Bishop of Exeter

Diocesan bishop in the Church of England

Bishop of Exeter

Bishopric
anglican

Arms of the Bishop of Exeter: Gules, a sword erect in pale argent hilted or surmounted by two keys addorsed in saltire of the last[1]

Incumbent:
Mike Harrison
Location
Ecclesiastical province| Canterbury
Residence| The Bishop's Palace, Exeter
Information
First holder| Werstan
Leofric (first Bishop of Exeter)
Established| 905 (founded at Tawton)
912 (translated to Crediton)
1050 (translated to Exeter)
Diocese| Exeter
Cathedral| Exeter Cathedral (1112–present)

The Bishop of Exeter is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Exeter in the Province of Canterbury.[2] The current bishop is Mike Harrison, since 2024.[3]

From the first bishop until the sixteenth century the Bishops of Exeter were in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church. However, during the Reformation the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church, at first temporarily and later more permanently. Since the Reformation, the Bishop and Diocese of Exeter has been part of the reformed and catholic Church of England. The bishop's residence is The Bishop's Palace, Exeter.[4]

## History

[edit]

The Anglo-Saxon dioceses after 950

Roman episcopal organization survived the fall of the Roman Empire in south-western Britain, which became the British kingdom of Dumnonia. In about 700, Aldhelm, abbot of Malmesbury wrote a letter to King Geraint of Dumnonia and his bishops.[5] However, by this time eastern Devon had been conquered by the Anglo-Saxons and was part of the diocese of Bishop of Winchester, covering the whole of Wessex. In around 705 The diocese was divided in two and Aldhelm was appointed the first Bishop of Sherborne, covering eastern Devon. Over the next two centuries western Devon was conquered.[6]

### Crediton

[edit]

In about 909 the diocese of Sherborne was divided and the Diocese of Crediton was created to cover Devon and Cornwall.[7] Crediton was chosen as the site for its cathedral possibly due it having been the birthplace of Saint Boniface and the existence of a monastery there.[8]

In 1046, Leofric became the Bishop of Crediton. Following his appointment he decided that the see should be moved to the larger and more culturally significant and defensible walled town of Exeter. In 1050, King Edward the Confessor authorised that Exeter was to be the seat of the bishop for Devon and Cornwall and that a cathedral was to be built there for the bishop's throne. Thus, Leofric became the last diocesan Bishop of Crediton and the first Bishop of Exeter.[8]

### Exeter

[edit]

The two dioceses of Crediton and Cornwall, covering Devon and Cornwall, were permanently united under Edward the Confessor by Lyfing's successor Leofric, hitherto Bishop of Crediton, who became first Bishop of Exeter under Edward the Confessor, which was established as his cathedral city in 1050. At first the Abbey Church of St Mary and St Peter, founded by Athelstan in 932, rebuilt in 1019, etc., finally demolished 1971, served as the cathedral.

The bishop of Exeter signs his name as his Christian name or forename followed by Exon., abbreviated from the Latin Episcopus Exoniensis ("Bishop of Exeter").

### Cathedral

[edit]

Main article: Exeter Cathedral

‘South Tower of Exeter Cathedral’, attributed to W. Davey, about 1800-1830

The present cathedral was begun by William de Warelhurst in 1112, the transept towers he built being the only surviving part of the Norman building, which was completed by Marshall at the close of the twelfth century. The cathedral is dedicated to St Peter.

As it now stands, the cathedral is in the decorated style. It was begun by Peter Quinel (1280–1291), continued by Bytton and Stapeldon, and completed, much as it has since remained, by John Grandisson during his long tenure of 42 years.

In many respects Exeter cathedral resembles those of France rather than others found in England. Its special features are the transept towers and the choir, containing much early stained glass. There is also an episcopal throne, separated from the nave by a choir screen (1324) and a stately West front. In a comparison with certain other English cathedrals, it is perhaps disadvantaged by the absence of a central tower and a general lack of elevation, but it is undoubtedly very fine.

