Bishop of Chichester explained

Bishopric:Chichester
Border:anglican
Coat:Arms displayed by Richard Poore, Bishop of Chichester, at the signing of Magna Charta.png
Coat Size:200px
Coat Caption:Arms of the Bishop of Chichester: Azure, Our Blessed Lord in judgement seated on His throne His right hand upraised or His left hand holding an open book proper and out of His mouth a two-edged sword point to the sinister gules[1])
Incumbent:Martin Warner
Province:Canterbury
Residence:The Palace, Chichester
Established:681 (founded at Selsey)
1075 (translated to Chichester)
Cathedral:Chichester Cathedral (since 1075)
Selsey Abbey (681–1075)
First Incumbent:Wilfrid (as)
Stigand (as)
Diocese:Chichester

The Bishop of Chichester is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Chichester in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese covers the counties of East and West Sussex. The see is based in the City of Chichester where the bishop's seat is located at the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity. On 3 May 2012 the appointment was announced of Martin Warner, Bishop of Whitby, as the next Bishop of Chichester.[2] His enthronement took place on 25 November 2012 in Chichester Cathedral.

The bishop's residence is The Palace, Chichester. Since 2015, Warner has also fulfilled the diocesan-wide role of alternative episcopal oversight, following the decision by Mark Sowerby, then Bishop of Horsham, to recognise the orders of priests and bishops who are women.

Between 1984 and 2013, the Bishop of Chichester, in addition to being the diocesan bishop, also had specific oversight of the Chichester Episcopal Area (the then Archdeaconry of Chichester), which covered the coastal region of West Sussex along with Brighton and Hove.

Earliest history at Selsey

The episcopal see at Selsey was founded by Saint Wilfrid, formerly Bishop of the Northumbrians, for the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Sussex in the late 7th century. He was granted land by Æthelwealh of Sussex to build a cathedral at Selsey. However, shortly afterwards Cædwalla of Wessex conquered the Kingdom of Sussex, but he confirmed the grant to Wilfrid. The bishop's seat was located at Selsey Abbey. Nine years after the Norman conquest, in 1075, the Council of London enacted that episcopal sees should be removed to cities or larger towns. Accordingly, the see at Selsey was removed to Chichester. Some sources claim that Stigand, the last Bishop of Selsey, continued to use the title Bishop of Selsey until 1082, before adopting the new title Bishop of Chichester, indicating that the transfer took several years to complete.[3]

