder of the post would be the third highest ranked Great Officer of State, below the Lord High Chancellor and above the Lord President... . |
| tr. 21 Jul 1452 | 22 Mar 1454 | Cardinal John Kemp John Kemp John Kemp was a medieval English cardinal, archbishop of Canterbury, and Lord Chancellor of England.-Biography:Kemp was son of Thomas Kempe, a gentleman of Ollantigh, in the parish of Wye near Ashford, Kent... e |
Created a cardinal Cardinal (Catholicism) A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and... in 1439; Translated from York Archbishop of York The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man... ; Lord Chancellor |
| tr. 23 Apr 1454 | 30 Mar 1486 | Cardinal Thomas Bourchier | Translated from Ely Bishop of Ely The Bishop of Ely is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Ely in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese roughly covers the county of Cambridgeshire , together with a section of north-west Norfolk and has its see in the City of Ely, Cambridgeshire, where the seat is located at the... ; Lord Chancellor; created a cardinal in 1467. |
| tr. 6 Oct 1486 | 15 Sep 1500 | Cardinal John Morton | Translated from Ely Bishop of Ely The Bishop of Ely is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Ely in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese roughly covers the county of Cambridgeshire , together with a section of north-west Norfolk and has its see in the City of Ely, Cambridgeshire, where the seat is located at the... ; Lord Chancellor. created a cardinal in 1493. |
| 22 Jan 1501 | 27 Jan 1501 | (Thomas Langton Thomas Langton Thomas Langton was chaplain to King Edward IV, a Bishop of St David's, a Bishop of Salisbury, a Bishop of Winchester and Archbishop of Canterbury elect.... ) |
Bishop of Winchester Bishop of Winchester The Bishop of Winchester is the head of the Church of England diocese of Winchester, with his cathedra at Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire.The bishop is one of five Church of England bishops to be among the Lords Spiritual regardless of their length of service. His diocese is one of the oldest and... ; died 5 days after being chosen. |
| tr. 26 Apr 1501 | 15/17 Feb 1503 | Henry Deane Henry Deane Henry Deane was the Archbishop of Canterbury in England.In 1457, he is recorded as a Canon of Llanthony by Gloucester, his first appearance in the records... |
(Henry Dean; Henry Dene) Translated from Salisbury Bishop of Salisbury The Bishop of Salisbury is the ordinary of the Church of England's Diocese of Salisbury in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers much of the counties of Wiltshire and Dorset... . |
| tr. 29 Nov 1503 | 22 Aug 1532 | William Warham William Warham William Warham , Archbishop of Canterbury, belonged to a Hampshire family, and was educated at Winchester and New College, Oxford, afterwards practising and teaching law both in London and Oxford.... |
Translated from London Bishop of London The Bishop of London is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of London in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers 458 km² of 17 boroughs of Greater London north of the River Thames and a small part of the County of Surrey... ; Lord Chancellor until 1515. |
| 30 Mar 1533 | depr. 13 Nov 1555 | Thomas Cranmer Thomas Cranmer Thomas Cranmer was a leader of the English Reformation and Archbishop of Canterbury during the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI and, for a short time, Mary I. He helped build a favourable case for Henry's divorce from Catherine of Aragon which resulted in the separation of the English Church from... |
Archdeacon of Taunton; excommunicated by Rome and deprived for heresy 1553; put to death by burning, 21 March 1556. |
| 22 Mar 1556 | 18/19 Nov 1558 | Cardinal Reginald Pole | Dean of Exeter; created a cardinal in 1536. |
| Source(s): | |||
Post-Reformation
| From | Until | Incumbent | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Dec 1559 | 17 May 1575 | Matthew Parker Matthew Parker Matthew Parker was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1559 until his death in 1575. He was also an influential theologian and arguably the co-founder of Anglican theological thought.... |
Dean of Lincoln Lincoln Cathedral Lincoln Cathedral is a historic Anglican cathedral in Lincoln in England and seat of the Bishop of Lincoln in the Church of England. It was reputedly the tallest building in the world for 249 years . The central spire collapsed in 1549 and was not rebuilt... . |
| tr. 29 Dec 1575 | 6 Jul 1583 | Edmund Grindal Edmund Grindal Edmund Grindal was an English church leader who successively held the posts of Bishop of London, Archbishop of York and Archbishop of Canterbury during the reign of Elizabeth I of England.-Early life to the death of Edward VI:... |
Translated from York Archbishop of York The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man... . |
