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 Archdeaconry of Exeter.

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, Cornwall, Totnes (or Totton) and Barnstaple (or Barum). This configuration of archdeaconries within the diocese remained for almost 800 years, until the creation of the independent Diocese of Truro from the Cornwall archdeaconry.^[1] On 22 March 1918, the archdeaconries were reconfigured and the Archdeaconry of Plymouth created from Totnes archdeaconry.^[2] 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 for the Barnstaple and Exeter archdeaconries and to the Bishop of Plymouth for the Plymouth and Totnes archdeaconries.^[3]

List of archdeacons

High medieval

Sole (or primary) archdeacons of the diocese

?–28 June 1083 (d.): Odo
?–11 March 1104 (d.): Rolamnus
aft. 1103–11 August 1107 (res.): William Warelwast^[4]

During (or possibly before) the episcopacy of William Warelwast (1107–1137), the other three archdeaconries were instituted.

Archdeacons of Exeter

Ernaldus (died 14 March 1136)
bef. 1113–18 December 1138 (res.): Robert Warelwast
bef. 1143–aft. 1143: Walter de Constantiis
1162 - 1188: Henry Fitzharding^[5]
?–17 February 1155 (d.): Ralph
1155–1161 (res.): Bartholomew Iscanus

Baldwin of Forde, Archdeacon of Totnes was said in 1165 to have held this post.

bef. 1205–1221 (d.): Henry Fitz Robert de Molesiis/de Melvile
?–December 1225 (res.): Serlo
aft. 1225–bef. 1236: Bonus
bef. 1236–21 September 1247 (d.): Bartholomew
bef. 1269–1269 (res.): Roger de Thoriz
3 September 1270 – 1274 (res.): John Norilis/Norle
22 December 1274 – 1282 (res.): John of Pontoise
bef. 1284–aft. 1287: Robert de Evesham
bef. 1290–aft. 1292: Peter de Insula (later Archdeacon of Wells)
bef. 1295–bef. 1311: Bartholomew de Sancto Laurentio (also Archdeacon of Barnstaple; Dean of Exeter from 1310)

Late medieval

10 March 1308–? (deprived): Richard de Plumstok/de Plumpstock (unsuccessful royal grant)
20 June 1311–bef. 1312 (d.): William FitzRogo
5 March 1312 – 1317 (res.): John Wele
16 August 1317 – 2 February 1318 (deprived): Richard de Coleton (collation reversed)
2 February 1318–bef. 1318 (d.): Richard de Morcester
11 June 1318–bef. 1329 (d.): Thomas de Hereward
29 November 1329 – 1330 (res.): John de Northwode
18 April–5 July 1330 (d.): William de Grandisson/Grandison
12 July 1330 – June 1331 (exch.): William Zouche
June 1331–bef. 1345 (res.): Thomas de Nassington
15 December 1345–bef. 1360 (d.): Otto/Otho de Northwode
16 November–27 December 1360 (res.): Philip de Beauchamp/de Bello Campo (underage)
27 December 1360 – 1361 (res.): Stephen de Pempel/de Penpel/de Pympel
1361–1371 (d.): Philip de Beauchamp (again)
20 August 1371 – 1 March 1375 (deprived): Thomas de Swaby/Swaby (royal grant; revoked)
1 March 1371 – 1378 (deprived): Peter Cardinal de Vernhio (Peter de Everino; cardinal-deacon of Santa Maria in Via Lata)
10 July 1379–aft. 1379: John Cheyne
bef. 1384–16 August 1397 (d.): Philip Cardinal de Alencon (Philippe Valois d'Alençon, cardinal-bishop of Sabina)
8 November 1397–bef. 1399: William Waltham
9 April 1399–bef. 1399 (res.): Nicholas Bubwith
21 October 1399 – 1403 (res.): Walter Cook
11 June 1403 – 31 May 1408 (d.): Angelo Cardinal Acciaioli (Cardinal-bishop of Ostia)

