List of Bishops of Durham
Encyclopedia
The Bishop of Durham is the Anglican
bishop
responsible for the diocese
of Durham
in the province of York
. The Diocese is one of the oldest in the country and its bishop is a member of the House of Lords
. The diocese is awaiting the installation of Justin Welby
who was consecrated on 28 October 2011.
Other duties of the Bishop of Durham include (with the Bishop of Bath and Wells
) escorting the sovereign at the coronation
.
He is officially styled The Right Reverend Father in God, (Christian Name), by Divine Providence Lord Bishop of Durham, but this full title is rarely used. In signatures, the bishop's family name
is replaced by Dunelm, from the Latin name for Durham (the Latinised form of Old English Dunholm). In the past, bishops of Durham varied their signatures between Dunelm and the French
Duresm. Auckland Castle
has been the official residence of the Bishops of Durham since 1832.
From the seventh century A.D. onwards, in addition to his spiritual authority, the bishop of Durham also acted as the civil ruler of the region as the lord of the liberty of Durham
, claiming local authority equal to that of the king. The bishop appointed all local officials and maintained his own court. After the Norman Conquest, this claim continued to be maintained by the bishop, and was eventually recognized with the establishment of the region as th County Palatine of Durham
. As holder of this office, the bishop was titled a prince-bishop
, and considered the equivalent of an earl
. Except for a brief period of suppression during the Glorious Revolution
, this temporal power of the office lasted until all such authorities were abolished in 1836.
Pre-Reformation
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...
bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
responsible for the diocese
Diocese
A 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...
of Durham
Diocese of Durham
The Diocese of Durham is a Church of England diocese, based in Durham, and covering the historic County Durham . It was created in AD 1000 to replace the Diocese of Lindisfarne...
in the province of York
Province of York
The 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...
. The Diocese is one of the oldest in the country and its bishop is a member of the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
. The diocese is awaiting the installation of Justin Welby
Justin Welby
Justin Portal Welby became the Bishop of Durham and the fourth most senior cleric in the Church of England on 29 September 2011. He was previously the Dean of Liverpool Cathedral.-Early life and education:...
who was consecrated on 28 October 2011.
Other duties of the Bishop of Durham include (with the Bishop of Bath and 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...
) escorting the sovereign at the coronation
Coronation of the British monarch
The coronation of the British monarch is a ceremony in which the monarch of the United Kingdom is formally crowned and invested with regalia...
.
He is officially styled The Right Reverend Father in God, (Christian Name), by Divine Providence Lord Bishop of Durham, but this full title is rarely used. In signatures, the bishop's family name
Family name
A family name is a type of surname and part of a person's name indicating the family to which the person belongs. The use of family names is widespread in cultures around the world...
is replaced by Dunelm, from the Latin name for Durham (the Latinised form of Old English Dunholm). In the past, bishops of Durham varied their signatures between Dunelm and the French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
Duresm. Auckland Castle
Auckland Castle
Auckland Castle is a castle in the town of Bishop Auckland in County Durham, England....
has been the official residence of the Bishops of Durham since 1832.
From the seventh century A.D. onwards, in addition to his spiritual authority, the bishop of Durham also acted as the civil ruler of the region as the lord of the liberty of Durham
Liberty of Durham
The Liberty of Durham was a Saxon regional division of the North of England under the control of the Bishop of Durham.The liberty was known variously as the "Liberty of Durham", "Liberty of St Cuthbert's Land" "The lands of St. Cuthbert between Tyne and Tees" or "The Liberty of Haliwerfolc". The...
, claiming local authority equal to that of the king. The bishop appointed all local officials and maintained his own court. After the Norman Conquest, this claim continued to be maintained by the bishop, and was eventually recognized with the establishment of the region as th County Palatine of Durham
County Palatine of Durham
The County Palatine of Durham was an area in the North of England that was controlled by the Bishop of Durham.-Liberty of Durham:The territory was originally the Liberty of Durham under the control of the Bishop of Durham. The liberty was also known variously as the "Liberty of St Cuthbert's...
. As holder of this office, the bishop was titled a prince-bishop
Prince-Bishop
A Prince-Bishop is a bishop who is a territorial Prince of the Church on account of one or more secular principalities, usually pre-existent titles of nobility held concurrently with their inherent clerical office...