| nom. 14 Aug 1583 | 29 Feb 1604 | John Whitgift John Whitgift John Whitgift was the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1583 to his death. Noted for his hospitality, he was somewhat ostentatious in his habits, sometimes visiting Canterbury and other towns attended by a retinue of 800 horsemen... |
Translated from Worcester Bishop of Worcester The Bishop of Worcester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury, England. He is the head of the Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury... . |
| nom. 9 Oct 1604 | 2 Nov 1610 | Richard Bancroft Richard Bancroft Archbishop Richard Bancroft, DD, BD, MA, BA was an English churchman, who became Archbishop of Canterbury and the "chief overseer" of the production of the authorized version of the Bible.-Life:... |
Translated from London Bishop of London The Bishop of London is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of London in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers 458 km² of 17 boroughs of Greater London north of the River Thames and a small part of the County of Surrey... . |
| nom. 4 Mar 1611 | 4 Aug 1633 | George Abbot | Translated from London Bishop of London The Bishop of London is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of London in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers 458 km² of 17 boroughs of Greater London north of the River Thames and a small part of the County of Surrey... . |
| nom. 6 Aug 1633 | 10 Jan 1645 | William Laud William Laud William Laud was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1633 to 1645. One of the High Church Caroline divines, he opposed radical forms of Puritanism... |
Translated from London Bishop of London The Bishop of London is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of London in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers 458 km² of 17 boroughs of Greater London north of the River Thames and a small part of the County of Surrey... ; executed in office; commemorated in the Church of England, and the Episcopal Church Episcopal Church (United States) The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe... in the U.S.A. |
| 10 Jan 1645 | 2 Sep 1660 | See vacant | |
| nom. 2 Sep 1660 | 4 Jun 1663 | William Juxon William Juxon William Juxon was an English churchman, Bishop of London from 1633 to 1649 and Archbishop of Canterbury from 1660 until his death.-Life:... |
Translated from London Bishop of London The Bishop of London is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of London in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers 458 km² of 17 boroughs of Greater London north of the River Thames and a small part of the County of Surrey... . |
| nom. 16 June 1663 | 9 Nov 1677 | Gilbert Sheldon Gilbert Sheldon Gilbert Sheldon was an English Archbishop of Canterbury.-Early life:He was born in Stanton, Staffordshire in the parish of Ellastone, on 19 July 1598, the youngest son of Roger Sheldon; his father worked for Gilbert Talbot, 7th Earl of Shrewsbury. He was educated at Trinity College, Oxford; he... |
Translated from London Bishop of London The Bishop of London is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of London in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers 458 km² of 17 boroughs of Greater London north of the River Thames and a small part of the County of Surrey... . |
| 27 Jan 1678 | depr. 1 Feb 1690 | William Sancroft William Sancroft William Sancroft was the 79th Archbishop of Canterbury.- Life :Sancroft was born at Ufford Hall in Fressingfield, Suffolk, son of Francis Sandcroft and Margaret Sandcroft née Butcher... |
Dean of St Paul's; deprived for not taking oaths to William William III of England William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland... and Mary Mary II of England Mary II was joint Sovereign of England, Scotland, and Ireland with her husband and first cousin, William III and II, from 1689 until her death. William and Mary, both Protestants, became king and queen regnant, respectively, following the Glorious Revolution, which resulted in the deposition of... . died 24 Nov 1693. |
| 31 May 1691 | 22 Nov 1694 | John Tillotson John Tillotson John Tillotson was an Archbishop of Canterbury .-Curate and rector:Tillotson was the son of a Puritan clothier at Haughend, Sowerby, Yorkshire. He entered as a pensioner of Clare Hall, Cambridge, in 1647, graduated in 1650 and was made fellow of his college in 1651... |
Dean of St Paul's. |
| nom. 6 Dec 1694 | 14 Dec 1715 | Thomas Tenison Thomas Tenison Thomas Tenison was an English church leader, Archbishop of Canterbury from 1694 until his death. During his primacy, he crowned two British monarchs.-Life:... |
Translated from Lincoln Bishop of Lincoln The Bishop of Lincoln is the Ordinary 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 North East Lincolnshire. The Bishop's seat is located in the Cathedral... . |
