The post of Archdeacon of Chichester was created in the 12th century, although the Diocese of Sussex was founded by

St Wilfrid Wilfrid ( – 709 or 710) was an English bishop and saint. Born a Northumbrian noble, he entered religious life as a teenager and studied at Lindisfarne, at Canterbury, in Francia, and at Rome; he returned to Northumbria in about 660, and beca ...

, the exiled Bishop of York, in AD 681. The original location of the see was in

Selsey Selsey () is a seaside town and civil parishes in England, civil parish, about south of Chichester, West Sussex, England. Selsey lies at the southernmost point of the Manhood Peninsula, almost cut off from mainland Sussex by the sea. It is in ...

. The see was moved to

Chichester Chichester ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and civil parish in the Chichester District, Chichester district of West Sussex, England.OS Explorer map 120: Chichester, South Harting and Selsey Scale: 1:25 000. Publisher ...

, in about 1075, by decree of the Synod of London.Kelly. The Bishopric of Selsey ''in'' Mary Hobbs. Chichester Cathedral: An Historic Survey. pp.1 - 10 It was announced in May 2025 by the diocese, that Tom Carpenter will be the next Archdeacon of Chichester after the departure of

Luke Irvine-Capel Luke Thomas Irvine-Capel SSC (né Capel; born 1975) is a British Church of England bishop serving as Bishop of Richborough since 2025 — as such he provides alternative episcopal oversight to Anglicans in the Eastern half of the Province of ...

's who was consecrated as

Bishop of Richborough The Bishop of Richborough is a suffragan bishop and provincial episcopal visitor for the whole of the Province of Canterbury in the Church of England. Since 2025, Luke Irvine-Capel has served as Bishop of Richborough. History The see was erec ...

in February 2025.

History

After the

Norman Conquest The Norman Conquest (or the Conquest) was the 11th-century invasion and occupation of England by an army made up of thousands of Normans, Norman, French people, French, Flemish people, Flemish, and Bretons, Breton troops, all led by the Du ...

a uniform system of territorial archdeaconries was created to try to ensure that no settlement was more than a day's ride from the bishop's seat. In 1070 the Council of Windsor decreed that bishops should appoint archdeacons to their churches. The

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 Church, Eastern Orthodox churches and some other Christian denomina ...

acted as the bishop's deputy and representative and had the job of supervising parish churches in the diocese.

Saint Richard Richard of Chichester (1197 – 3 April 1253), also known as Richard de Wych, is a saint (canonized 1262) who was Bishop of Chichester. In Chichester Cathedral a shrine dedicated to Richard had become a richly decorated centre of pilgrimag ...

Bishop of Chichester The Bishop of Chichester is the Ordinary (officer), ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Chichester in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese covers the counties of East Sussex, East and West Sussex. The Episcopal see, see is based in t ...

in the 13th century, produced a body of statutes which included the duties of his archdeacons: ''"They were to administer justice for their proper fees, not demanding more for the expedition or delay of business. They were to visit the churches regularly to see the services were duly celebrated, the vessels and vestments in proper order, the canon of mass correctly followed and distinctly read."'' The modern role of an archdeacon in the

Church of England The Church of England (C of E) is the State religion#State churches, established List of Christian denominations, Christian church in England and the Crown Dependencies. It is the mother church of the Anglicanism, Anglican Christian tradition, ...

has not changed significantly since St Richard's time; their main function is to be involved with legal and practical matters concerning visitations, clergy care, discipline matters, faculties and quinquennial inspections. The Diocese of Chichester almost exactly covers the two counties of East Sussex and West Sussex and the City of Brighton and Hove, stretching for nearly a hundred miles (160 km) along the south coast of England. The diocese has four archdeaconries, namely the

Archdeaconry of Horsham The Archdeacon of Horsham is a senior ecclesiastical officer in the Church of England Diocese of Chichester. The diocese almost exactly covers the counties of East and West Sussex and the City of Brighton and Hove, stretching for nearly a hundred ...