, and considered the equivalent of an earl
Earl
An earl is a member of the nobility. The title is Anglo-Saxon, akin to the Scandinavian form jarl, and meant "chieftain", particularly a chieftain set to rule a territory in a king's stead. In Scandinavia, it became obsolete in the Middle Ages and was replaced with duke...
. Except for a brief period of suppression during the Glorious Revolution
Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution, also called the Revolution of 1688, is the overthrow of King James II of England by a union of English Parliamentarians with the Dutch stadtholder William III of Orange-Nassau...
, this temporal power of the office lasted until all such authorities were abolished in 1836.
Medieval Bishops (995–1071)
- See also List of bishops of LindisfarneBishop of Lindisfarne (Saxon)The Bishop of Lindisfarne was the ordinary of several early medieval episcopal sees in Northumbria and pre-Conquest England. The first such see was founded at Lindisfarne in 635 by Saint Aidan.-List of Bishops of Lindisfarne:...
.- Aldhun 995–1018 (previously Bishop of LindisfarneBishop of Lindisfarne (Saxon)The Bishop of Lindisfarne was the ordinary of several early medieval episcopal sees in Northumbria and pre-Conquest England. The first such see was founded at Lindisfarne in 635 by Saint Aidan.-List of Bishops of Lindisfarne:...
) - Edmund 1021–1041
- Eadred 1041–1042
- Æthelric 1042–1056
- Æthelwine 1056–1071
- Aldhun 995–1018 (previously Bishop of Lindisfarne
Pre-ReformationEnglish ReformationThe 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....
Prince-BishopPrince-BishopA Prince-Bishop is a bishop who is a territorial Prince of the Church on account of one or more secular principalities, usually pre-existent titles of nobility held concurrently with their inherent clerical office...
s (1071–1559)
- William WalcherWilliam WalcherWilliam Walcher was the bishop of Durham from 1071, a Lotharingian, the first non-Englishman to hold that see and an appointee of William the Conqueror....
1071–1080 - William de St-Calais 1081–1096
- Ranulf FlambardRanulf FlambardRanulf Flambard was a medieval Norman Bishop of Durham and an influential government minister of King William Rufus of England...
1099–1128 - Geoffrey RufusGeoffrey RufusGeoffrey Rufus was a medieval Bishop of Durham and Lord Chancellor of England.-Life:Rufus' parentage and upbringing is unknown. The circumstances around his acquisition of the nickname "Rufus" have not been discovered either. He was a royal clerk before being named the tenth Lord Chancellor and...
1133–1140 - William CuminWilliam CuminWilliam Cumin was Regius Professor of Midwifery at the University of Glasgow between 1834 and 1840.He was the son of Patrick Cumin , Professor of Oriental Languages at the University of Glasgow, and his wife Rachael Baird...
1141–1143 - William of St. BarbaraWilliam of St. BarbaraWilliam of St. Barbara or William of Ste Barbe was a medieval Bishop of Durham.-Life:From William's name, it is presumed that he was a native of Sainte-Barbe-en-Auge in Calvados in Normandy. He was a canon of York Minster in 1128. He was Dean of York by December of 1138.William was elected to the...
1143–1153 - Hugh de PuisetHugh de PuisetHugh de Puiset was a medieval Bishop of Durham and Chief Justiciar of England under King Richard I. He was the nephew of King Stephen of England and Henry of Blois, who both assisted Hugh's ecclesiastical career...
1153–1195 - Philip of PoitouPhilip of PoitouPhilip of Poitou was Prince-Bishop of Durham from 1197 to 1208, and prior to this Archdeacon of Canterbury.- Life :...
1197–1208 - Richard PooreRichard PooreRichard Poore was a medieval English clergyman best known for his role in the construction of Salisbury Cathedral.-Early life:...
1209–1213 election quashed, later elected and consecrated - John de GrayJohn de GrayJohn 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:...
1214 died before consecration - MorganMorgan (bishop)Morgan was a medieval Bishop of Durham elect.Morgan was an illegitimate son of King Henry II of England and Nesta, daughter of Iorwerth ab Owain, Lord of Caerleon. Nesta was married to Sir Ralph Bloet, who raised Morgan as his son...
1215 election quashed - Richard MarshRichard Marsh (bishop)Richard Marsh , also called Richard de Marisco, served as Lord Chancellor of England and Bishop of Durham.- Life :Marsh attended a university, as he was styled magister, but which university it was is unknown. His ancestry and upbringing likewise are unknown...
