Bishop of Chichester

Diocesan bishop in the Church of England

Bishop of Chichester

Bishopric
anglican

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
Location
Ecclesiastical province| Canterbury
Residence| The Palace, Chichester
Information
First holder| Wilfrid (as Bishop of Selsey)
Stigand (as Bishop of Chichester)
Established| 681 (founded at Selsey)
1075 (translated to Chichester)
Diocese| Chichester
Cathedral| Chichester Cathedral (since 1075)
Selsey Abbey (681–1075)

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

[edit]

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]

850–925

950–1035

The dioceses of Anglo-Saxon England 850–1035

## List of bishops

[edit]

Bishops of Selsey

From  | Until  | Incumbent  | Notes
? 681  | ? 685  | Saint Wilfrid | Founder of the see; status as bishop of this see disputed; previously ejected from York; later Bishop of Leicester then of Hexham.
c. 685  | c. 706  | See absorbed by Winchester diocese, after Wessex conquered Sussex under Cædwalla.
? betw. 706–716  | betw. 716–731  | Eadberht | Also recorded as Eadbeorht, Eadbertus; previously Abbot of Selsey Abbey; often deemed first bishop of this see; died in office.
betw. 716–731  | betw. 716–731  | Eolla | Died in office.
betw. 716–731  | 733  | See vacant
733  | betw. 747–765  | Sigeferth | Also recorded as Sigelmus, Sigfridus, Sigga, Siggca, Sicgga ; died in office.
betw. 747–765  | betw. 772–780  | Aluberht | Also recorded as Ealabeorht, Alubrithus, Alubertus; died in office.
betw. 747–765  | betw. 772–780  | Oswald | Also recorded as Osweald, Osa; died in office.
betw. 772–780  | betw. 781–787  | Gislhere | Also recorded as Giselherus; died in office.
betw. 781–787  | betw. 786–789  | Tota | Died in office.
betw. 787–789  | betw. 805–811  | Wihthun | Died in office.
betw. 805–811  | betw. 816–824  | Æthelwulf | Also recorded as Ethelulphus; died in office.
betw. 816–824  | betw. 839–845  | Cynered | Also recorded as Coenred, Coenredus; died in office.
betw. 839–845  | aft. 860  | Guthheard | Also recorded as Guthard, Guðheard; left office.
aft. 860  | bef. 900  | See possibly vacant
bef. 900  | c. 909, or betw. 909–925  | Wighelm | Died in office.
c. 909, or betw. 909–925  | 930 or 931  | Beornheah | Also recorded as Beornegus; died in office; in Heylyn is placed between Ethelulphus and Coenredus.[4]
930 or 931  | betw. 940–943  | Wulfhun | Omitted in Heylyn;[4] died in office.
betw. 940–943  | betw. 953–956  | Ælfred | Also recorded as Alfredus; died in office.
betw. 953–956  | betw. 956–963  | Brihthelm | Sometimes identified with Beorhthelm of Winchester; either died in office or translated to Winchester.
betw. 956–963  | 979 or 980  | Eadhelm | Died in office.
980  | 988  | Æthelgar | Translated to Canterbury.
betw. 988–990  | betw. 1007–1009  | Ordbriht | Died in office.
betw. 1007–1011  | 1031 or 1032  | Ælfmær | Died in office.
1032 or 1033  | 1038  | Æthelric (I) | Died in office.
1039  | 1047  | Grimketel | Also recorded as Grimcytel (also Grimkell in Scandinavian sources); listed as Bishop of Elmham for 1043 as well; died in office.
1047  | 1057  | Heca | Died in office.
1058  | 1070  | Æthelric (II) | Also recorded as Ethelric; deposed and imprisoned by William the Conqueror.
1070  | c. 1075 | Stigand | See 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
From  | Until  | Incumbent  | Notes
c. 1075 | 1087  | Stigand of Selsey | Hitherto Bishop of Selsey; died in office.
1088  | 1088  | Godfrey | Some sources cite William as bishop.[5] Godfrey; died in office.
1091  | 1123  | Ralph de Luffa | Radulphus; died in office.
1125  | 1145  | Seffrid (I) | Seffridus Pelochin; also Abbot of Glastonbury; deprived.
1147  | 1169  | Hilary | Date of consecration sometimes given as 1133; previously unsuccessfully nominated for York; died in office.