7 December 1408 – 28 February 1410 (exch.): William Pilton/Thomas Pylton
c. 1408–14 July 1410 (res.): Anthony Cardinal de Calvis (Antonio Calvi, cardinal-priest of San Marco; unsuccessful papal grant)
28 February 1410 – 1417 (res.): Thomas Hendeman
25 January–May 1417 (res.): Roger Bolter
21 September 1417–bef. 1425 (d.): John Schute
1418: Thomas Redman (ineffective exchange)
27 September 1425–bef. 1438 (d.): James Carslegh
5 December 1438–bef. 1444 (res.): Peter Stukeley/Stukelegh
21 March 1444 – 1453 (d.): John Druell
8 June 1453 – 7 January 1475 (exch.): Peter Courtenay^[6]
7 January 1475 – 23 October 1482 (d.): Robert Aiscough/Ayscogh
aft. 1482–1492 (d.): David Hopton
3 February 1492–c. 1493 (res.): Richard Nykke^[7]
bef. 1504 – November 1504 (res.): Hugh Oldham^[8]
13 January 1505 – 1515 (res.): Richard More
19 June 1515–bef. 1519 (d.): John Fulford
19 January 1519 – 27 December 1555 (d.): Adam Travesse

Early modern

1551–?: Rowland Taylor^[9] (burned at the stake, 1555)
30 January 1556–bef. 1569 (res.): George Carew^[10]
20 October 1569–bef. 1583 (d.): Robert Fisher/Fysher^[11]
14 January 1583 – 25 November 1633 (d.): Thomas Barrett^[12]
16 January 1634–bef. 1643 (d.): Aaron Wilson
21 September 1643–bef. 1662 (res.): Edward Young^[13]
18 August 1662–bef. 1665 (res.): Robert Cary^[14]
4 February 1665 – 28 March 1668 (d.): Daniel Estcott
28 March 1668 – September 1676 (res.): Anthony Sparrow, Bishop of Exeter
24 October 1676 – 1 February 1704 (d.): Edward Lake^[15]
1 April 1704 – 1707 (res.): Jonathan Trelawny, Bishop of Exeter
7 February 1708 – 29 November 1716 (d.): Ofspring Blackall, Bishop of Exeter
1 March 1717 – 21 October 1726 (d.): Edward Trelawney
11 November 1726–bef. 1732: Richard Ibbetson
26 January 1732 – 1820: successive Bishops of Exeter held the archdeaconry for this period
29 December 1820 – 1865 (d.): John Moore-Stevens^[16] (Moore-Stevens after July 1832)

Late modern

April 1865 – February 1875 (d.): Philip Freeman^[17]
February 1875 – 1888 (d.): Henry Sanders^[18]
1888–1909 (ret.): Ernest Sandford^[19]^[20]
1909–1924 (ret.): Frederick Sanders^[21]
1925–1930 (res.): William Surtees^[22]^[23]
1930–17 April 1951 (d.): Huxley Thompson^[24]
1951–1958 (res.): Wilfrid Westall (also Bishop suffragan of Crediton from 1954)^[25]
1958–1970 (ret.): Richard Babington (afterwards archdeacon emeritus)^[26]
1981–1994 (res.): John Richards^[27]
1994–2002 (ret.): Tony Tremlett^[28]
2003–2005 (res.): Paul Gardner^[29]
2006–2012 (res.): Penny Driver^[30]^[31]
28 April 2012 – 7 September 2019 (res.): Christopher Futcher^[32]^[33] (became Archdeacon in Cyprus)^[34]
25 September 2019 – present: Andrew Beane^[35]