| nom. 17 Dec 1715 | 24 Jan 1737 | William Wake William Wake William Wake was a priest in the Church of England and Archbishop of Canterbury from 1716 until his death in 1737.-Life:... |
Translated from Lincoln Bishop of Lincoln The Bishop of Lincoln is the Ordinary 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 North East Lincolnshire. The Bishop's seat is located in the Cathedral... . |
| nom. 9 Feb 1737 | 10 Oct 1747 | John Potter | Translated from Oxford Bishop of Oxford The Bishop of Oxford is the diocesan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Oxford in the Province of Canterbury; his seat is at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford... . |
| nom. 21 Oct 1747 | 13 Mar 1757 | Thomas Herring Thomas Herring Thomas Herring was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1747 to 1757.He was educated at Wisbech Grammar School and later Jesus College, Cambridge. At Cambridge, he was a contemporary of Matthew Hutton, who succeeded him in turn in each of his dioceses... |
Translated from York Archbishop of York The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man... . |
| nom. 29 Mar 1757 | 19 Mar 1758 | Matthew Hutton Matthew Hutton (Archbishop of Canterbury) Matthew Hutton was a high churchman in the Church of England, serving as Archbishop of York and Archbishop of Canterbury... |
Translated from York Archbishop of York The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man... . |
| nom. 8 Mar 1758 | 3 Aug 1768 | Thomas Secker Thomas Secker Thomas Secker , Archbishop of Canterbury, was born at Sibthorpe, Nottinghamshire.-Early life and studies:In 1699, Secker went to Richard Brown's free school in Chesterfield, staying with his half-sister and her husband, Elizabeth and Richard Milnes... |
Translated from Oxford Bishop of Oxford The Bishop of Oxford is the diocesan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Oxford in the Province of Canterbury; his seat is at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford... . |
| nom. 12 Aug 1768 | 19 Mar 1783 | Frederick Cornwallis Frederick Cornwallis Frederick Cornwallis was Archbishop of Canterbury, and the twin brother of Edward Cornwallis.Cornwallis was born in London, England, the seventh son of Charles Cornwallis, 4th Baron Cornwallis. He was educated at Eton College and graduated from Christ's College, Cambridge... |
Translated from Lichfield & Coventry Bishop of Lichfield The Bishop of Lichfield is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Lichfield in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers 4,516 km² of the counties of Staffordshire, Shropshire, Warwickshire and West Midlands. The bishop's seat is located in the Cathedral Church of the Blessed... . |
| nom. 31 Mar 1783 | 18 Jan 1805 | John Moore | Translated from Bangor Bishop of Bangor The Bishop of Bangor is the Ordinary of the Church in Wales Diocese of Bangor.The diocese covers the counties of Anglesey, most of Caernarfonshire and Merionethshire and a small part of Montgomeryshire... . |
| nom. 1 Feb 1805 | 21 Jul 1828 | Charles Manners-Sutton Charles Manners-Sutton Charles Manners-Sutton was a priest in the Church of England who served as Archbishop of Canterbury from 1805 to 1828.-Life:... |
Translated from Norwich 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 see is in the City of Norwich where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided... . |
| nom. 6 Aug 1828 | 11 Feb 1848 | William Howley William Howley William Howley was a clergyman in the Church of England. He served as Archbishop of Canterbury from 1828 to 1848.-Early Life, education, and interests:... |
Translated from London Bishop of London The Bishop of London is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of London in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers 458 km² of 17 boroughs of Greater London north of the River Thames and a small part of the County of Surrey... . |
| nom. 17 Feb 1848 | 6 Sep 1862 | John Sumner | Translated from Chester Bishop of Chester The Bishop of Chester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Chester in the Province of York.The diocese expands across most of the historic county boundaries of Cheshire, including the Wirral Peninsula and has its see in the City of Chester where the seat is located at the Cathedral... . |
| nom. 20 Oct 1862 | 28 Oct 1868 | Charles Longley | Translated from York Archbishop of York The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man... . |
| nom. 28 Nov 1868 | 1 Dec 1882 | Archibald Tait | Translated from London Bishop of London The Bishop of London is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of London in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers 458 km² of 17 boroughs of Greater London north of the River Thames and a small part of the County of Surrey... . |
| nom. 13 Jan 1883 | 11 Oct 1896 | Edward Benson | Translated from Truro Bishop of Truro The Bishop of Truro is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Truro in the Province of Canterbury.The present diocese covers the county of Cornwall and it is one of the most recently created dioceses of the Church of England... . |