1169  | 1173  | See vacant
1173  | 1180  | John of Greenford | John de Greenford; previously Dean of Chichester; died in office.
1180  | 1204  | Seffrid (II) | Seffridus; died in office.
1204  | 1207  | Simon of Wells | Simon Sutwell, Simon FitzRobert, Simon de Camera; died in office.
1209  | 1214  | Nicholas de Aquila | Gilbert de l'Aigle; Dean of Chichester; election quashed.
1215  | 1217  | Richard Poore | Previously Dean of Salisbury; translated to Salisbury then Durham.
1217  | 1222  | Ranulf of Wareham | Ralph de Warham; previously Prior of Norwich; died in office.
1224  | 1244  | Ralph Neville | Also Lord Chancellor; elected to Canterbury but rejected by Pope Innocent IV; also unsuccessfully elected to Winchester; died in office.
1244  | Robert Passelewe | Archdeacon of Lewes; Henry III's favoured candidate; election declared void by Pope Innocent IV.
1244  | 1253  | Saint Richard | Richard de Wych; Archbishop Boniface's favoured candidate; election confirmed by Pope Innocent IV; died in office.
1253  | 1262  | John Climping | John of Arundel; previously Chancellor of Chichester; died in office.
1262  | 1287  | Stephen Bersted | Stephen of Pagham; died in office.
1288  | 1305  | Gilbert of St Leonard | Gilbert de Sancto Leofardo; previously Treasurer of Chichester; died in office.
1305  | 1337  | John Langton | Also Lord Chancellor; previous election to Ely quashed; died in office.
1337  | 1362  | Robert de Stratford | Previously Archdeacon of Canterbury; also Lord Chancellor and Chancellor of Oxford; died in office.
1362  | 1368  | William Lenn | William Lullimore; previously Dean of Chichester; translated to Worcester.
1369  | 1385  | William Reade | Previously Archdeacon of Rochester; died in office.
1386  | 1389  | Thomas Rushhook | Thomas Rushocke; translated from Llandaff; exiled to Breifne.
1390  | 1395  | Richard Mitford | Previously unsuccessfully elected to St David's; also Lord Treasurer of Ireland; translated to Salisbury.
1395  | 1396  | Robert Waldby | Translated from Dublin; translated to York.
1396  | 1415  | Robert Reed | Translated from Carlisle; died in office.
1417  | Stephen Patrington | Translated from St David's; died immediately after appointment.
1418  | 1420  | Henry Ware | Previously official to the Archbishop of Canterbury; died in office.
1421  | 1421  | John Kemp | Translated from Rochester; translated to London.
1421  | 1426  | Thomas Polton | Thomas Pulton; translated from Hereford; translated to Worcester.
1426  | 1429  | John Rickingale | Chancellor of York; died in office.
1429  | Thomas Brunce | Thomas Brouns; election quashed; later Bishop of Rochester then of Norwich.
1430  | 1438  | Simon Sydenham | Simon Sidenham; died in office.
1438  | 1445  | Richard Praty | Richard Pratty; also Chancellor of Oxford.
1446  | 1450  | Adam Moleyns | Adam Molins; previously Dean of Salisbury; also Lord Privy Seal; died in office.
1450  | 1459  | Reginald Pecock | Reginald Peacock; translated from St Asaph; deprived for heresy.
1459  | 1477  | John Arundel | Previously Archdeacon of Richmond.
1478  | 1503  | Edward Story | Translated from Carlisle.
1503  | 1506  | Richard FitzJames | Translated from Rochester; translated to London.
1508  | 1536  | Robert Sherborne | Robert Sherburne; translated from St David's; resigned shortly before his death.
Bishops of Chichester during the Reformation
From  | Until  | Incumbent  | Notes
1536  | 1543  | Richard Sampson | Previously Dean of Lichfield; also Dean of St Paul's; translated to Lichfield & Coventry.
1543  | 1551  | George Day | Provost of King's College, Cambridge; deprived by Edward VI.
1552  | 1553  | John Scory | Translated from Rochester; deprived by Mary I; later Bishop of Hereford.
