Archdeacon of Sarum explained

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[1] within the five area deaneries of the Sarum archdeaconry, which cover the geographical areas of Alderbury, Chalke (west of Salisbury), Salisbury, Heytesbury and Stonehenge (north of Salisbury).[2]

The post is currently held by the Ven Alan Jeans.[3]

History

The first recorded archdeacons in Salisbury diocese occur soon after the Norman Conquest (as they do across England) and there were apparently four archdeacons from the outset. However, no territorial titles are recorded until after . The archdeacons at that time were (in order of seniority) the Archdeacons of Dorset, Berkshire, Sarum and Wiltshire.

The position was redefined in 1843, having been previously generally known as the Archdeaconry of Salisbury; the role is now generally called Archdeacon of Sarum, but both names have been used commonly throughout history.

Allocation of parishes to deaneries

Many changes were made to the allocation of parishes to deaneries in 1951. The parishes of Charlton, Wilsford and North Newnton were transferred from Sarum to the archdeaconry of Wilts in 1955.

List of archdeacons

High Medieval

Archdeacons in Salisbury diocese:

Archdeacons of Salisbury:

Late Medieval

Raymond Cardinal de Fargis (cardinal-deacon of Santa Maria Nova; claimant)

Early modern

From around the time of the 1843 reorganisation, the archdeaconry has become generally known as Sarum rather than Salisbury.

Late modern

Notes

  1. "ABCD: a basic church dictionary" Meakin, T: Norwich, Canterbury Press, 2001
  2. Web site: Map of Salisbury Diocese. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170706191816/http://www.salisbury.anglican.org/whos-who/diocese/map-of-the-diocese-of-salisbury/image_small. 6 July 2017. 5 March 2017. The Diocese of Salisbury.
  3. Web site: Archdeacons. Ford. Michael. Diocese of Salisbury. en-gb. https://web.archive.org/web/20110121005836/http://www.salisbury.anglican.org/whos-who/archdeacons. 21 January 2011. dead. 5 March 2017.
  4. Gunter, Robert, Everard, Hubald, Joel, Alexander and Nigel occur as archdeacons in Salisbury diocese without territorial titles, so it is not possible to identify which areas they served.
  5. Ernald, Henry, Jordan and Savaric occur as archdeacons in Salisbury diocese without territorial titles, but their roles as archdeacons over the Salisbury area can be deduced.