, the Archdeaconry of Hastings, the Archdeaconry of Brighton and Lewes as well as the Archdeaconry of Chichester.Diocese of Chichester Website From its creation, in the 12th century until 2002, the Archdeacon of Chichester was actually based in Chichester. In 2002 during Archdeacon McKittrick's tenure, the base was moved to Church House, Hove, East Sussex. It returned to Chichester, following the appointment of

, in May 2019.

List of archdeacons

High Medieval

:Sole archdeacons: *bef. 1118–aft. 1118: RicoardThese archdeacons are not referred to as Archdeacon of Chichester, but rather appear to be the sole archdeacon in the diocese. *bef. 1122–aft. 1123:

Henry Henry may refer to: People and fictional characters * Henry (given name), including lists of people and fictional characters * Henry (surname) * Henry, a stage name of François-Louis Henry (1786–1855), French baritone Arts and entertainmen ...

*11th century:

Roger Roger is a masculine given name, and a surname. The given name is derived from the Old French personal names ' and '. These names are of Germanic languages">Germanic origin, derived from the elements ', ''χrōþi'' ("fame", "renown", "honour") ...

*?–aft. 1147:

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 ''Hrōþ, Hruod'' () "fame, glory, honour, prais ...

:Senior archdeacons: *bef. 1157–aft. 1172:

These archdeacons are not referred to as Archdeacon of Chichester, but are each the senior of two concurrent archdeacons of the diocese. *bef. 1172–1178 (res.):

Seffrid II Seffrid II (fl. 1172–1204) was an English cleric who served as a medieval Bishop of Chichester. Life Little is known of Seffrid's ancestry, but given the unusual name he shared with Seffrid I, bishop of Chichester from 1125 to 1145, the two w ...

*bef. 1180–aft. 1180:

Matthew of Chichester Matthew may refer to: * Matthew (given name) * Matthew (surname) * ''Matthew'' (album), a 2000 album by rapper Kool Keith * Matthew (elm cultivar), a cultivar of the Chinese Elm ''Ulmus parvifolia'' Christianity * Matthew the Apostle, one of ...

*–aft. 1192:

Peter Peter may refer to: People * List of people named Peter, a list of people and fictional characters with the given name * Peter (given name) ** Saint Peter (died 60s), apostle of Jesus, leader of the early Christian Church * Peter (surname), a su ...

*aft. 1192–bef. 1197:

Richard Richard is a male given name. It originates, via Old French, from compound of the words descending from Proto-Germanic language">Proto-Germanic ''*rīk-'' 'ruler, leader, king' and ''*hardu-'' 'strong, brave, hardy', and it therefore means 'st ...

:Archdeacons of Chichester: *bef. 1198–aft. 1213: Silvester *bef. 1220–aft. 1229:

William Durand William Frederick Durand (March 5, 1859 – August 9, 1958) was a United States naval officer and pioneer mechanical engineer. He contributed significantly to the development of aircraft propellers. He was the first civilian chair of the National ...

*bef. 1232–aft. 1234:

William William is a masculine given name of Germanic languages, Germanic origin. It became popular in England after the Norman Conquest, Norman conquest in 1066,All Things William"Meaning & Origin of the Name"/ref> and remained so throughout the Middle ...

*bef. 1235–aft. 1239:

Walter Walter may refer to: People and fictional characters * Walter (name), including a list of people and fictional and mythical characters with the given name or surname * Little Walter, American blues harmonica player Marion Walter Jacobs (1930–19 ...

*bef. 1242–aft. 1246:

John Climping John Climping (died 18 May 1262) was a medieval Bishop of Chichester. Life Climping was a clerk of Ranulf of Wareham by 18 July 1220.Greenway Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066-1300: Volume 5: Chichester: Unidentified Prebends' By 1232 he was a c ...