1553  | 1556  | George Day (restored) | Restored by Mary I; died in office.
1557  | 1558  | John Christopherson | Previously Dean of Norwich; died in office.
Post-Reformation Bishops of Chichester
From  | Until  | Incumbent  | Notes
1559  | 1568  |  William Barlow | Marian exile; had resigned Bath and Wells (being married); died in office.
1570  | 1582  |  Richard Curteys | Richard Curtis; died in office.
1582  | 1586  | See vacant
1586  | 1596  |  Thomas Bickley | Previously Warden of Merton College, Oxford.
1596  | 1605  |  Anthony Watson | Previously Lord High Almoner; also Dean of Bristol 1590–1598; died in office.
1605  | 1609  |  Lancelot Andrewes | Previously Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge; translated to Ely then Winchester.
1609  | 1619  |  Samuel Harsnett | Previously Archdeacon of Essex; translated to Norwich then York.
1619  | 1628  |  George Carleton | Translated from Llandaff; died in office.
1628  | 1638  |  Richard Montagu | Previously Archdeacon of Hereford; translated to Norwich.
1638  | 1641  |  Brian Duppa | Previously Dean of Christ Church, Oxford; translated to Salisbury.
1642  | 1646  |  Henry King | Previously Dean of Rochester; deprived of the see when the English episcopy was abolished by Parliament on 9 October 1646.
1646  | 1660  | The see was abolished during the Commonwealth and the Protectorate.[6][7]
1660  | 1669  |  Henry King (restored) | Reinstated on the restoration of the episcopacy; died in office.
1670  | 1675  |  Peter Gunning | Previously Master of St John's College, Cambridge; also Regius Professor of Divinity 1661–1674; translated to Ely.
1675  | 1678  |  Ralph Brideoake | Previously Dean of Salisbury; died in office.
1679  | 1685  |  Guy Carleton | Translated from Bristol; died in office.
1685  | 1689  |  John Lake | Translated from Bristol; deprived as a non-juror.
1689  | 1691  |  Simon Patrick | Previously Dean of Peterborough; translated to Ely.
1691  | 1696  |  Robert Grove | Previously Archdeacon of Middlesex; died in office.
1696  | 1709  |  John Williams | Died in office.
1709  | 1722  |  Thomas Manningham | Previously Dean of Windsor; died in office.
1722  | 1724  |  Thomas Bowers | Also Archdeacon of Canterbury since 1721.
1724  | 1731  |  Edward Waddington | Died in office.
1731  | 1740  |  Francis Hare | Translated from St Asaph.
1740  | 1754  |  Matthias Mawson | Translated from Llandaff; translated to Ely.
1754  | 1797  |  Sir William Ashburnham, Bt. | Previously Dean of Chichester.
1798  | 1824  |  John Buckner | Sometime Rector of St Giles, London; died in office.
1824  | 1831  |  Robert Carr | Previously Dean of Hereford; translated to Worcester.
1831  | 1836  |  Edward Maltby | Translated to Durham.
1836  | 1840  |  William Otter | Previously Principal of King's College, London; died in office.
1840  | 1842  |  Philip Shuttleworth | Previously Warden of New College, Oxford; died in office.
1842  | 1870  |  Ashurst Gilbert | Previously Principal of Brasenose College, Oxford; died in office.
1870  | 1895  |  Richard Durnford | Previously Archdeacon of Manchester; died in office.
1896  | 1907  |  Ernest Wilberforce | Translated from Newcastle; died in office.
1908  | 1919  |  Charles Ridgeway | Previously Dean of Carlisle.
1919  | 1929  |  Winfrid Burrows | Translated from Truro; died in office.
1929  | 1958  |  George Bell | Previously Dean of Canterbury; died in office.
1958  | 1974  |  Roger Wilson | Translated from Wakefield; retired.
1974  | 2001  |  Eric Kemp | Previously Dean of Worcester; retired and became "Bishop Emeritus of Chichester".
2001  | 2012  |  John Hind | Translated from Europe; retired.
2012  | incumbent |  Martin Warner | Translated from Whitby.
Source(s):[3][4][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]

