Archdeacon of Chichester explained

The post of Archdeacon of Chichester was created in the 12th century, although the Diocese of Sussex was founded by St Wilfrid, the exiled Bishop of York, in AD 681. The original location of the see was in Selsey. The see was moved to Chichester, in about 1075, by decree of the Synod of London.[1] Currently, Luke Irvine-Capel is the Archdeacon (since May 2019).[2]

History

After the Norman Conquest 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 acted as the bishop's deputy and representative and had the job of supervising parish churches in the diocese.[3]

Saint Richard, Bishop of Chichester 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."[4]

The modern role of an archdeacon in the Church of England 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.[5]

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 Archdeaconry of Hastings, the Archdeaconry of Brighton and Lewes as well as the Archdeaconry of Chichester.[6]

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 Luke Irvine-Capel, in May 2019.[6] [7]

List of archdeacons

High Medieval

Sole archdeacons:

Senior archdeacons:

Archdeacons of Chichester:

Late Medieval

Early modern

Late modern

See also

Notes

  1. Kelly. The Bishopric of Selsey in Mary Hobbs. Chichester Cathedral: An Historic Survey. pp.1 - 10
  2. Web site: Diocese of Chichester Website. Cathedral Welcome for New Archdeacon of Chichester/. https://web.archive.org/web/20190623220917/https://www.chichester.anglican.org/glitter_news/2019/05/10/cathedral-welcome-new-archdeacon-chichester/. 23 June 2019. 23 June 2019.
  3. Bartlett. England under the Norman and Angevine Kings pp.388 - 389
  4. Stephens. The South Saxon Diocese. p.67
  5. Synodical Government, p.65.
  6. Diocese of Chichester Website
  7. News: . 21 August 2002 . Canon on the move . The Brighton Argus . Brighton . https://web.archive.org/web/20220624111157/https://www.theargus.co.uk/archive/2002/08/21/5126422.Canon_on_the_move/ . 24 June 2022 . 17 October 2016 . dead .
  8. These archdeacons are not referred to as Archdeacon of Chichester, but rather appear to be the sole archdeacon in the diocese.
  9. These archdeacons are not referred to as Archdeacon of Chichester, but are each the senior of two concurrent archdeacons of the diocese.
  10. http://www.sussexpeople.co.uk/josiah-pleydell/ Sussex people
  11. http://www.chichester.anglican.org/news/2018/05/09/acting-archdeacons-appointed/ Acting Archdeacons Appointed
  12. Standen and Twinley's appointment is from 1 May 2018 to 31 January 2019.

Sources

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Archdeacon of Chichester".

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