*bef. 1247–aft. 1256:

John de Reigate 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 Ep ...

*1259–aft. 1275:

Geoffrey de Gates Geoffrey, Geoffroy, Geoff, etc., may refer to: People * Geoffrey (given name), including a list of people with the name Geoffrey or Geoffroy * Geoffroy (surname), including a list of people with the name * Geoffroy (musician) (born 1987), Canadian ...

*bef. 1287–bef. 1289:

Robert of Wiston 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'' () "fame, glory, honour, praise, reno ...

*bef. 1300–aft. 1307:

Gervase of Séez Gervais (,) Gervaise, Gervase or Gervas is a name. Notable people with the name include: Given name Middle Ages * Gervase Alard (1270–1340), Admiral of the Cinque Ports Fleet and Admiral of the Western Fleet of the English Navy * Gervase of Baz ...

Late Medieval

*bef. 1311–bef. 1340 (d.): Robert Leyset/ de Leycester *bef. 1346–1350 (d.):

John Langley John Russell Langley (June 1, 1943 – June 26, 2021) was an American television and film director, writer, and producer who was best known as the creator and executive producer of the television show '' Cops'', which premiered on Fox in March ...

*May 1350–aft. 1350:

Adam de Houton Adam is the name given in Genesis 1–5 to the first human. Adam is the first human-being aware of God, and features as such in various belief systems (including Judaism, Christianity, Gnosticism and Islam). According to Christianity, Adam sin ...

*bef. 1354–24 December 1356 (exch.):

Simon de Bredon Simon may refer to: People * Simon (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the given name Simon * Simon (surname), including a list of people with the surname Simon * Eugène Simon, French naturalist and the genus ...

*24 December 1356 – 7 March 1357 (exch.): Walter de Alderbury *7 March 1357–?:

John de Sculthorpe 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 Ep ...

*1358–1359:

John Pipe 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 Ep ...

*1366: Robert de Walton *?–bef. 1370 (d.):

Henry Folvyle Henry may refer to: People and fictional characters * Henry (given name), including lists of people and fictional characters * Henry (surname) * Henry, a stage name of François-Louis Henry (1786–1855), French baritone Arts and entertainment ...

*3 July 1370 – 15 April 1382 (exch.):

William Wardene William is a masculine given name of Germanic origin. It became popular in England after the Norman conquest in 1066,All Things William"Meaning & Origin of the Name"/ref> and remained so throughout the Middle Ages and into the modern era. It is ...

/ Wardieu *15 April 1382 – 3 May 1395 (exch.): Simon Russell *5 June 1388–?:

Lambert Threkingham Lambert may refer to People *Lambert (name), a given name and surname * Lambert, Bishop of Ostia (–1130), became Pope Honorius II *Lambert, Margrave of Tuscany (fl. 929–931), also count and duke of Lucca *Lambert (pianist), stage-name of Germ ...

(ineffective royal grant) *3 May 1395–bef. 1413 (d.):

John Thomas John Thomas is the name of: Politics United Kingdom * John Thomas (c. 1490–1540/42), British Member of Parliament for Truro * John Thomas (c. 1531–1581/90), British Member of Parliament for Mitchell * John Thomas (British politician) (1 ...

*1398: William Read *18 December 1404–?: Thomas Harlyng (mistaken collation) *13 November 1413–bef. 1440: John Lindfield/ Lyndefeld *?–1439 (exch.):

John Faukes 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 Ep ...

*5 December 1440–bef. 1444 (res.):

William Walesby William Walesby (died 1458) was a Canon of Windsor from 1441 to 1450''Fasti Wyndesorienses'', May 1950. S.L. Ollard. Published by the Dean and Canons of St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle and Archdeacon of Chichester from 1444 to 1444. Career He w ...