1217–1226 - William ScotWilliam ScotWilliam Scot was a medieval Bishop of Durham elect.Scot was Archdeacon of Worcester in December of 1218. He was elected to the see of Durham before 20 October 1226 but the election was quashed by Pope Gregory IX on 19 May 1227...
1226–1227 election quashed - Richard PooreRichard PooreRichard Poore was a medieval English clergyman best known for his role in the construction of Salisbury Cathedral.-Early life:...
1229–1237 - Thomas de Melsonby 1237–1240 resigned before consecration
- Nicholas FarnhamNicholas FarnhamNicholas Farnham was a medieval Bishop of Durham.Farnham was probably a native of Farnham, Surrey. He studied at Oxford University before moving on to study at Paris and Bologna. At Paris he first studied theology, but later moved to medicine. He taught at the University of Bologna as a teacher of...
1241–1249 - Walter of KirkhamWalter of Kirkham-Early life:Walter was probably a native of Kirkham, Yorkshire. From about January 1224 Walter held the office of Keeper of the Wardrobe jointly with Walter Brackley. Brackley was out of office by February of 1229, but Walter continued to hold the office until 15 August 1231. He held the office...
1249 - Robert StitchillRobert StitchillRobert Stitchill was a medieval Bishop of Durham in England.-Life:Stitchill probably came from the village of Stitchill in Roxburghshire. His father was a priest, and may have been the William Scot who was elected to the see of Durham in 1226. William Scot was never confirmed as bishop, for his...
1260–1274 - Robert of Holy IslandRobert of Holy IslandRobert of Holy Island was a medieval Bishop of Durham.Robert was the son of crofters and was a native of the island of Lindisfarne. He had a brother, Henry, who became Robert's executor. He became a Benedictine monk at Durham, where he served as sacrist from 1265 to 1269. He was prior of Durham's...
1274–1283 - Antony Bek 1284–1310; also Titular Patriarch of JerusalemLatin Patriarch of JerusalemThe Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem is the title possessed by the Latin Rite Catholic Archbishop of Jerusalem. The Archdiocese of Jerusalem has jurisdiction for all Latin Rite Catholics in Israel, the Palestinian Territories, Jordan and Cyprus...
from 1306 to 1311, the only Englishman ever to hold this post. - Richard KellawRichard KellawRichard Kellaw was Bishop of Durham. He was elected on 31 March 1311, and was consecrated on 30 May 1311. He died on 9 October 1316. In the 19th century, a grave identified as his was excavated in the Durham Cathedral Chapter House.-References:...
1311–1316 - Lewis de BeaumontLewis de BeaumontLewis de Beaumont was Bishop of Durham. He was nominated on 9 February 1317, thanks to the efforts of his sister, Isabella de Vesci and was consecrated on 26 March 1318. He died on 24 September 1333.-References:...
1318–1333 - Richard de Bury 1333–1345
- Thomas HatfieldThomas HatfieldThomas Hatfield was Bishop of Durham from 1345 to 1381.Hatfield was receiver of the chamber when he was selected to be Lord Privy Seal in late 1344. He relinquished that office to his successor in July of 1345....
1345–1381 - John FordhamJohn FordhamJohn Fordham was Bishop of Durham and Bishop of Ely.Fordham was keeper of the privy seal of Prince Richard from 1376 to 1377 and Dean of Wells before being named Lord Privy Seal in June of 1377. He held that office until December of 1381....
1382–1388 - Walter SkirlawWalter SkirlawWalter Skirlaw was an English bishop and diplomat. He was Bishop of Durham from 1388 to 1406...
1388–1406 - Thomas LangleyThomas LangleyThomas Langley was an English prelate who held high ecclesiastical and political offices in the early to mid 1400s. He was Dean of York, Bishop of Durham, twice Lord Chancellor of England to three kings, and a Pseudocardinal. In turn Keeper of the King's signet and Keeper of the Privy Seal before...
1406–1437 - Robert NevilleRobert NevilleRobert Neville was a Bishop of Salisbury and a Bishop of Durham. He was also a Provost of Beverley. He was born at Raby Castle. His father was Ralph Neville and his mother was Joan Beaufort, daughter of John of Gaunt. He was thus a highly-placed member of the English aristocracyNeville was...
1437–1457 - Lawrence BoothLawrence BoothLawrence Booth was Prince-Bishop of Durham and Lord Chancellor of England, before becoming Archbishop of York.-Life:A scion of the ancient Cheshire family of Booth which remained seated at Dunham Massey until the middle of the eighteenth century, Lawrence Booth started out reading both civil and...
