The Archdeacon of Totnes or Totton is the senior ecclesiastical officer in charge of one of the oldest

archdeacon An archdeacon is a senior clergy position in the Church of the East, Chaldean Catholic Church, Syriac Orthodox Church, Anglican Communion, St Thomas Christians, Eastern Orthodox churches and some other Christian denominations, above that o ...

ries in

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

. It is an administrative division of the

Church of England The Church of England (C of E) is the established Christian church in England and the mother church of the international Anglican Communion. It traces its history to the Christian church recorded as existing in the Roman province of Britain ...

Diocese of Exeter The Diocese of Exeter is a Church of England diocese covering the county of Devon. It is one of the largest dioceses in England. The Exeter Cathedral, Cathedral Church of St Peter in Exeter is the seat of the diocesan Bishop of Exeter. It is pa ...

and under the oversight of the Bishop suffragan of Plymouth.

History

The first recorded archdeacon of Exeter occurs in 1083, around the time when archdeacons were first appointed in Britain. Around that time, the Diocese of Exeter was divided into four archdeaconries:

Exeter Exeter () is a city in Devon, South West England. It is situated on the River Exe, approximately northeast of Plymouth and southwest of Bristol. In Roman Britain, Exeter was established as the base of Legio II Augusta under the personal comm ...

Cornwall Cornwall (; kw, Kernow ) is a historic county and ceremonial county in South West England. It is recognised as one of the Celtic nations, and is the homeland of the Cornish people. Cornwall is bordered to the north and west by the Atlantic ...

, Totnes (or Totton) and

Barnstaple Barnstaple ( or ) is a river-port town in North Devon, England, at the River Taw's lowest crossing point before the Bristol Channel. From the 14th century, it was licensed to export wool and won great wealth. Later it imported Irish wool, bu ...

(or Barum). This configuration of archdeaconries within the diocese remained for almost 800 years, until the creation of the independent

Diocese of Truro The Diocese of Truro (established 1876) is a Church of England diocese in the Province of Canterbury which covers Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and a small part of Devon. The bishop's seat is at Truro Cathedral. Geography and history The di ...

from the Cornwall archdeaconry. On 22 March 1918, the archdeaconries were reconfigured and the Archdeaconry of Plymouth created from Totnes archdeaconry. Presently, the diocese operates an informal 'area scheme' such that responsibility for roughly half the diocese is delegated to each suffragan bishop: special oversight is given to the

Bishop of Crediton The Bishop of Crediton is an episcopal title which takes its name from the town of Crediton in Devon, England. The title was originally used by the Anglo-Saxons in the 10th and 11th centuries for a diocese covering Devon and Cornwall. It is now ...

for the Barnstaple and Exeter archdeaconries and to the Bishop of Plymouth for the Plymouth and Totnes archdeaconries. The archdeacon oversees the deaneries of

Moreton Moreton may refer to: People Given name * Moreton John Wheatley (1837–1916), British Army officer and Bailiff of the Royal Parks Surname * Alice Bertha Moreton (1901–1977), English sculptor, draughtsman and artist * Andrew Moreton, a p ...

Newton Abbot Newton Abbot is a market town and civil parish on the River Teign in the Teignbridge District of Devon, England. Its 2011 population of 24,029 was estimated to reach 26,655 in 2019. It grew rapidly in the Victorian era as the home of the Sou ...

and

Ipplepen Ipplepen is a village and civil parish located within the Teignbridge district of the county of Devon in south-west England. A Ipplepen Priory, priory was located there. There is an electoral ward with the same name. The population at the Unite ...

Okehampton Okehampton ( ) is a town and civil parish in West Devon in the English county of Devon. It is situated at the northern edge of Dartmoor, and had a population of 5,922 at the 2011 census. Two electoral wards are based in the town (east and west) ...

Torbay Torbay is a borough and unitary authority in Devon, south west England. It is governed by Torbay Council and consists of of land, including the resort towns of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham, located on east-facing Tor Bay, part of Lyme ...