*7 February 1444–bef. 1460 (d.): William Normanton *1454:

Simon de Gredon Simon may refer to: People * Simon (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the given name Simon * Simon (surname), including a list of people with the surname Simon * Eugène Simon, French naturalist and the genus ...

/ Gredon *bef. 1459–bef. 1464:

John Sprever 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 Ep ...

*bef. 1464–bef. 1478 (res.):

John Doget John Doget (c. 1435–1501) was an English diplomat, scholar and Renaissance humanist. He was the nephew of Cardinal Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury. He was born in Sherborne, Dorset, and was probably educated in Bourchier's household ...

*bef. 1478–bef. 1481 (res.):

Peter Huse Peter may refer to: People * List of people named Peter, a list of people and fictional characters with the given name * Peter (given name) ** Saint Peter (died 60s), apostle of Jesus, leader of the early Christian Church * Peter (surname), a sur ...

/ Husy *1 September 1481 – 1482 (res.):

Henry Boleyn Henry may refer to: People and fictional characters * Henry (given name), including lists of people and fictional characters * Henry (surname) * Henry, a stage name of François-Louis Henry (1786–1855), French baritone Arts and entertainment ...

*bef. 1484–bef. 1494 (d.):

John Coke Sir John Coke MP JP PC (5 March 1563 – 8 September 1644) was an English civil servant and naval administrator, described by one commentator as "the Samuel Pepys of his day". He was MP for various constituencies in the House of Commons bet ...

Cooke Cooke is a surname of English and Irish origin derived from the occupation of cook and anglicisation of various Gaelic names. Variants include Cook and McCook. Irish surname origin Cooke (rather than Cook) is the usual spelling of the surnam ...

*bef. 1495–bef. 1509 (d.):

Gerard Borrett Gerard is a masculine forename of Proto-Germanic origin, variations of which exist in many Germanic and Romance languages. Like many other early Germanic names, it is dithematic, consisting of two meaningful constituents put together. In this cas ...

/ Burrell *18 April 1509–bef. 1512 (res.):

Robert Chapel 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'' () "fame, glory, honour, praise, reno ...

*4 April 1512–bef. 1532:

William Norbury William is a masculine given name of Germanic origin. It became popular in England after the Norman conquest in 1066,All Things William"Meaning & Origin of the Name"/ref> and remained so throughout the Middle Ages and into the modern era. It is ...

*2 February 1532–bef. 1554:

John Worthiall John Worthiall, D.C.L. was an English Anglican priest in the 16th century. Worthiall was Principal of New Inn Hall, Oxford from 1514 to 1520. He held livings in Sutton, West Sussex, Iping, Burwash and Iping. Worthiall was Archdeacon of Chiche ...

Early modern

*16 April 1555–bef. 1559 (deprived): Alban Langdale *7 October 1559–?: Richard Tremayne (ineffective royal grant) *20 May 1560–bef. 1571 (d.): Thomas Spencer *July 1571–bef. 1575 (res.): John Coldwell *15 May 1575–bef. 1580 (res.):

Thomas Gillingham Thomas Gillingham, D.D. was an English Anglican priest in the 16th century. Gillingham was educated at Corpus Christi College, Oxford. He held livings in Colchester, Barkway and Wheldrake. Langridge became Rector of Barcombe and Archdeacon ...

*April 1580–bef. 1586 (res.): John Langworth *15 November 1586–March 1596 (d.): William Stone *12 April 1596 – 30 March 1603 (d.): Henry Ball *7 September 1603–bef. 1607 (d.):

Thomas Pattenson Thomas Pattenson was an English priest in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Pattenson was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge. In 1568 he became a Fellow at Christ's College, Cambridge. He was incorporated at Oxford University in 1577. ...

*17 February 1608–bef. 1635 (d.):

Roger Andrewes Roger Andrewes (sometimes Andrews; 1574–1635) was an English churchman and academic, archdeacon and Chancellor at Chichester Cathedral in the English Church. He was also a scholar, a Fellow of Pembroke Hall and was, in 1618, made Master of ...

