Archdeacon of Dorset


The Archdeacon of Dorset is a senior ecclesiastical officer within the Diocese of Salisbury, England. The archdeacon is responsible for the disciplinary supervision of the clergy within the four area deaneries: Purbeck, Poole, Wimborne, and Milton & Blandford.

History

The role of archdeacons within the diocese of Salisbury originated around the time of the Norman Conquest; the first recorded archdeacon titled Archdeacon of Dorset occurs as an officer of that diocese from the mid-12th century. The archdeaconry was transferred to the diocese of Bristol upon its creation on 4 June 1542, and later returned to Salisbury diocese by Order in Council on 7 October 1836 upon the abolition of Bristol diocese.
In 1916, the Archdeaconry of Sherborne was created, which was divided out of the historic archdeaconry of Dorset.
The post is currently vacant following Antony MacRow-Wood's retirement.

List of archdeacons

High Medieval

  • bef. 1139–aft. 1173: Adelelm
  • bef. 1184–aft. 1193: William
  • bef. 1196–aft. 1198: Richard
  • Ranulph son of Robert
  • bef. 1200–aft. 1214 : Adam
  • bef. 1222–aft. 1225: Herbert
  • bef. 1226–aft. 1241: Humphrey
  • bef. 1245–aft. 1255: Gerard de Bingham
  • bef. 1258–aft. 1258: Giordano Pironti
  • : Simon of Bridport
  • bef. 1271–aft. 1271: John
  • ?–bef. 1275 : Gerard de Grandson
  • bef. 1275–aft. 1280 : Thomas Bek
  • bef. 1281–1284 : Henry Brandeston
  • bef. 1287–1297 : William de la Wyle
  • 1297–aft. 1316 : Henry de Bluntesdon

Late Medieval

Early modern

Late modern