Archdeacons in the Diocese of Liverpool

The Archdeacons in the Diocese of Liverpool are senior ecclesiastical officers in the Church of England in a highly irregular area surrounding the city of Liverpool. They are the Archdeacons of Liverpool, of St Helens and Warrington, of Knowsley and Sefton, and of Wigan and West Lancashire; each one has responsibility over a geographical area within the diocese. The Archdeacons are responsible for the disciplinary supervision of the clergy with their archdeaconries.^[1]

History

The Archdeaconry of Liverpool was originally created on 10 August 1847^[2] in the Diocese of Chester and transferred to the Diocese of Liverpool when the latter was created on 9 April 1880.^[3] The Archdeaconry of Warrington was created from the Archdeaconry of Liverpool on 17 July 1880. ^[4] Prior to the 2015 reorganisation, the old Liverpool archdeaconry consisted of eight area deaneries: Bootle, Huyton, Liverpool North, Liverpool South-Childwall, Sefton, Toxteth and Wavertree, Walton, and West Derby; and the old Warrington archdeaconry of seven: North Meols, Ormskirk, St Helens, Warrington, Widnes, Wigan, and Winwick.

Reorganisation

Per the diocese's new mission paper, Fit for Mission, prepared by Paul Bayes, the new Bishop of Liverpool,^[5] the archdeaconries of the diocese are due to be reorganised not long after the retirement of Peter Bradley as Archdeacon of Warrington at the end of October 2015. On 29 May 2015, it was announced that four archdeaconries would exist after the reorganisation: Liverpool (reduced in size from its current area), Knowsley and Sefton, St Helens and Warrington, and Wigan and West Lancashire;^[6] on 9 August three archdeacons-designate were announced, and it was further indicated it was hoped the reorganisation could be completed in time to collate the new archdeacons on 14 November 2015.^[7] On 5 November 2015, it was announced that Bayes had signed the pastoral order effecting the boundary changes and erection of the new archdeaconries.^[8] (Depending on how the reorganisation was actually achieved, one of the three new incumbents may have succeeded to the old Archdeaconry of Warrington renamed.)

Following the reorganisation, the (reduced) Liverpool archdeaconry consists of five deaneries: Liverpool North, Liverpool South-Childwall, Toxteth and Wavertree, Walton, and West Derby; Knowsley and Sefton archdeaconry of four: Bootle, Huyton, North Meols, and Sefton; St Helens and Warrington archdeaconry of four: St Helens, Warrington, Widnes, and Winwick; and Wigan and West Lancashire archdeaconry of two: Ormskirk, and Wigan.^[8]

List of archdeacons

Archdeacons of Liverpool 29 September 1848–28 September 1855 (d.): Jonathan Brooks 30 October 1855–1886 (res.): John Jones Since 9 April 1880, the archdeaconry has been in Liverpool diocese. On 17 July 1880, the Archdeaconry of Warrington was split from the Liverpool archdeaconry.[9] 1886–1887 (res.): John Bardsley,[10] Vicar of St Saviour's, Liverpool[11] 1887–1895: Benjamin Clarke, Vicar of Christ Church, Southport[12] 1895–19 March 1906 (d.): William Taylor,[13] Vicar of St Andrew, Toxteth Park[14] 1906–26 December 1915 (d.): Thomas Madden,[15] Vicar of St Luke's, Liverpool (until 1913) then Vicar of Christ Church, Southport[16] 1916–7 February 1933 (d.): Hardwicke Spooner, Rector of Walton-on-the-Hill (until 1921)[17] 1933–1934 (ret.): George Howson[18] 1934–3 September 1950 (d.): Cyril Twitchett[19] 1951–1970 (ret.): Hubert Wilkinson, Vicar of St Mary's, Grassendale, (until 1968; afterwards archdeacon emeritus)[20] 1971–1979 (res.): Eric Corbett[21] 1979–1991 (ret.): Graeme Spiers, Vicar of Aigburth (until 1980; afterwards archdeacon emeritus)[22] 1991–1993 (res.): Stanton Durant, Vicar of All Saints, Stoneycroft[23] 1994–2002 (ret.): Robert Metcalf[24] (afterwards archdeacon emeritus)[25] 2002–present: Ricky Panter[26] Much of the territory of the archdeaconry was given to the new Knowlsey and Sefton archdeaconry. Archdeacons of Warrington The archdeaconry was erected from the Liverpool archdeaconry on 17 July 1880. 1880–1886 (res.): John Bardsley,[10] Vicar of St Saviour's, Liverpool (became Archdeacon of Liverpool)[11] 1887–1889 (res.): William Lefroy, perpetual curate of St Andrew's, Liverpool (became Dean of Norwich)[27] 1889–1895 (res.): William Taylor,[13] Vicar of St Chrysostom, Everton (until 1890), then Vicar of St Andrew, Toxteth Park (became Archdeacon of Liverpool)[14]