### Organisation

[edit]

The bishops of Exeter, like the general population of the diocese, always enjoyed considerable independence, and the see was one of the largest and richest in England. The remoteness of the see from London prevented it from being bestowed on statesmen or courtiers, so that over the centuries the roll of bishops possessed more capable scholars and administrators than in many other sees. The result was a long and stable line of bishops, leading to active Christian observance in the area.

The diocese contained 604 parishes grouped in four archdeaconries: Cornwall, Barnstaple, Exeter, and Totnes. There were Benedictine, Augustinian, Premonstratensian, Franciscan and Dominican religious houses, and four Cistercian abbeys.

### Modern history

[edit]

This wealthy diocese was forced to cede land during the reign of Henry VIII, when Vesey was obliged to surrender fourteen of twenty-two manors, and the value of the see was reduced to a third of what it had been. Vesey, despite his Catholic sympathies, held the see until 1551, when he finally had to resign, and was replaced by the Bible translator Miles Coverdale. Following the accession of Mary, in 1553, Vesey was restored, but died soon after in 1554. He was succeeded by James Turberville, the last Catholic Bishop of Exeter. Turberville was removed from the see by the Reformist Elizabeth I in 1559, and died in prison, probably in or about 1570.

Henry Phillpotts served as Bishop of Exeter from 1830 to his death in office in 1869. He was England's longest serving bishop since the 14th century. The diocese was divided in 1876 along the border of Devon and Cornwall, creating the Diocese of Truro (but five parishes which were at the time in Devon were included in this diocese as they had always been within the Archdeaconry of Cornwall). The diocese covers the County of Devon. The see is in the City of Exeter where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter which was founded as an abbey possibly before 690. The current incumbent is Mike Harrison.[9]

## List of bishops

[edit]

### Pre-Conquest

[edit]

Bishops of Crediton

From  | Until  | Incumbent  | Notes
c.909 | 934 | Eadwulf |
934 | c.952/53 | Æthelgar |
953 | 972 |  Ælfwold I |
973 | 977 | Sideman | Died on 30 April 977 or 1 or 2 May 977.
c.977/79 | c.986/87 | Ælfric |
c.986/87 | ? | Ælfwold II |
? | c.990 | Alfred of Malmesbury[10] |
? | c.1011/15 | Ælfwold III |
c.1011/15 | c.1019/23 | Eadnoth |
1027 | 1046 | Lyfing | Also Bishop of Cornwall and Worcester; died in March 1046.
1046 | 1050 | Leofric | Consecrated on 19 April 1046; also Bishop of Cornwall; became the first Bishop of Exeter in 1050.
In 1050, Leofric transferred the see to Exeter.[8]
Source(s):[11][12]

### Pre-Reformation

[edit]

Dates of reign | Name | Portrait | Arms[13]

|
|
|

1050–1072[14] | Leofric |  | Pre-heraldic
1072–1103 | Osbern FitzOsbern |  | Pre-heraldic
1107–1138 | William Warelwast |  | Pre-heraldic
1138–1155 | Robert Warelwast |  | Pre-heraldic
1155–1160 | Robert of Chichester |  | Pre-heraldic
1161–1184 | Bartholomew Iscanus |  | Pre-heraldic
1186–1191 | John the Chanter |  | Pre-heraldic
1194–1206 | Henry Marshal |  | Pre-heraldic
1206–1214[15] | Vacant |  |
1214–1223 | Simon of Apulia |  |  |
1224–1244[16] | William Briwere |  |
1245–1257[17] | Richard Blund |  |
1258–1280[18] | Walter Branscombe |  |  |
1280–1291[19] | Peter Quinel |  |
1291–1307[20] | Thomas Bitton |  |
1308–1326 | Walter de Stapledon |  |
1326–1327 | James Berkeley |  |
1327[21] | John Godeley |  |
1327–1369 | John Grandisson |  |
1370–1394[22] | Thomas de Brantingham |  |
1395–1419 | Edmund Stafford |  |
1419[23] | John Catterick |  |
1420–1455[24] | Edmund Lacey |  |
1455–1456[25] | John Hales |  |
1458–1465[26] | George Neville |  |
1465–1478 | John Booth |  |
1478–1487[27] | Peter Courtenay |  |
1487–1492[28] | Richard Foxe |  |
1493–1495[28] | Oliver King |  |
1496–1502[29] | Richard Redman |  |
1502–1504[30] | John Arundel |  |
1505–1519 | Hugh Oldham |  |