List of bishops

Bishops of Selsey
FromUntilIncumbentNotes
? 681? 685Saint WilfridFounder of the see; status as bishop of this see disputed; previously ejected from York; later Bishop of Leicester then of Hexham.
685 706 See absorbed by Winchester diocese, after Wessex conquered Sussex under Cædwalla.
? betw. 706–716betw. 716–731EadberhtAlso recorded as Eadbeorht, Eadbertus; previously Abbot of Selsey Abbey; often deemed first bishop of this see; died in office.
betw. 716–731betw. 716–731EollaDied in office.
betw. 716–731733See vacant
733betw. 747–765SigeferthAlso recorded as Sigelmus, Sigfridus, Sigga, Siggca, Sicgga ; died in office.
betw. 747–765betw. 772–780AluberhtAlso recorded as Ealabeorht, Alubrithus, Alubertus; died in office.
betw. 747–765betw. 772–780OswaldAlso recorded as Osweald, Osa; died in office.
betw. 772–780betw. 781–787GislhereAlso recorded as Giselherus; died in office.
betw. 781–787betw. 786–789TotaDied in office.
betw. 787–789betw. 805–811WihthunDied in office.
betw. 805–811betw. 816–824ÆthelwulfAlso recorded as Ethelulphus; died in office.
betw. 816–824betw. 839–845CyneredAlso recorded as Coenred, Coenredus; died in office.
betw. 839–845aft. 860 GuthheardAlso recorded as Guthard, Guðheard; left office.
aft. 860 bef. 900See possibly vacant
bef. 900 909, or betw. 909–925WighelmDied in office.
909, or betw. 909–925930 or 931BeornheahAlso recorded as Beornegus; died in office; in Heylyn is placed between Ethelulphus and Coenredus.
930 or 931betw. 940–943WulfhunOmitted in Heylyn; died in office.
betw. 940–943betw. 953–956ÆlfredAlso recorded as Alfredus; died in office.
betw. 953–956betw. 956–963BrihthelmSometimes identified with Beorhthelm of Winchester; either died in office or translated to Winchester.
betw. 956–963979 or 980EadhelmDied in office.
980988ÆthelgarTranslated to Canterbury.
betw. 988–990betw. 1007–1009OrdbrihtDied in office.
betw. 1007–10111031 or 1032ÆlfmærDied in office.
1032 or 1033 1038Æthelric (I)Died in office.
10391047GrimketelAlso recorded as Grimcytel (also Grimkell in Scandinavian sources); listed as Bishop of Elmham for 1043 as well; died in office.
10471057HecaDied in office.
10581070Æthelric (II)Also recorded as Ethelric; deposed and imprisoned by William the Conqueror.
1070StigandSee moved to Chichester by decree of the Council of London (1075), Stigand was the last Bishop of Selsey and first Bishop of Chichester.
Pre-Reformation Bishops of Chichester
FromUntilIncumbentNotes
1087Stigand of SelseyHitherto Bishop of Selsey; died in office.
10881088GodfreySome sources cite William as bishop.[4] Godfrey; died in office.
10911123Ralph de LuffaRadulphus; died in office.
11251145Seffrid (I)Seffridus Pelochin; also Abbot of Glastonbury; deprived.
11471169HilaryDate of consecration sometimes given as 1133; previously unsuccessfully nominated for York; died in office.
11691173See vacant
11731180John of GreenfordJohn de Greenford; previously Dean of Chichester; died in office.
11801204Seffrid (II)Seffridus; died in office.
12041207Simon of WellsSimon Sutwell, Simon FitzRobert, Simon de Camera; died in office.
12091214Nicholas de AquilaGilbert de l'Aigle; Dean of Chichester; election quashed.
12151217Richard PoorePreviously Dean of Salisbury; translated to Salisbury then Durham.
12171222Ranulf of WarehamRalph de Warham; previously Prior of Norwich; died in office.
12241244Ralph NevilleAlso Lord Chancellor; elected to Canterbury but rejected by Pope Innocent IV; also unsuccessfully elected to Winchester; died in office.
1244Robert PasseleweArchdeacon of Lewes
Henry III's favoured candidate; election declared void by Pope Innocent IV.
12441253Saint RichardRichard de Wych; Archbishop Boniface's favoured candidate; election confirmed by Pope Innocent IV; died in office.
12531262John ClimpingJohn of Arundel; previously Chancellor of Chichester; died in office.
12621287Stephen BerstedStephen of Pagham; died in office.
12881305Gilbert of St LeonardGilbert de Sancto Leofardo; previously Treasurer of Chichester; died in office.
13051337John LangtonAlso Lord Chancellor; previous election to Ely quashed; died in office.
13371362Robert de StratfordPreviously Archdeacon of Canterbury; also Lord Chancellor and Chancellor of Oxford; died in office.
13621368William LennWilliam Lullimore; previously Dean of Chichester; translated to Worcester.
13691385William ReadePreviously Archdeacon of Rochester; died in office.
13861389Thomas RushhookThomas Rushocke; translated from Llandaff; exiled to Breifne.
13901395Richard MitfordPreviously unsuccessfully elected to St David's; also Lord Treasurer of Ireland; translated to Salisbury.
13951396Robert WaldbyTranslated from Dublin; translated to York.
13961415Robert ReedTranslated from Carlisle; died in office.
1417Stephen PatringtonTranslated from St David's; died immediately after appointment.
14181420Henry WarePreviously official to the Archbishop of Canterbury; died in office.
14211421John KempTranslated from Rochester; translated to London.
14211426Thomas PoltonThomas Pulton; translated from Hereford; translated to Worcester.
14261429John RickingaleChancellor of York; died in office.
1429Thomas BrunceThomas Brouns; election quashed; later Bishop of Rochester then of Norwich.
14301438Simon SydenhamSimon Sidenham; died in office.
14381445Richard PratyRichard Pratty; also Chancellor of Oxford.
14461450Adam MoleynsAdam Molins; previously Dean of Salisbury; also Lord Privy Seal; died in office.
14501459Reginald PecockReginald Peacock; translated from St Asaph; deprived for heresy.
14591477John ArundelPreviously Archdeacon of Richmond.
14781503Edward StoryTranslated from Carlisle.
15031506Richard FitzJamesTranslated from Rochester; translated to London.
15081536Robert SherborneRobert Sherburne; translated from St David's; resigned shortly before his death.
Bishops of Chichester during the Reformation
FromUntilIncumbentNotes
15361543Richard SampsonPreviously Dean of Lichfield; also Dean of St Paul's; translated to Lichfield & Coventry.
15431551George DayProvost of King's College, Cambridge; deprived by Edward VI.
15521553John ScoryTranslated from Rochester; deprived by Mary I; later Bishop of Hereford.
15531556George Day (restored)Restored by Mary I; died in office.
15571558John ChristophersonPreviously Dean of Norwich; died in office.
Post-Reformation Bishops of Chichester
FromUntilIncumbentNotes
15591568 William BarlowMarian exile
had resigned Bath and Wells (being married); died in office.
15701582 Richard CurteysRichard Curtis; died in office.
15821586See vacant
15861596 Thomas BickleyPreviously Warden of Merton College, Oxford.
15961605 Anthony WatsonPreviously Lord High Almoner; also Dean of Bristol 1590–1598; died in office.
16051609 Lancelot AndrewesPreviously Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge; translated to Ely then Winchester.
16091619 Samuel HarsnettPreviously Archdeacon of Essex; translated to Norwich then York.
16191628 George CarletonTranslated from Llandaff; died in office.
16281638 Richard MontaguPreviously Archdeacon of Hereford; translated to Norwich.
16381641 Brian DuppaPreviously Dean of Christ Church, Oxford; translated to Salisbury.
16421646 Henry KingPreviously Dean of Rochester; deprived of the see when the English episcopy was abolished by Parliament on 9 October 1646.
1646 1660The see was abolished during the Commonwealth and the Protectorate.[5] [6]
16601669 Henry King (restored)Reinstated on the restoration of the episcopacy; died in office.
16701675 Peter GunningPreviously Master of St John's College, Cambridge; also Regius Professor of Divinity 1661–1674; translated to Ely.
16751678 Ralph BrideoakePreviously Dean of Salisbury; died in office.
16791685 Guy CarletonTranslated from Bristol; died in office.
16851689 John LakeTranslated from Bristol; deprived as a non-juror.
16891691 Simon PatrickPreviously Dean of Peterborough; translated to Ely.
16911696 Robert GrovePreviously Archdeacon of Middlesex; died in office.
16961709 John WilliamsDied in office.
17091722 Thomas ManninghamPreviously Dean of Windsor; died in office.
17221724 Thomas BowersAlso Archdeacon of Canterbury since 1721.
17241731 Edward WaddingtonDied in office.
17311740 Francis HareTranslated from St Asaph.
17401754 Matthias MawsonTranslated from Llandaff; translated to Ely.
17541797 Sir William Ashburnham, Bt.Previously Dean of Chichester.
17981824 John BucknerSometime Rector of St Giles, London; died in office.
18241831 Robert CarrPreviously Dean of Hereford; translated to Worcester.
18311836 Edward MaltbyTranslated to Durham.
18361840 William OtterPreviously Principal of King's College, London; died in office.
18401842 Philip ShuttleworthPreviously Warden of New College, Oxford; died in office.
18421870 Ashurst GilbertPreviously Principal of Brasenose College, Oxford; died in office.
18701895 Richard DurnfordPreviously Archdeacon of Manchester; died in office.
18961907 Ernest WilberforceTranslated from Newcastle; died in office.
19081919 Charles RidgewayPreviously Dean of Carlisle.
19191929 Winfrid BurrowsTranslated from Truro; died in office.
19291958 George BellPreviously Dean of Canterbury; died in office.
19581974 Roger WilsonTranslated from Wakefield; retired.
19742001 Eric KempPreviously Dean of Worcester; retired and became "Bishop Emeritus of Chichester".
20012012 John HindTranslated from Europe; retired.
2012incumbent Martin WarnerTranslated from Whitby.
align=center colspan="4"Source(s):[7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]