| nom. 9 Nov 1896 | 22 Dec 1902 | Frederick Temple Frederick Temple Frederick Temple was an English academic, teacher, churchman and Archbishop of Canterbury from 1896 until his death.-Early life:... |
Translated from London Bishop of London The Bishop of London is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of London in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers 458 km² of 17 boroughs of Greater London north of the River Thames and a small part of the County of Surrey... . |
| nom. 14 Jan 1903 | res. 12 Nov 1928 | Randall Davidson | Translated from Winchester Bishop of Winchester The Bishop of Winchester is the head of the Church of England diocese of Winchester, with his cathedra at Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire.The bishop is one of five Church of England bishops to be among the Lords Spiritual regardless of their length of service. His diocese is one of the oldest and... ; retired; died 25 May 1930. |
| nom. 13 Nov 1928 | res. 31 Mar 1942 | Cosmo Gordon Lang | Translated from York Archbishop of York The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man... ; retired. died 5 December 1945. |
| nom. 1 Apr 1942 | 26 Oct 1944 | William Temple | Translated from York Archbishop of York The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man... . Died in office. |
| nom. 12 Jan 1945 | res. 31 May 1961 | Geoffrey Fisher Geoffrey Fisher Geoffrey Francis Fisher, Baron Fisher of Lambeth, GCVO, PC was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1945 to 1961.-Background:... |
Translated from London Bishop of London The Bishop of London is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of London in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers 458 km² of 17 boroughs of Greater London north of the River Thames and a small part of the County of Surrey... ; retired; died 1972. |
| nom. 1 Jun 1961 | res. 15 Nov 1974 | Michael Ramsey Michael Ramsey Arthur Michael Ramsey, Baron Ramsey of Canterbury PC was the 100th Archbishop of Canterbury. He was appointed on 31 May 1961 and was in office from June 1961 to 1974.-Career:... |
Translated from York Archbishop of York The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man... ; retired; died 23 April 1988. |
| nom. 18 Nov 1974 | res. 25 Jan 1980 | Donald Coggan Donald Coggan Frederick Donald Coggan, Baron Coggan, PC was the 101st Archbishop of Canterbury from 1974 to 1980, during which time he visited Rome and met the Pontiff, in company with Bishop Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, future Cardinal of England and Wales.-Background:Coggan was born in Highgate, London, England... |
Translated from York Archbishop of York The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man... ; retired; died 17 May 2000. |
| nom. 1 Feb 1980 | res. 1991 | Robert Runcie Robert Runcie Robert Alexander Kennedy Runcie, Baron Runcie, PC, MC was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1980 to 1991.-Early life:... |
Translated from St Albans Bishop of St Albans The Bishop of St Albans is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of St Albans in the Province of Canterbury. The bishop is supported in his work by two suffragan bishops, the Bishop of Hertford and the Bishop of Bedford, and three archdeacons.... ; retired; died 11 Jul 2000. |
| enth. 19 April 1991 | res. 31 Oct 2002 | George Carey George Carey George Leonard Carey, Baron Carey of Clifton PC, FKC is a former Archbishop of Canterbury, holding the office from 1991 to 2002. He was the first modern holder of the office not to have attended Oxford or Cambridge University... |
Translated from Bath & Wells 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 vast majority of the county of Somerset and a small area of Dorset. The Episcopal seat is located in the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew in... ; retired. |
| enth. 27 Feb 2003 | present | Rowan Williams Rowan Williams Rowan Douglas Williams FRSL, FBA, FLSW is an Anglican bishop, poet and theologian. He is the 104th and current Archbishop of Canterbury, Metropolitan of the Province of Canterbury and Primate of All England, offices he has held since early 2003.Williams was previously Bishop of Monmouth and... |
Translated from Monmouth Bishop of Monmouth The Bishop of Monmouth is the diocesan bishop of the Church in Wales Diocese of Monmouth.The see covers the historic county of Monmouthshire with the bishop's seat located at the Cathedral Church of Saint Woolos in Newport, which had been elevated to that status in 1921.The Bishop's residence is... . He was also Archbishop of Wales Archbishop of Wales The post of Archbishop of Wales was created in 1920 when the Church in Wales was separated from the Church of England , and disestablished... . |
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