## Assistant bishops

[edit]

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

* 1930 - 1937 (d.): Henry Southwell, Canon Precentor of Chichester Cathedral and Provost of Lancing College, former Bishop of Lewes[15]
* 1939 - 1953 (ret.): Charles Saunders, Rector of Uckfield (until 1942), of Barcombe (1942–47) and Vicar of West Lavington (from 1947); former Bishop in Lucknow[16]
* 1965-1980 (d.): Ambrose Reeves, Rector of Lewes (until 1972) and former Anglican Bishop of Johannesburg[17]
* 1966: Nathaniel Newnham Davis, former Bishop of Antigua[18]
* 1994 - 1997 (res.): David Evans, Gen. Sec. of SAMS and former Bishop in Peru[19]

## See also

[edit]

* Christianity portal

* Archdeacon of Chichester
* Archdeacon of Hastings
* Archdeacon of Brighton and Lewes

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Debrett's Peerage, 1968, p. 248, with capitalisation as shown there; here shown apparently incorrectly holding an orb not a book
2. ^ "10 Downing Street – Queen approves Martin Clive Warner for election as Bishop of Chichester". number10.gov.uk. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
3. ^ a b Dallaway.History of the Western Division of the county of Sussex, Volume 1 p. 25 accessed 18 June 2016
4. ^ a b c Heylyn, Peter (1773). A Help to English History. London: Paul Wright. pp. 54–55\. "Heylyn also cites Headda (686) and Daniel (705) as successors to Wilfrid."
5. ^ Barlow, Frank (1979). The English Church 1066–1154. London: Longman. p. 66\. ISBN 0-582-50236-5.
6. ^ Plant, David (2002). "Episcopalians". BCW Project. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
7. ^ King, Peter (July 1968). "The Episcopate during the Civil Wars, 1642–1649". The English Historical Review. 83 (328). Oxford University Press: 523–537\. doi:10.1093/ehr/lxxxiii.cccxxviii.523. JSTOR 564164.
8. ^ "Historical successions: Chichester (including precussor offices)". Crockford's Clerical Directory. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
9. ^ Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I., eds. (1986). Handbook of British Chronology (3rd, reprinted 2003 ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 221, 238, and 272. ISBN 0-521-56350-X.
10. ^ Kelly, S. E, ed. (1998). "Charters of Selsey". Anglo-Saxon Charters: Volume 6. Trinity College, Cambridge. Archived from the original on 18 February 2012. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
11. ^ Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I., eds. (1986). Handbook of British Chronology (3rd, reprinted 2003 ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 238–241\. ISBN 0-521-56350-X.
12. ^ Greenway, D. E. (1996). "Bishops of Chichester". Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300: Volume 5: Chichester. British History Online. pp. 1–6.
13. ^ Horn, J. M. (1964). "Bishops of Chichester". Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1300–1541: Volume 7: Chichester Diocese. British History Online. pp. 1–4.
14. ^ Horn, J. M. (1971). "Bishops of Chichester". Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1541–1857: Volume 2: Chichester Diocese. British History Online. pp. 1–6.
15. ^ "Southwell, Henry Kemble". Who's Who. A & C Black. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
16. ^ "Saunders, Charles John Godfrey". Who's Who. A & C Black. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
17. ^ "Reeves, (Richard) Ambrose". Who's Who. A & C Black. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
18. ^ "Davis, Nathaniel William Newnham". Who's Who. A & C Black. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
19. ^ "Evans, David Richard John". Who's Who. A & C Black. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

## Sources

[edit]

* Heylyn, Peter (1773). A Help to English History...etc.. London: Paul Wright.
* Kelly, S. E. 1998. Charters of Selsey. Anglo-Saxon Charters 6.

* v
* t
* e

Bishops of Chichester

Bishops of Selsey|

* Wilfrid
* Eadberht
* Eolla
* Sigeferth
* Aluberht
* Oswald
* Gislhere
* Tota
* Wihthun
* Æthelwulf
* Cynered
* Guthheard
* Wighelm
* Beornheah
* Wulfhun
* Guthheard
* Ælfred
* Brihthelm
* Eadhelm
* Æthelgar
* Ordbriht
* Ælfmær
* Æthelric I
* Grimketel
* Heca
* Æthelric II
* Stigand
* See translated

High Medieval|

* Godfrey
* Ralph de Luffa
* Seffrid
* Hilary
* John of Greenford
* Seffrid
* Simon of Wells
* Nicholas de Aquila
* Richard Poore
* Ranulf of Wareham
* Ralph Neville
* Robert Passelewe
* Richard de la Wich
* John Climping
* Stephen Bersted
* Gilbert of St Leonard

Late Medieval|

* John Langton
* Robert de Stratford
* William Lenn
* William Reade
* Thomas Rushhook
* Richard Mitford
* Robert Waldby
* Robert Reed
* Stephen Patrington
* Henry Ware
* John Kemp
* Thomas Polton
* John Rickingale
* Thomas Brunce
* Simon Sydenham
* Richard Praty
* Adam Moleyns
* Reginald Pecock
* John Arundel
* Edward Story
* Richard FitzJames