References

^ "No. 24394". The London Gazette. 15 December 1876. p. 6933.
^ "No. 30591". The London Gazette. 22 March 1918. pp. 3624–3625.
^ Diocese of Exeter – Vacancy in the Suffragan See of Crediton^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ Oxford Dictionary of National Biography – Warelwast, William de
^ Matthew, H. C. G.; Harrison, B., eds. (23 September 2004), "Eva fitz Harding - his mum", The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford: Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/54454, retrieved 17 August 2023
^ Dictionary of National Biography, Courtenay, Peter.
^ "Nykke, Richard (NK473R)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
^ "Oldham, Hugh (OLDN492H)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
^ "Taylor, Rowland (TLR529R)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
^ "Carew, George (0–1622) (CCEd Person ID 40378)". The Clergy of the Church of England Database 1540–1835. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
^ "Fyssher, Robert (1541–1594) (CCEd Person ID 91416)". The Clergy of the Church of England Database 1540–1835. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
^ British History Online – Magna Britannia: volume 6: Devonshire, The city of Exeter
^ "Young, Edward (1643–1803) (CCEd Person ID 103543)". The Clergy of the Church of England Database 1540–1835. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
^ Dictionary of National Biography, 1885–1900, Volume 9 – Cary, Robert
^ "Lake, Edward (LK676E)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
^ GENUKI – Dignitaries of the Diocese of Exeter, 1850
^ Oxford Dictionary of National Biography – Freeman, Philip
^ Biography of Henry Sanders (1805–1888)
^ "Sandford, Ernest Gray". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 1920–2008 (December 2007 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 9 May 2013. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ "Devon County Council Photograph, Sandford, Archdeacon of Exeter 1888–1909". Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
^ "Sanders, Frederick Arthur". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 1920–2008 (December 2007 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 9 May 2013. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ "Surtees, William F.". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 1920–2008 (December 2012 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 9 May 2013. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ The Masonic Province of Devonshire – A Brief History of Freemasonry in Devonshire Archived 28 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine
^ "Thompson, Arthur Huxley". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 1920–2008 (December 2012 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 9 May 2013. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ "Westall, Wilfrid Arthur Edmund". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 1920–2008 (December 2012 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 9 May 2013. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ "Babington, Richard Hamilton". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 1920–2008 (December 2012 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 9 May 2013. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ "Richards, John". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 1920–2008 (December 2012 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 9 May 2013. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ "Tremlett, Anthony Frank". Who's Who. Vol. 2013 (December 2012 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 9 May 2013. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ "Gardner, Paul Douglas". Who's Who. Vol. 2013 (December 2012 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 9 May 2013. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ "Driver, Penelope May". Who's Who. Vol. 2013 (December 2012 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 9 May 2013. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ Diocese of Exeter Clergy Profile – Details for The Ven Penny Driver Archived 23 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
^ "Futcher, Christopher David". Who's Who. Vol. 2013 (December 2012 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 9 May 2013. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ Exeter Cathedral News, March 2012 Archived 17 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine
^ "New Cyprus archdeacon announced, and new social concern coordinator - Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf". 9 February 2019.
^ "Church escape rooms and Champing: Devon's two new Archdeacons' track-record in using technology for mission". 15 April 2019.

Sources

Le Neve, John; Hardy, Sir Thomas Duffus (1854). Archdeacons of Exeter . Fasti ecclesiae Anglicanae. Vol. 1. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 392–397 – via Wikisource.
Horn, Joyce M. (1964), Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1300–1541, vol. 9, pp. 12–15

[1] "No. 24394". The London Gazette. 15 December 1876. p. 6933.

[2] "No. 30591". The London Gazette. 22 March 1918. pp. 3624–3625.

[3] Diocese of Exeter – Vacancy in the Suffragan See of Crediton^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[4] Oxford Dictionary of National Biography – Warelwast, William de

[5] Matthew, H. C. G.; Harrison, B., eds. (23 September 2004), "Eva fitz Harding - his mum", The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford: Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/54454, retrieved 17 August 2023

[6] Dictionary of National Biography, Courtenay, Peter.

[7] "Nykke, Richard (NK473R)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.

[8] "Oldham, Hugh (OLDN492H)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.

[9] "Taylor, Rowland (TLR529R)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.

[10] "Carew, George (0–1622) (CCEd Person ID 40378)". The Clergy of the Church of England Database 1540–1835. Retrieved 4 February 2014.

[11] "Fyssher, Robert (1541–1594) (CCEd Person ID 91416)". The Clergy of the Church of England Database 1540–1835. Retrieved 4 February 2014.

[12] British History Online – Magna Britannia: volume 6: Devonshire, The city of Exeter

[13] "Young, Edward (1643–1803) (CCEd Person ID 103543)". The Clergy of the Church of England Database 1540–1835. Retrieved 4 February 2014.

[14] Dictionary of National Biography, 1885–1900, Volume 9 – Cary, Robert

[15] "Lake, Edward (LK676E)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.

[16] GENUKI – Dignitaries of the Diocese of Exeter, 1850

[17] Oxford Dictionary of National Biography – Freeman, Philip

[18] Biography of Henry Sanders (1805–1888)

[19] "Sandford, Ernest Gray". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 1920–2008 (December 2007 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 9 May 2013. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[20] "Devon County Council Photograph, Sandford, Archdeacon of Exeter 1888–1909". Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2018.

