Abbot of Westminster

Head of Westminster Abbey in London, England

The Abbot of Westminster was the head (abbot) of Westminster Abbey. The position of Abbot of Westminster was a significant role in English history, with the abbots overseeing Westminster Abbey from its early days as a Benedictine monastery through major transformations over the centuries.

## List of Abbots

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Abbots

Edwin[1][2] | 1049 – c. 1071
Geoffrey of Jumièges[2] | c. 1071 – c. 1075
Vitalis of Bernay[2] | c. 1076 – 1085
Gilbert Crispin[2] | 1085 – 1117
Herbert[2] | 1121 – c. 1136
Gervase de Blois[2] | 1138 – c. 1157
Laurence[2] | c. 1158 – 1173
Walter of Winchester[2] | 1175 – 1190
William Postard[2] | 1191 – 1200
Ralph de Arundel (alias Papillon)[2] | 1200 – 1214
William de Humez[2] | 1214 – 1222[1]
Richard de Berkying[2] | 1222 – 1246
Richard de Crokesley[2] | 1246 – 1258
Phillip de Lewisham[2] | 1258
Richard de Ware[2] | 1258 – 1283
Walter de Wenlok[2] | 1283 – 1307
Richard de Kedyngton (alias Sudbury)[2] | 1308 – 1315
William de Curtlyngton[2] | 1315 – 1333
Thomas de Henley[2] | 1333 – 1344[2]
Simon de Bircheston | 1344 – 1349
Simon Langham[2] | 1349 – 1362
Nicholas de Litlyngton[2] | 1362 – 1386
William de Colchester[2] | 1386 – 1420
Richard Harweden[2] | 1420 – 1440
Edmund Kyrton[2] | 1440 – 1462
George Norwich[2] | 1463 – 1469
Thomas Mylling[2] | 1469 – 1474, later Bishop of Hereford
John Esteney[1][2] | 1474 – 1498
George Fascet[2] | 1498 – 1500
John Islip[2] | 1500 – 1532
William Benson (Abbot Boston)[2] | 1533 – 1540
Bishop
intra-Reformation
Thomas Thirlby[2] | 1540 – 1550
Deans
intra-Reformation
William Benson (Abbot Boston) | 1540 – 1549
Richard Cox[2] | 1549 – 1553
Hugh Weston[2] | 1553 – 1556
Abbot
restored by Mary I of England
John Feckenham[2] | 1556 – 1559
Deans
post-Reformation
See List of Deans of Westminster Abbey[2] | 1560 – present[3][4][2]

## References

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1. ^ a b c Smith, Emily Tennyson (Bradley); Micklethwaite, John Thomas (1898). Annals of Westminster abbey. Robarts - University of Toronto. London Cassell.
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak Flete, John; Robinson, J. Armitage (Joseph Armitage) (2005) [1443 (original work by John Flete)]. Harvey, Barbara F. (ed.). The History of Westminster Abbey. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9781120035516.
3. ^ pixeltocode.uk, PixelToCode. "Abbots & Deans". Westminster Abbey. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
4. ^ "Bishop, Abbots and Deans of Westminster". www.tudorplace.com.ar. Retrieved 2 October 2024.