Totnes Totnes ( or ) is a market town and civil parishes in England, civil parish at the head of the estuary of the River Dart in Devon, England, within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is about west of Paignton, about west-so ...

and Woodleigh, in

Devon Devon ( , historically known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South West England. The most populous settlement in Devon is the city of Plymouth, followed by Devon's county town, the city of Exeter. Devon is ...

, southwest England.

List of archdeacons

High Medieval

*bef. 1140–?: John de Bradelgehe *bef. 1143–aft. 1143:

Hugh de Avigo Hugh de Avigo was the Archdeacon of Totnes, Devon Devon ( , historically known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South West England. The most populous settlement in Devon is the city of Plymouth, followed ...

*bef. –aft. : Ascelinus *bef. 1161–aft. 1184:

Baldwin of Forde Baldwin of Forde or FordSharpe ''Handlist of Latin Writers'' pp. 66–67 ( – 19 November 1190) was Archbishop of Canterbury between 1185 and 1190. The son of a clergyman, he studied canon law and theology at Bologna and was tutor to Po ...

(later

Archbishop of Canterbury The archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and a principal leader of the Church of England, the ceremonial head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. The current archbishop is Justi ...

) *bef. 1161–aft. 1184:

Robert The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honou ...

*?–3 June 1190 (d.):

Bernard Bernard (''Bernhard'') is a French and West Germanic masculine given name. It is also a surname. The name is attested from at least the 9th century. West Germanic ''Bernhard'' is composed from the two elements ''bern'' "bear" and ''hard'' "brav ...

*aft. 1190–?:

John Fitz-John John Fitz-John was the seventh Archdeacon of Totnes The Archdeacon of Totnes or Totton is the senior ecclesiastical officer in charge of one of the oldest archdeaconries in England. It is an administrative division of the Church of England Diocese ...

*bef. 1206–aft. 1206:

Gilbert Basset Gilbert Basset (died 1241) was an English baronial leader during the reign of King Henry III. Early life Basset was the eldest son of Alan Basset, baron of Wycombe. About 1231 he appears to have negotiated a truce with Llewellyn of Wales on be ...

*bef. 1207–aft. 1207:

Walter de Grey Walter de Gray (died 1 May 1255) was an English prelate and statesman who was Archbishop of York from 1215 to 1255 and Lord Chancellor from 1205 to 1214. His uncle was John de Gray, who was a bishop and royal servant to King John of England. ...

*bef. 1207–aft. 1207:

John de Bridport John de Bridport was the Archdeacon of Totnes The Archdeacon of Totnes or Totton is the senior ecclesiastical officer in charge of one of the oldest archdeaconries in England. It is an administrative division of the Church of England Diocese of ...

*1213–aft. 1215: Thomas de Boues *bef. 1219–aft. 1219: Richard Cowe *

Hugh Hugh may refer to: *Hugh (given name) Noblemen and clergy French * Hugh the Great (died 956), Duke of the Franks * Hugh Magnus of France (1007–1025), co-King of France under his father, Robert II * Hugh, Duke of Alsace (died 895), modern-day ...

*bef. 1225–aft. 1225: Ysaac *bef. 1226–bef. 1228: John de Kent *bef. 1228–1231 (res.): Roger de Wynkleigh (became

Dean of Exeter The Dean of Exeter is the head of the Chapter of Cathedral Church of Saint Peter in Exeter, England. The chapter was established by William Briwere, Bishop of Exeter (1224–44) who set up the offices of dean and chancellor of Exeter Cathedral ...

) *bef. 1238–aft. 1254: Thomas Pincerna (''aka'' Thomas Butler) *bef. 1258–20 February 1258 (d.):

John John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Secon ...

*bef. 1262–aft. 1262: Geoffrey *11 January 1264–bef. 1265: William de Pembroke (previously Archdeacon of Barum) *1 November 1265–bef. 1271: Richard Blunt (previously Archdeacon of Barum) *11 January 1271–aft. 1273:

Thomas de Hertford Thomas de Hertford was Archdeacon of Barnstaple The Archdeaconry of Barnstaple or Barum is one of the oldest archdeaconries in England. It is an administrative division of the Diocese of Exeter in the Church of England. History The Diocese of ...