### During the Reformation

[edit]

Dates of reign | Name | Portrait | Arms

|
|
|

1519–1551[31][11][32][33] | John Vesey |  |
1551–1553[34][11][32][33] | Myles Coverdale |  |
1553–1554[35][11][32][33] | John Vesey |  |
1555–1560[11][32][33] | James Turberville |  |

### Post-Reformation

[edit]

Post-Reformation Bishops of Exeter

From  | Until  | Incumbent  | Notes
1560  | 1571  |  William Alley | Also recorded as William Alleyn
1571  | 1578  |  William Bradbridge |
1579  | 1594  |  John Woolton |
1595  | 1597  |  Gervase Babington | Translated to Worcester
1598  | 1621  |  William Cotton |
1621  | 1626  |  Valentine Cary |
1627  | 1641  |  Joseph Hall | Translated to Norwich
1642  | 1646  |  Ralph Brownrigg | Deprived of the see when the English episcopacy was abolished by Parliament on 9 October 1646; died 1659.
1646  | 1660  | The see was abolished during the Commonwealth and the Protectorate.[36][37]
1660  | 1662  |  John Gauden | Translated to Worcester
1662  | 1667  |  Seth Ward | Translated to Salisbury
1667  | 1676  |  Anthony Sparrow | Translated to Norwich
1676  | 1688  |  Thomas Lamplugh | Translated to York
1689  | 1707  |  Sir Jonathan Trelawny, Bt. | Translated from Bristol; later translated to Winchester
1708  | 1716  |  Ofspring Blackall |
1717  | 1724  |  Lancelot Blackburne | Translated to York
1724  | 1742  |  Stephen Weston |
1742  | 1746  |  Nicholas Clagett | Translated from St David's
1747  | 1762  |  George Lavington |
1762  | 1777  |  Frederick Keppel |
1778  | 1792  |  John Ross |
1792[38] | 1796  |  William Buller |
1797  | 1803  |  Reginald Courtenay | Translated from Bristol
1803  | 1807  |  John Fisher | Translated to Salisbury
1807  | 1820  |  George Pelham | Translated from Bristol; later translated to Lincoln
1820  | 1830  |  William Carey | Translated to St Asaph
1830  |  Christopher Bethell | Translated from Gloucester; later translated to Bangor
1831  | 1869  |  Henry Phillpotts |
1869  | 1885  |  Frederick Temple | Translated to London
1885  | 1900  |  Edward Bickersteth |
1901  | 1903  |  Herbert Edward Ryle | Translated to Winchester
1903  | 1916  |  Archibald Robertson |
1916  | 1936  |  Lord William Cecil |
1936  | 1948  |  Charles Curzon | Translated from Stepney
1949  | 1973  |  Robert Mortimer |
1973  | 1985  |  Eric Mercer | Translated from Birkenhead
1985  | 1999  |  Hewlett Thompson | Translated from Willesden
1999  | 2013[39] |  Michael Langrish | Translated from Birkenhead
2014  | 2023  |  Robert Atwell | Translated from Stockport;[40] retired 30 September 2023.[41]
2024  | present | Mike Harrison | Translated from Dunwich, 25 September 2024.[3]

Source(s):[11][32]

## Assistant bishops

[edit]

Among those who have served as assistant bishops of the diocese have been:

* mid-1860s: James Chapman, Rector of Wootton Courtenay and former Bishop of Colombo[42][43][44]
* 1900 - 1918 (d.): Alfred Earle, Dean of Exeter, remained Bishop of Marlborough despite resigning its duties as suffragan for West London
* While he was Rector of Down St Mary (1897–1903), Kestell Kestell-Cornish, retired Bishop of Madagascar, sometimes assisted the bishop[45]
* 1947 - 1952 (ret.): Rocksborough Smith, Rector of Lapford and former Bishop of Algoma[46]