*24 November 1635–bef. 1640 (d.):

Laurence Pay Laurence Pay was an English priest in the 17th century. Pay was educated at Christ Church, Oxford. He held livings at West Stoke, Pulborough and Birdham. He was archdeacon of Chichester The post of Archdeacon of Chichester was created in the ...

*18 February 1640 – 1641 (res.): James Marsh *bef. 1642–25 April 1660 (d.):

Henry Hammond Henry Hammond (18 August 1605 – 25 April 1660) was an English churchman, church historian and theologian, who supported the Royalist cause during the English Civil War. Early life He was born at Chertsey in Surrey on 18 August 1605, the y ...

*2 July 1660 – 6 December 1672 (d.):

Jasper Mayne Jasper Mayne (1604 – 6 December 1672) was an English clergyman, translator, and a minor poet and dramatist. Mayne was baptized at Hatherleigh, Devon, on 23 November 1604, and educated at Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford. He then ...

*23 December 1672–bef. 1679 (d.):

Oliver Whitby The Venerable Oliver Whitby ( 1602 – 1679) was an Anglican priest in England during the 17th century, who became Archdeacon of Chichester. Origins and education Born about 1602, the son of a clergyman in Bedfordshire, he entered Trinity College ...

*24 September 1679–bef. 1707 (d.):

Josiah Pleydell The Venerable Josiah Playdell (1641–1707) was an Anglican priest in England. Playdell was born in Newnham on Severn and educated at Queen's College, Oxford and King's College, Cambridge Playdell was ordained in 1663 and became curate at Chippi ...

*12 February 1708 – 17 August 1736 (d.): James Barker *7 September 1736 – 14 July 1770 (d.): Thomas Ball *10 June 1771 – 1 August 1792 (d.):

Thomas Hollingbery Thomas Hollingbery (also Hollingberry, Hollingbury) (died 1792) was an English churchman, Archdeacon of Chichester and a Fellow of the Royal Society. He was educated at Worcester College, Oxford, where he graduated B.A. in 1755, M.A. in 1758, a ...

*3 October 1792 – 1797 (res.): John Buckner *15 May 1802 – 10 September 1803 (d.): Charles Alcock *12 October 1803 – 4 January 1808 (d.):

Thomas Taylor Thomas Taylor may refer to: Military *Thomas H. Taylor (1825–1901), Confederate States Army colonel *Thomas Happer Taylor (1934–2017), U.S. Army officer; military historian and author; triathlete *Thomas Taylor (Medal of Honor) (born 1834), Am ...

*5 March 1808–bef. 1840 (res.): Charles Webber *30 December 1840 – 21 March 1851 (res.):

Henry Edward Manning Henry Edward Manning (15 July 1808 – 14 January 1892) was an English prelate of the Catholic Church, and the second Archbishop of Westminster from 1865 until his death in 1892. He was ordained in the Church of England as a young man, but co ...

(became

Archbishop of Westminster The archbishop of Westminster heads the Roman Catholic Diocese of Westminster, in England. The incumbent is the metropolitan of the Province of Westminster, chief metropolitan of England and Wales and, as a matter of custom, is elected presid ...

in the

Roman Catholic Church The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

) *28 April 1851 – 26 March 1879 (d.):

James Garbett James Garbett (1802-1879) was a British academic and Anglican cleric who became the Archdeacon of Chichester. He was a Fellow of Brasenose College, Oxford. He was an Evangelical and an opponent of the Oxford Movement. He was the anti-Tractarian ...

Late modern

*1879–31 October 1887 (d.):

John Russell Walker The Ven John Russell Walker , MA was an eminent Anglican priest in the last third of the 19th century. He was born in Bury on 18 June 1837 and educated at University College, Oxford. He was ordained in 1863 and was Curate of Middleton and ...