(also

Archdeacon of Barnstaple The Archdeaconry of Barnstaple or Barum is one of the oldest archdeaconries in England. It is an administrative division of the Diocese of Exeter in the Church of England. History The Diocese of Exeter was divided into four archdeaconries in No ...

) *25 December 1275 – 8 July 1284 (res.):

Henry de Bolleghe Henry de Bolleghe (also Thomas and de Bolley) was Archdeacon of Totnes during 1275. References Archdeacons of Totnes 13th-century English people 13th-century English clergy {{Canterbury-archdeacon-stub ...

(became Archdeacon of Cornwall) *8 July 1284 – 1296 (d.): Thomas de Bodham (''aka'' William Bodringham) *bef. 1297–aft. 1297: Roger le Rous

Late Medieval

*bef. 1302–aft. 1302: Thomas de Charlton *bef. 1303–1307 (d.): William de Puntyngdon *bef. 1307–1338 (d.): Roger de Charlton *''Period of dispute:'' **''Northwode et al.:'' ***13 June 1338 – 1349 (d.): John de Northwode (disputed with Piers) ***1349–20 June 1359 (exch.): Peter de Gildesburgh (disputed with Swinnerton) ***20 June 1359 – 18 May 1371 (exch.): William Steele (disputed with Drax) ***18 May 1371 – 7 May 1385 (exch.): Hugh de Bridham **''Piers et al.:'' ***1342–1344 (d.):

John Piers John Piers (Peirse) (1522/3 – 1594) was Archbishop of York between 1589 and 1594. Previous to that he had been Bishop of Rochester and Bishop of Salisbury. Life He was born at South Hinksey, near Oxford, and was educated at Magdalen Colleg ...

(disputed with Northwode) ***1357–?: Richard de Swinnerton (disputed with Gildesburgh) ***1359–1361 (d.): Richard de Drax (disputed with Steele) ***1372: Richard Desbunton (disputed with Bridham) *1385–1407 (d.): John Lydford *21 January 1408 – 29 May 1415 (exch.): William Hunden *29 May 1415 – 1421 (d.): William Barton *3 November 1421 – 16 July 1433 (exch.): John Typhane *16 July 1433 – 1443 (d.):

Alan Kirketon Alan Kirketon was the Archdeacon of Totnes from 1433 until 1443. In 1426 he was appointed Canon of the second stall at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in England is a castle chapel built in the late-me ...

*16 August 1443 – 1453 (res.):

John Burneby John Burneby was Archdeacon of Totnes from 1443 until 1453; and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford is the chief executive and leader of the University of Oxford. The following people h ...

*4 June 1453–bef. 1469: Thomas Manning *bef. 1469–1478 (d.): Thomas Chippenham *15 February–October 1478 (d.): Owen Lord *bef. 1479–aft. 1482: William Wagott *"late fifteenth c.": Patrick Haliburton *26 March 1491 – 1499 (d.):

Edmund Chaderton Edmund Chaderton was Archdeacon of Salisbury, Archdeacon of Totnes during 1491 and Archdeacon of Chester The Archdeacon of Chester is a senior ecclesiastical officer in the diocese of Chester. The area in which she, or he, has statutory duties is ...

Archdeacon of Salisbury The Archdeacon of Sarum is a senior ecclesiastical officer within the Diocese of Salisbury, England. He or she is responsible for the disciplinary supervision of the clergy within the five Rural Dean, area deaneries of the Sarum archdeaconry, which ...

(also Archdeacon of Chester from 1493; possibly the

) *1499–25 November 1499 (d.):

Ralph Heathcott Ralph Heathcott was Archdeacon of Totnes during 1499 . References Archdeacons of Totnes {{Canterbury-archdeacon-stub ...