1457–1476 - William Dudley 1476–1483
- John Sherwood 1484–1494
- Richard FoxeRichard FoxeRichard Foxe was an English churchman, successively Bishop of Exeter, Bath and Wells, Durham, and Winchester, Lord Privy Seal, and founder of Corpus Christi College, Oxford.-Life:...
1494–1501 - William SenhouseWilliam SenhouseWilliam Senhouse , also called William Sever, was an English priest, successively Bishop of Carlisle, 1495–1502, and Bishop of Durham, 1502–1505....
1502–1505 - Christopher BainbridgeChristopher BainbridgeChristopher Bainbridge was an English Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of York from 1508 until his death.-Early life:...
1507–1508 - Thomas RuthallThomas RuthallThomas Ruthall was an English churchman, administrator and diplomat. He was a leading councillor of Henry VIII of England.-Life:...
1509–1523 - Thomas Wolsey 1523–1529
- Cuthbert TunstallCuthbert TunstallCuthbert Tunstall was an English Scholastic, church leader, diplomat, administrator and royal adviser...
1530–1559
Post-Reformation Prince-Bishops (1530–1836)
- Cuthbert TunstallCuthbert TunstallCuthbert Tunstall was an English Scholastic, church leader, diplomat, administrator and royal adviser...
1530–1559 - James Pilkington 1561–1576
- Richard BarnesRichard Barnes (bishop)Richard Barnes was an Anglican priest who served as a bishop in the Church of England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.-Life:...
1577–1587 - Matthew HuttonMatthew Hutton (Archbishop of York)Matthew Hutton was archbishop of York from 1595 to 1606.-Life:Hutton, the son of Matthew Hutton of Priest Hutton, in the parish of Warton, Lancashire, was born in that parish in 1529. He became a sizar at Trinity College, Cambridge in 1546. Graduating B.A. 1551–2, he became a fellow of Trinity in...
1589–1595 - Tobias MatthewTobias MatthewTobias Matthew was Archbishop of York.-Life:He was the son of Sir John Matthew of Ross in Herefordshire, England, and of his wife Eleanor Crofton of Ludlow. He was born at Bristol and was educated at Wells, Somerset, and then in succession at University College and Christ Church, Oxford...
1595–1606 - William James 1606–1617
- Richard NeileRichard NeileRichard Neile was an English churchman, bishop of several English dioceses and Archbishop of York from 1631 until his death.-Early life:...
1617–1627 - George MontaigneGeorge MontaigneGeorge Montaigne was an English bishop.-Life:He graduated B.A. from Queens' College, Cambridge in 1590, and M.A. in 1593. In 1597 he was chaplain to Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, on his expedition against Cadiz. He became rector of Great Cressingham in 1602...
1628 - John HowsonJohn HowsonJohn Howson was an English academic and bishop.-Life:He was born in the London parish of St Bride's Church, and educated at St Paul's School....
1628–1632 - Thomas MortonThomas Morton (bishop)Thomas Morton was an English churchman, bishop of several dioceses.-Early life:Morton was born in York on 20 March 1564. He was brought up and grammar school educated in the city and nearby Halifax. In 1582 he became a pensioner at St John's College, Cambridge from which he graduated with a BA in...
1632–1659 - John CosinJohn CosinJohn Cosin was an English churchman.-Life:He was born at Norwich, and was educated at Norwich grammar school and at Caius College, Cambridge, where he was scholar and afterwards fellow. On taking orders he was appointed secretary to Bishop Overall of Lichfield, and then domestic chaplain to...
1660–1672 - Nathaniel CrewNathaniel Crew, 3rd Baron CrewNathanial Crew, 3rd Baron Crew was Bishop of Oxford from 1671 to 1674, then Bishop of Durham from 1674 to 1721. As such he was one of the longest serving bishops of the Church of England....
1674–1722 - William Talbot 1722–1730
- Edward ChandlerEdward Chandler (bishop)Edward Chandler was an English bishop.-Life:He graduated M.A. from Emmanuel College, Cambridge in 1693. He became Bishop of Lichfield in 1717, and was Bishop of Durham from 1730 to 1750....
1730–1750 - Joseph ButlerJoseph ButlerJoseph Butler was an English bishop, theologian, apologist, and philosopher. He was born in Wantage in the English county of Berkshire . He is known, among other things, for his critique of Thomas Hobbes's egoism and John Locke's theory of personal identity...