Early modern|

* Robert Sherborne
* Richard Sampson
* George Day
* John Scory
* George Day
* John Christopherson
* William Barlow
* Richard Curteys
* Thomas Bickley
* Anthony Watson
* Lancelot Andrewes
* Samuel Harsnett
* George Carleton
* Richard Montagu
* Brian Duppa
* Henry King
* Episcopacy abolished (Commonwealth)
* Henry King
* Peter Gunning
* Ralph Brideoake
* Guy Carleton
* John Lake
* Simon Patrick
* Robert Grove
* John Williams
* Thomas Manningham
* Thomas Bowers
* Edward Waddington
* Francis Hare
* Matthias Mawson
* Sir William Ashburnham

Late modern|

* John Buckner
* Robert Carr
* Edward Maltby
* William Otter
* Philip Shuttleworth
* Ashurst Gilbert
* Richard Durnford
* Ernest Wilberforce
* Charles Ridgeway
* Winfrid Burrows
* George Bell
* Roger Wilson
* Eric Kemp
* John Hind
* Martin Warner

* v
* t
* e

Anglican hierarchy in Great Britain and Ireland

Church of England|

| Canterbury
Province|

| Diocesan
bishops|

* Archbishop of Canterbury
* Bath & Wells
* Birmingham
* Bristol
* Chelmsford
* Chichester
* Coventry
* Derby
* Ely
* Exeter
* Europe
* Gloucester
* Guildford
* Hereford
* Leicester
* Lichfield
* Lincoln
* London
* Norwich
* Oxford
* Peterborough
* Portsmouth
* Rochester
* St Albans
* St Edmundsbury & Ipswich
* Salisbury
* Southwark
* Truro
* Winchester
* Worcester

|

Suffragan
bishops|

* Aston
* Barking
* Basingstoke
* Bedford
* Bradwell
* Brixworth
* Buckingham
* Colchester
* Crediton
* Croydon
* Dorchester
* Dorking
* Dover
* Dudley
* Dunwich
* Ebbsfleet
* Edmonton
* Europe
* Fulham
* Grantham
* Grimsby
* Hertford
* Horsham
* Huntingdon
* Kensington
* Kingston-upon-Thames
* Lewes
* Loughborough
* Ludlow
* Lynn
* Maidstone
* Plymouth
* Ramsbury
* Reading
* Repton
* Richborough
* Sherborne
* Shrewsbury
* Southampton
* St Germans
* Stafford
* Stepney
* Swindon
* Taunton
* Tewkesbury
* Thetford
* Tonbridge
* Warwick
* Willesden
* Wolverhampton
* Woolwich

York
Province|

| Diocesan
bishops|

* Archbishop of York
* Blackburn
* Carlisle
* Chester
* Durham
* Leeds
* Liverpool
* Manchester
* Newcastle
* Sheffield
* Sodor & Man
* Southwell

|

Suffragan
bishops|

* Berwick
* Beverley
* Birkenhead
* Bolton
* Bradford
* Burnley
* Doncaster
* Huddersfield
* Hull
* Jarrow
* Lancaster
* Middleton
* Penrith
* Richmond
* Ripon
* Selby
* Sherwood
* Stockport
* Wakefield
* Warrington
* Whitby

Other|

* Bishop to the Forces
* Bishop to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York
* Bishop of the Falkland Islands
* Bishop to HM Prisons
* other spokesperson bishops
* list of current bishops
* list of current deans
* list of current archdeacons

Church in Wales|

* Archbishop of Wales
* Bangor
* Llandaff
* Monmouth
* St Asaph
* St Davids
* Swansea & Brecon
* assistant bishops

Scottish Episcopal
Church|

* Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church
* Aberdeen and Orkney
* Argyll & The Isles
* Brechin
* Edinburgh
* Glasgow & Galloway
* Moray, Ross & Caithness
* St Andrews, Dunkeld & Dunblane

Church of Ireland|

| Armagh
Province|

* Archbishop of Armagh
* Clogher
* Connor
* Derry & Raphoe
* Down & Dromore
* Kilmore, Elphin & Ardagh

|

Dublin
Province|

* Archbishop of Dublin
* Cashel & Ossory
* Cork, Cloyne & Ross
* Limerick & Killaloe
* Meath & Kildare

*[c.]: circa
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template