[21] "Sanders, Frederick Arthur". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 1920–2008 (December 2007 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 9 May 2013. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[22] "Surtees, William F.". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 1920–2008 (December 2012 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 9 May 2013. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[23] The Masonic Province of Devonshire – A Brief History of Freemasonry in Devonshire Archived 28 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine

[24] "Thompson, Arthur Huxley". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 1920–2008 (December 2012 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 9 May 2013. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[25] "Westall, Wilfrid Arthur Edmund". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 1920–2008 (December 2012 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 9 May 2013. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[26] "Babington, Richard Hamilton". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 1920–2008 (December 2012 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 9 May 2013. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[27] "Richards, John". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 1920–2008 (December 2012 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 9 May 2013. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[28] "Tremlett, Anthony Frank". Who's Who. Vol. 2013 (December 2012 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 9 May 2013. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[29] "Gardner, Paul Douglas". Who's Who. Vol. 2013 (December 2012 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 9 May 2013. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[30] "Driver, Penelope May". Who's Who. Vol. 2013 (December 2012 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 9 May 2013. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[31] Diocese of Exeter Clergy Profile – Details for The Ven Penny Driver Archived 23 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine

[32] "Futcher, Christopher David". Who's Who. Vol. 2013 (December 2012 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 9 May 2013. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[33] Exeter Cathedral News, March 2012 Archived 17 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine

[34] "New Cyprus archdeacon announced, and new social concern coordinator - Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf". 9 February 2019.

[35] "Church escape rooms and Champing: Devon's two new Archdeacons' track-record in using technology for mission". 15 April 2019.

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v t e Archdeacons of Exeter
High Medieval	Sole/primary archdeacons: Odo Rolamnus William Warelwast Archdeacons of Exeter: Ernaldus Robert Warelwast Walter de Constantiis Henry Fitzharding Ralph Bartholomew Iscanus Henry Fitz Robert de Molesiis/de Melvile Serlo Bonus Bartholomew Roger de Thoriz John Norilis/Norle John of Pontoise Robert de Evesham Peter de Insula Bartholomew de Sancto Laurentio
Late medieval	Richard de Plumstok/de Plumpstock William FitzRogo John Wele Richard de Coleton Richard de Morcester Thomas de Hereward John de Northwode William de Grandisson/Grandison William Zouche Thomas de Nassington Otto/Otho de Northwode Philip de Beauchamp/de Bello Campo Stephen de Pempel/de Penpel/de Pympel Philip de Beauchamp (again) Thomas de Swaby/Swaby Peter Cardinal de Vernhio John Cheyne Philip Cardinal de Alencon William Waltham Nicholas Bubwith Walter Cook Angelo Cardinal Acciaioli William Pilton/Thomas Pylton Anthony Cardinal de Calvis Thomas Hendeman Roger Bolter John Schute Thomas Redman James Carslegh Peter Stukeley/Stukelegh John Druell Peter Courtenay Robert Aiscough/Ayscogh David Hopton Richard Nykke Hugh Oldham Richard More John Fulford Adam Travesse
Early modern	Rowland Taylor George Carew Robert Fisher/Fysher Thomas Barrett Aaron Wilson Edward Young Robert Cary Daniel Estcott Anthony Sparrow, Bishop of Exeter Edward Lake Sir Jonathan Trelawny, Bishop of Exeter Ofspring Blackall, Bishop of Exeter Edward Trelawney Richard Ibbetson Bishops of Exeter John Moore-Stevens
Late modern	Philip Freeman Henry Sanders Ernest Sandford Frederick Sanders William Surtees Huxley Thompson Wilfrid Westall Richard Babington John Richards Tony Tremlett Paul Gardner Penny Driver Christopher Futcher Andrew Beane

v t e Diocese of Exeter
Exeter Cathedral The Palace, Exeter The Old Deanery, Exeter
Office holders	Mike Harrison, Bishop of Exeter Jackie Searle, Bishop suffragan of Crediton James Grier, Bishop suffragan of Plymouth AEO: Paul Thomas, Bishop suffragan of Oswestry & Rob Munro, Bishop suffragan of Ebbsfleet Jonathan Greener, Dean of Exeter Douglas Dettmer, Archdeacon of Totnes Andrew Beane, Archdeacon of Exeter Verena Breed, Archdeacon-designate of Barnstaple Jane Bakker, Archdeacon of Plymouth
Selected deaneries	Deanery of Barnstaple Deanery of Cadbury Deanery of Christianity (Exeter) Deanery of Hartland
Historic offices	Archdeacon of Cornwall (11th century – 1876; became the Diocese of Truro)