*15 March 1500 – 18 April 1515 (res.):

John Fulford John Fulford (died 12 June 1518) was an English archdeacon. He was the son of Sir Baldwin Fulford of Great Fulford, Devon who was Sheriff of Devon in 1460. He was collated Archdeacon of Totnes from 1500 to 1515, Archdeacon of Cornwall from Apri ...

(became Archdeacon of Cornwall) *13 May 1515–bef. 1534 (d.):

Richard Sydnor Richard Sydnor was the Receiver and Steward of Bishop Oldham of Exeter Cathedral from 10 Henry VII (1505) to 5 Henry VIII (1514) - see Exeter Cathedral MS. 3690. He was Archdeacon of Cornwall in 1515 and then Archdeacon of Totnes from 1515 to ...

(also Registrar of the Garter) *28 April 1534–bef. 1549 (res.): George Carew (later

Dean of Bristol The Dean of Bristol is the head of the Chapter of the Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, Bristol, England. The Dean is Mandy Ford, since her installation on 3 October 2020. List of deans Early modern *1542–1551 William Sno ...

)

Early modern

*10 August 1549–?: William Collumpton (last prior of St Nicholas Priory, and called Bishop of Hippo) *?–24 July 1557 (d.): William Fawell (possibly an alias of Collumpton) *2 March 1558–?: John Pollard *?–1561 (d.):

Thomas Kent Thomas may refer to: People * List of people with given name Thomas * Thomas (name) * Thomas (surname) * Saint Thomas (disambiguation) * Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, and Doctor of the Church * Thomas the A ...

*21 February 1562–?:

Robert Lougher Robert Lougher (died 1585) was a Welsh clergyman, lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1572. He was twice Principal of New Inn Hall, Oxford. Life and career Lougher was born in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales, the youngest son ...

(later MP for Pembroke 1572) *5 June 1568 – 1580 (d.): Oliver Whiddon *24 November 1580– (d.): John Cole *12 February 1584: Lewis Swete *22 September 1613 – 30 October 1616 (res.): William Parker (became Archdeacon of Cornwall) *30 October 1616 – 20 January 1620 (d.): Jasper Swift (previously Archdeacon of Cornwall) *17 March 1620–? (res.): William Cotton *10 February 1622 – 1647 (d.): Edward Cotton *31 August 1660 – 27 August 1693 (d.): Francis Fullwood *1693–1 May 1694 (res.): Sir Jonathan Trelawney,

Bishop of Exeter The Bishop of Exeter is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Exeter in the Province of Canterbury. Since 30 April 2014 the ordinary has been Robert Atwell.

(''

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

'') *18 May 1694 – 14 January 1701 (d.): George Snell *18 January 1701 – 1713 (res.):

Francis Atterbury Francis Atterbury (6 March 1663 – 22 February 1732) was an English man of letters, politician and bishop. A High Church Tory and Jacobite, he gained patronage under Queen Anne, but was mistrusted by the Hanoverian Whig ministries, and ban ...

(became

Bishop of Rochester The Bishop of Rochester is the ordinary of the Church of England's Diocese of Rochester in the Province of Canterbury. The town of Rochester has the bishop's seat, at the Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary, which was foun ...

) *28 July 1713 – 3 March 1740 (d.): Nicholas Kendall *26 March 1740 – 28 January 1772 (d.): George Baker *10 March 1772 – 1775 (res.): Thomas Skynner *16 August 1775 – 20 May 1820 (d.): Ralph Barnes *30 May 1820 – 23 February 1859 (d.):

Robert Froude Robert Hurrell Froude (1771–1859) was Archdeacon of Totnes in Devon, from 1820 to 1859. From 1799 to his death he was rector of Denbury and of Dartington in Devon. Origins He was born at Wakeham Farm in the parish of Aveton Gifford near Modbu ...

Late modern

*12 March 1859 – 1872:

John Downall John Downall (1803–1872) was the Archdeacon of Totnes from 1859 until 1872. He was the only son of James Downall of Liverpool and studied at Magdalen Hall, Oxford, graduating BA in 1826 and MA in 1829. He was ordained deacon in 1826 at Ecclesha ...