## See also

[edit]

* Bishop of Cornwall

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Debrett's Peerage, 1968, p.432
2. ^ Crockford's Clerical Directory, 100th edition, (2007), Church House Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7151-1030-0.
3. ^ a b "Bishop Mike confirmed as Bishop of Exeter in historic Lambeth Palace ceremony". Diocese of Exeter. 26 September 2024. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
4. ^ "Robert Ronald Atwell". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
5. ^ Pickles, Thomas (2013). "Church Organization and Pastoral Care". In Stafford, Pauline (ed.). A Companion to the Early Middle Ages: Britain and Ireland c. 500–c. 1100. Wiley-Blackwell. p. 164\. ISBN 978-1-118-42513-8.
6. ^ Yorke, Barbara (1995). Wessex in the Early Middle Ages. London, UK: Leicester University Press. pp. 60, 85, 95. ISBN 978-0-7185-1856-1.
7. ^ Crediton Festival 2009 Archived 21 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 5 June 2008.
8. ^ a b c Exeter: Ecclesiastical History Archived 1 October 2006 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 5 June 2008.
9. ^ "Appointment of Bishop of Exeter: 4 June 2024" (Press release). Prime Minister's Office. 4 June 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
10. ^ Joseph Thomas (1 January 2010). The Universal Dictionary of Biography and Mythology. Cosimo, Inc. p. 93\. ISBN 978-1-61640-069-9.
11. ^ a b c d e f "Historical successions: Exeter (including precussor offices)". Crockford's Clerical Directory. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
12. ^ Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I. (1986). Handbook of British Chronology (3rd, revised ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 287\. ISBN 0-521-56350-X.
13. ^ Izacke, Richard (c.1624–1698), (improved and continued to the year 1724 by Samuel Izacke), Remarkable Antiquities of the City of Exeter, 3rd Edition, London, 1731, A Perfect Catalogue of all the Bishops of this Church ... together with the Coats of Armory and Mottoes Described, pp.25-50 [1][2]
14. ^ The first to unite and transfer the Sees of Crediton and Cornwall to Exeter
15. ^ See vacant due to Pope Innocent III's interdict against King John's realms
16. ^ Aliter William Brewer
17. ^ Aliter Richard Blundy
18. ^ Aliter Walter Bronescombe
19. ^ Aliter Peter de Quivel or Quivil
20. ^ Aliter Thomas de Bytton
21. ^ Also recorded as John Godele. Elected, but quashed
22. ^ Aliter Thomas Brantyngham
23. ^ Aliter John Ketterick, translated from Lichfield
24. ^ Also recorded as Edmund Lacy. Translated from Hereford
25. ^ Appointed, but resigned before consecration
26. ^ Translated to York
27. ^ Translated to Winchester
28. ^ a b Translated to Bath and Wells
29. ^ Translated from St Asaph; later translated to Ely
30. ^ Translated from Lichfield
31. ^ (deposed, Roman Catholic)
32. ^ a b c d e Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I. (1986). Handbook of British Chronology (Third Edition, revised ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 246–248\. ISBN 0-521-56350-X.
33. ^ a b c d Horn, J. M. (1962). "Bishops of Exeter". Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1300–1541: Volume 9: Exeter Diocese. British History Online. pp. 1–3.
34. ^ Protestant
35. ^ recovered, Roman Catholic)
36. ^ Plant, David (2002). "Episcopalians". BCW Project. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
37. ^ 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.
38. ^ "No. 13457". The London Gazette. 8 September 1792. p. 694.
39. ^ BBC News – Bishop Langrish retires from office (Accessed 1 July 2013)
40. ^ Diocese of Exeter – Election of new Bishop of Exeter formally confirmed (Accessed 9 May 2014)
41. ^ "Bishop of Exeter Announces Retirement". Diocese of Exeter. 10 May 2023. Archived from the original on 13 May 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
42. ^ "Church News". Church Times. No. 100\. 31 December 1864. p. 419\. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 26 December 2019 - via UK Press Online archives.
43. ^ "Consecration of St Peter's Church, Newlyn, Penzance". Church Times. No. 174\. 2 June 1866. p. 175\. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 26 December 2019 - via UK Press Online archives.
44. ^ "Church News". Church Times. No. 243\. 28 September 1867. p. 337\. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 26 December 2019 - via UK Press Online archives.
45. ^ "Clerical obituary". Church Times. No. 2407\. 12 March 1909. p. 332\. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 14 March 2020 - via UK Press Online archives.
46. ^ "Smith, Rocksborough Remington". Who's Who. A & C Black. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