*1887–9 May 1903 (d.):

Francis Mount Francis John Mount (14 October 1831 – 9 May 1903) was an Anglican priest. Mount was educated at Eton and Oriel College, Oxford and ordained in 1855. He began his career with a curacy at St Mark's Horsham after which he was an Examining Chap ...

*1903–1914 (res.):

Edward Elwes The Ven Edward Leighton Elwes, MA was an eminent Anglican priest in the first third of the 20th century. He was born on 8 October and educated at Eton and University College, Oxford. He was ordained in 1873 and was Curate of Ashington, Somers ...

*1914–19 February 1920 (d.): Herbert Jones (also

Bishop of Lewes The Bishop of Lewes is an episcopal title used by a suffragan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Chichester, in the Province of Canterbury, England. The title takes its name after Lewes, the county town of East Sussex East Sussex i ...

) *1920–1934 (ret.):

Benedict Hoskyns Benedict George Hoskyns (23 February 1856 – 11 September 1935) was an Anglican priest in the first third of the 20th century. He was born on 23 February 1856 into an ennobled family: his father was Canon Sir John Leigh Hoskyns, 9th Bart. He ...

*1934–1946 (ret.):

Charles Clarke Charles Rodway Clarke (born 21 September 1950) is a British Labour Party politician who held various Cabinet positions under Prime Minister Tony Blair from 2001 to 2006, lastly as Home Secretary from December 2004 to May 2006. Clarke was th ...

*1946–1973 (ret.):

Lancelot Mason The Venerable, The Ven Lancelot Mason Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, MBE Master of Arts (Oxford, Cambridge, and Dublin), MA was an eminent Church of England priest in the 20th century. He was born on 22 July 1905 and ...

*1973–1975 (res.):

Frederick Kerr-Dineen Frederick George Kerr-Dineen was an Anglican priest in the 20th century. He was born on 26 August 1915 and educated at St John's College, Durham. He was ordained in 1941 and was a curate at St Paul's Portman Square and St John's Weymouth. In 1952 ...

*1975–1981 (res.):

Richard Eyre Sir Richard Charles Hastings Eyre (born 28 March 1943) is an English film, theatre, television and opera director. Eyre has received numerous accolades including three Laurence Olivier Awards as well as nominations for six BAFTA Awards and two ...

*1981–1991 (ret.): Keith Hobbs *1991–2002 (ret.):

Michael Brotherton Michael Lewis Brotherton (born 26 May 1931) is a British journalist and politician. A Conservative, he had a promising Parliamentary career and worked as a Parliamentary consultant after his former constituency in Lincolnshire was abolished in ...

*20021 July 2018 (ret.):Acting Archdeacons Appointed
(Accessed 3 June 2018)

Douglas McKittrick Douglas Henry McKittrick (born 18 February 1953) is a retired Archdeacon of Chichester. McKittrick was educated at John Marlay School in Newcastle upon Tyne and at St Stephen's House, Oxford. He was ordained in 1977 and after curacies at St Paul ...

*1 May 20189 May 2019

Mark Standen The New South Wales Crime Commission is a statutory corporation of the Government of New South Wales. It is constituted by the Crime Commission Act 2012, the object of which is to reduce the incidence of organised crime and other serious crime ...

David Twinley David (; , "beloved one") was a king of ancient Israel and Judah and the third king of the United Monarchy, according to the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament. The Tel Dan stele, an Aramaic-inscribed stone erected by a king of Aram-Damas ...

(Initially shadowed previous Archdeacon, then jointly acting)Standen and Twinley's appointment is from 1 May 2018 to 31 January 2019. *9 May 201927 February 2025

(became

) *''TBA'' onwards: Tom Carpenter (archdeacon-designate)

Notes

References

Sources

* * * * * * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Chichester, Archdeacons of History of West Sussex Lists of English people Church of England Anglican ecclesiastical offices Lists of Anglicans