Assistant bishops

Among those who were called Assistant Bishop of Chichester, or coadjutor bishop, were:

See also

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Debrett's Peerage, 1968, p. 248, with capitalisation as shown there; here shown apparently incorrectly holding an orb not a book
  2. Web site: 10 Downing Street – Queen approves Martin Clive Warner for election as Bishop of Chichester. number10.gov.uk . 27 November 2012.
  3. Dallaway. History of the Western Division of the county of Sussex, Volume 1 p. 25 accessed 18 June 2016
  4. Book: Barlow, Frank . Frank Barlow (historian) . The English Church 1066–1154 . London . Longman . 1979 . 0-582-50236-5. 66.
  5. Web site: Plant . David . 2002 . Episcopalians . BCW Project . 25 April 2021 .
  6. King . Peter . July 1968 . The Episcopate during the Civil Wars, 1642–1649 . . 83 . 328 . 523–537 . Oxford University Press . 564164 . 10.1093/ehr/lxxxiii.cccxxviii.523.
  7. Book: Heylyn . Peter . Peter Heylyn . 1773 . A Help to English History . London . Paul Wright . 54–55 . Heylyn also cites Headda (686) and Daniel (705) as successors to Wilfrid..
  8. Web site: Historical successions: Chichester (including precussor offices) . Crockford's Clerical Directory . 21 July 2012.
  9. Book: Fryde . E. B. . Greenway . D. E. . Porter . S. . Roy . I. . Handbook of British Chronology . 3rd, reprinted 2003 . Cambridge University Press . Cambridge . 1986 . 0-521-56350-X . 221, 238, and 272.
  10. Web site: Charters of Selsey . Kelly . S. E . 1998 . Anglo-Saxon Charters: Volume 6 . Trinity College, Cambridge . 21 July 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120218132147/http://www.trin.cam.ac.uk/kemble/pelteret/Sels/Selslist.htm . 18 February 2012 .
  11. Book: Fryde . E. B. . Greenway . D. E. . Porter . S. . Roy . I. . Handbook of British Chronology . 3rd, reprinted 2003 . Cambridge University Press . Cambridge . 1986 . 0-521-56350-X . 238–241.
  12. Book: Greenway . D. E. . 1996 . http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=34293 . Bishops of Chichester . Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300: Volume 5: Chichester . . 1–6.
  13. Book: Horn . J. M. . 1964 . http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=32091 . Bishops of Chichester . Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1300–1541: Volume 7: Chichester Diocese . . 1–4.
  14. Book: Horn . J. M. . 1971 . http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=34642 . Bishops of Chichester . Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1541–1857: Volume 2: Chichester Diocese . . 1–6.