1750–1752 - Richard TrevorRichard Trevor (bishop)Richard Trevor was an English prelate, Bishop of St David's from 1744 to 1752 and Bishop of Durham from 1752 until his death.-Life:...
1752–1771 - John EgertonJohn Egerton (bishop)John Egerton was an Anglican bishop.-Family:Egerton was the eldest son of Henry Egerton, the Bishop of Hereford, himself a younger son of the 3rd Earl of Bridgewater. Egerton served under his father as Dean of Hereford and was later Bishop of Bangor from 1756-68, Bishop of Lichfield from 1768-71...
1771–1787 - Thomas ThurlowThomas Thurlow (bishop)-Life:He graduated M.A. from Magdalen College, Oxford in 1761. He became Dean of St Paul's in 1782, and was Bishop of Durham from 1787.-Family:He was brother of Edward Thurlow, 1st Baron Thurlow, who was Lord Chancellor from 1778 to 1792.-Notes:...
1787–1791 - Shute BarringtonShute BarringtonShute Barrington was an English churchman, Bishop of Llandaff in Wales, as well as Bishop of Salisbury and Bishop of Durham in England.-Life:...
1791–1826 - William Van MildertWilliam Van MildertWilliam Van Mildert was the last palatine Bishop of Durham , and one of the founders of the University of Durham...
1826–1836
Modern Bishops (since 1836)
- Edward MaltbyEdward MaltbyEdward Maltby was an English clergyman of the Church of England. He became Bishop of Durham, controversial for his liberal politics, for his slightly naive ecumenism, and for the great personal wealth that he amassed....
1836–1856 - Charles Longley 1856–1860
- Henry VilliersHenry VilliersHenry Montagu Villiers was a British clergyman of the Church of England.-Life:He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford, graduating M.A. in 1837, and became vicar of Kenilworth in that year rector of St. George's Church, Bloomsbury in 1841...
1860–1861 - Charles BaringCharles BaringCharles Thomas Baring was an English bishop, noted as an Evangelical.-Life:He became a bishop at a period when Lord Palmerston, influenced by Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury, was promoting Evangelicals....
1861–1879 - Joseph Barber LightfootJoseph Barber LightfootJoseph Barber Lightfoot was an English theologian and Bishop of Durham, usually known as J.B. Lightfoot....
1879–1889 - Brooke Westcott 1890–1901
- Handley MouleHandley MouleHandley Carr Glyn Moule was an evangelical Anglican theologian, writer, poet, and Bishop of Durham from 1901-1920....
1901–1920 - Hensley Henson 1920–1939
- Alwyn WilliamsAlwyn WilliamsAlwyn Terrell Petre Williams was Bishop of Durham and then Bishop of Winchester ....
1939–1952 - Michael RamseyMichael RamseyArthur 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:...
1952–1956 - Maurice HarlandMaurice HarlandMaurice Harland was a 20th century Anglican Bishop, his most prestigious appointment being Bishop of Durham from 1956–1966.-Early life:He was born on 17 April 1896, the son of William and Elizabeth Harland and educated at St Peter's School, York...
1956–1966 - Ian RamseyIan RamseyIan Thomas Ramsey was Professor of the Philosophy of Religion at the University of Oxford, and Bishop of Durham from 1966 until his death in 1972. He wrote extensively on the problem of religious language, Christian ethics, the relationship between science and religion, and Christian apologetics...
1966–1972 - John HabgoodJohn Habgood, Baron HabgoodJohn Stapylton Habgood, Baron Habgood PC , was Bishop of Durham from 1973 to 1983, and Archbishop of York from 18 November 1983 to 1995....
1973–1983 - David Jenkins 1984–1994
- Michael TurnbullMichael TurnbullAnthony Michael Arnold Turnbull was the Bishop of Durham in the Church of England from 1994 until 2003.Turnbull was born in Wombwell, South Yorkshire. He was a student at Keble College, Oxford, graduating in 1958. He prepared for ordained ministry at Cranmer Hall and St John's College, University...
1994–2003 - Tom Wright, D.D.Doctor of DivinityDoctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
, 2003–2010 - Justin WelbyJustin WelbyJustin Portal Welby became the Bishop of Durham and the fourth most senior cleric in the Church of England on 29 September 2011. He was previously the Dean of Liverpool Cathedral.-Early life and education:...
, 2011–present