*3 October 1872 – 1889 (res.):

Alfred Earle Air Chief Marshal Sir Alfred Earle, (11 December 1907 – 27 March 1990) was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War who later served as Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff (1964–66), and Director General of British ...

(became Bishop suffragan of Marlborough) *20 January 1888 – 14 July 1910 (d.):

Charles Wilkinson Charles Wilkinson may refer to: * Charles Wilkinson (MP) (1725–1782), English Member of Parliament *Charles Edmund Wilkinson (1807–1870), acting Governor of British Ceylon * Charles Wilkinson (cricketer) (1813–1889), English cricketer and cle ...

, Vicar of

Plymouth Plymouth () is a port city and unitary authority in South West England. It is located on the south coast of Devon, approximately south-west of Exeter and south-west of London. It is bordered by Cornwall to the west and south-west. Plymouth ...

(until 1901) *1910–13 January 1921 (d.): Arthur Simms, Vicar of St Luke's,

Torquay Torquay ( ) is a seaside town in Devon, England, part of the unitary authority area of Torbay. It lies south of the county town of Exeter and east-north-east of Plymouth, on the north of Tor Bay, adjoining the neighbouring town of Paignton ...

(until 1920) :''On 22 March 1918, the Archdeaconry of Plymouth was erected from Totnes archdeaconry.'' *1921–26 October 1933 (d.): Newton Leeke *1933–1947 (ret.):

John Lawrence Cobham John Lawrence Cobham (12 May 1873 – 27 December 1960) was an Anglican priest. He was educated at Merchant Taylors' School, Crosby and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge and ordained in 1897. He was Curate of Great Yarmouth from 1896 t ...

, Rector of St Mark's Torwood, Torquay (until 1938; afterwards archdeacon emeritus) *1948–1962 (ret.): Edgar Hall (afterwards archdeacon emeritus) *1962–23 August 1965 (d.):

John Hawkins John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...

(father of Richard) *1966–1976 (ret.):

Robert Newhouse Robert Fulton Newhouse (January 9, 1950 – July 22, 2014) was an American professional football player who was a fullback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys for twelve seasons. He played college football for the Hous ...

(afterwards archdeacon emeritus) *1976–1981 (ret.): John Lucas, Vicar of

Chudleigh Knighton Chudleigh Knighton is a small village in Devon, England, near to Newton Abbot and Bovey Tracey. Amenities Chudleigh Knighton Church of England Primary School has around 167 pupils, aged 5 to 11. The school has six classrooms on two floors. Ther ...

(afterwards archdeacon emeritus) *1981–1988 (res.):

Richard Hawkins Admiral Sir Richard Hawkins (or Hawkyns) (c. 1562 – 17 April 1622) was a 17th-century English seaman, explorer and privateer. He was the son of Admiral Sir John Hawkins. Biography He was from his earlier days familiar with ships and the s ...

, Priest-in-charge, Whitestone with Oldridge (until 1987; son of John; became Bishop suffragan of Plymouth) *1988–1994 (res.): Tony Tremlett (became

Archdeacon of Exeter The Archdeacon of Exeter is a senior ecclesiastical officer of the Diocese of Exeter in the Church of England. The modern diocese is divided into four archdeaconries: the archdeacon of Exeter supervises clergy and buildings within the area of the ...

) *1996–2005 (ret.): Richard Gilpin (afterwards archdeacon emeritus) *2005–30 September 2014 (ret.): John Rawlings *1 September 2014 – 2015: Clive Cohen ''(Acting)'' *24 March 2015–present: Douglas DettmerDiocese of Exeter �
New archdeacons for Totnes and Barnstaple announced
&
''ad clerum''
(Accessed 2 January 2015)

References

Sources

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Totnes, Archdeacon of Lists of Anglicans Diocese of Exeter Archdeacon of Totnes Christianity in Devon