## Sources

[edit]

* Some text adapted from Catholic Encyclopaedia, 1908.

* v
* t
* e

Bishops of Exeter

Bishops of Crediton|

* Werstan (bishop at Tawton)
* Putta (bishop at Tawton)
* Eadwulf
* Æthelgar
* Ælfwold I
* Sideman
* Ælfric
* Ælfwold II
* Ælfwold III
* Eadnoth
* Lyfing of Winchester
* Leofric
* see translated to Exeter

High Medieval|

* Leofric
* Osbern FitzOsbern
* William Warelwast
* Robert Warelwast
* Robert of Chichester
* Bartholomew Iscanus
* John the Chanter
* Henry Marshal
* Simon of Apulia
* William Briwere
* Richard Blund
* Walter Branscombe
* Peter Quinel
* Thomas Bitton

Late Medieval|

* Walter de Stapledon
* James Berkeley
* John Godeley
* John Grandisson
* Thomas de Brantingham
* Edmund Stafford
* John Catterick
* Edmund Lacey
* John Hales
* George Neville
* John Booth
* Peter Courtenay
* Richard Foxe
* Oliver King
* Richard Redman

Early modern|

* John Arundel
* Hugh Oldham
* John Vesey
* Myles Coverdale
* John Vesey
* James Turberville
* William Alley
* William Bradbridge
* John Woolton
* Gervase Babington
* William Cotton
* Valentine Cary
* Joseph Hall
* Ralph Brownrigg
* Episcopacy abolished (Commonwealth)
* John Gauden
* Seth Ward
* Anthony Sparrow
* Thomas Lamplugh
* Sir Jonathan Trelawney Bt
* Ofspring Blackall
* Lancelot Blackburne
* Stephen Weston
* Nicholas Clagett
* George Lavington
* Frederick Keppel
* John Ross
* William Buller
* Reginald Courtenay

Late modern|

* John Fisher
* George Pelham
* William Carey
* Christopher Bethell
* Henry Phillpotts
* Frederick Temple
* Edward Bickersteth
* Herbert Edward Ryle
* Archibald Robertson
* Lord William Cecil
* Charles Curzon
* Robert Mortimer
* Eric Mercer
* Hewlett Thompson
* Michael Langrish
* John Ford (acting)
* Nick McKinnel (acting)
* Robert Atwell
* Mike Harrison

* v
* t
* e

Diocese of Exeter

* Exeter Cathedral
* The Palace, Exeter
* The Old Deanery, Exeter

Office holders|

* Mike Harrison, Bishop of Exeter
* James Grier, Bishop suffragan of Plymouth
* Moira Astin, Bishop suffragan of Crediton
* AEO: Paul Thomas, Bishop suffragan of Oswestry & Rob Munro, Bishop suffragan of Ebbsfleet
* Jonathan Greener, Dean of Exeter
* Douglas Dettmer, Archdeacon of Totnes
* Andrew Beane, Archdeacon of Exeter
* Verena Breed, Archdeacon-designate of Barnstaple
* Jane Bakker, Archdeacon of Plymouth

Selected deaneries|

* Deanery of Barnstaple
* Deanery of Cadbury
* Deanery of Christianity (Exeter)
* Deanery of Hartland

Historic offices|

* Archdeacon of Cornwall (11th century – 1876; became the Diocese of Truro)

* v
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* e

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