1895–1906 (res.): Thomas Madden, Vicar of St Luke's, Liverpool (became Archdeacon of Liverpool)[16] 1906–1916 (res.): Hardwicke Spooner, Rector of Walton-on-the-Hill (became Archdeacon of Liverpool)[17] 1916–1933 (res.): George Howson,[28] Rector of Woolton (until 1923; became Archdeacon of Liverpool)[18] 1933–1934 (res.): Cyril Twitchett (became Archdeacon of Liverpool)[19] 1934–1947 (ret.): Percy Baker, Vicar of Mossley Hill (until 1935), then Rector of Winwick (afterwards archdeacon emeritus)[29] 1947–1958 (ret.): Arthur White, Vicar of Billinge (until 1950; afterwards archdeacon emeritus)[30] 1959–1970 (ret.): Eric Evans, Rector of North Meols (until 1968; afterwards archdeacon emeritus)[31] 1970–1981 (res.): John Lawton, Rector of Winwick (afterwards archdeacon emeritus)[32] 1981–2001 (ret.): David Woodhouse, Vicar of St Peter's, Hindley (until 1992; afterwards archdeacon emeritus)[33] 2001–31 October 2015 (ret.): Peter Bradley[34] One of the three new archdeaconries is probably the same entity as the old Warrington archdeaconry. Archdeacons of Knowsley and Sefton The archdeaconry was erected on 5 November 2015 (or possibly renamed from the Warrington archdeaconry.) 14 November 2015–present: Pete Spiers[35] Archdeacons of St Helens and Warrington The archdeaconry was erected on 5 November 2015 (or possibly renamed from the Warrington archdeaconry.) 14 November 2015–present: Roger Preece[35] Archdeacons of Wigan and West Lancashire The archdeaconry was erected on 5 November 2015 (or possibly renamed from the Warrington archdeaconry.) 14 November 2015–present: Jennifer McKenzie[35]

References

1. "ABCD: a basic church dictionary" Meakin, T: Norwich, Canterbury Press, 2001 ISBN 978-1-85311-420-5
2. The London Gazette: no. 20769. p. 3159. 1847. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
3. The London Gazette: no. 24832. p. 2435. 9 April 1880. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
4. The London Gazette: no. 24860. p. 3755. 2 July 1880. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
5. Diocese of Liverpool — Fir for Mission (Accessed 16 August 2015)
6. Diocese of Liverpool — Sharing the Ministry of Archdeacons (Accessed 16 August 2015)
7. Diocese of Liverpool — Our new Archdeacons Designate (Accessed 16 August 2015)
8. Diocese of Liverpool — Bishop of Liverpool signs pastoral order (Accessed 20 November 2015)
9. The London Gazette: no. 24860. p. 3755. 2 July 1880. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
10. "John Wareing Bardsley – Bishop 1887–1892". Retrieved 20 January 2012.
11. Bardsley, Rt Rev. John Wareing. Who Was Who. 1920–2015 (April 2014 online ed.). A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
12. Toon, Peter; Smout, Michael. John Charles Ryle – Evangelical Bishop III – First Bishop of Liverpool; c. Diocesan Strategy: ‘More Living Agents’ (Accessed 20 October 2013)
13. "Distinguished Churchmen and Phases of Church Work/William Francis Taylor". Retrieved 20 January 2012.
14. Taylor, Ven. William Francis. Who Was Who. 1920–2015 (April 2014 online ed.). A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
15. "Archdeacon Madden Dead". New York Times. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
16. Madden, Ven. Thomas John. Who Was Who. 1920–2015 (April 2014 online ed.). A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
17. Spooner, Ven. George Hardwicke. Who Was Who. 1920–2015 (April 2014 online ed.). A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
18. Howson, Ven. George John. Who Was Who. 1920–2015 (April 2014 online ed.). A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
19. Twitchett, Ven. Cyril Frederick. Who Was Who. 1920–2015 (April 2014 online ed.). A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
20. Wilkinson, Ven. Hubert Seed. Who Was Who. 1920–2008 (November 2012 online ed.). A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
21. Corbett, Rev. Canon (Charles) Eric. Who Was Who. 1920–2008 (November 2012 online ed.). A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
22. Spiers, Ven. Graeme Hendry Gordon. Who Was Who. 1920–2008 (December 2007 online ed.). A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
23. The Independent – Church appointments, Saturday 9 October 1993 (Accessed 20 October 2013)
24. "Farewell service for retiring clergyman.". Retrieved 20 January 2012.
25. Metcalf, Ven. Robert Laurence. Who's Who 2013 (November 2012 online ed.). A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
26. Panter, Ven. Richard James Graham (Ricky). Who's Who 2013 (November 2012 online ed.). A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
27. Lefroy, Very Rev. William. Who Was Who. 1920–2015 (April 2014 online ed.). A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
28. "George John Howson 1854". Retrieved 20 November 2012.
29. Baker, Ven. Archdeacon John Percy. Who Was Who. 1920–2015 (April 2014 online ed.). A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
30. White, Ven. Archdeacon Arthur. Who Was Who. 1920–2015 (April 2014 online ed.). A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
31. Evans, Ven. Eric Herbert. Who Was Who. 1920–2015 (April 2014 online ed.). A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
32. Lawton, Ven. John Arthur. Who Was Who. 1920–2015 (April 2014 online ed.). A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
33. Woodhouse, Ven. (Charles) David (Stewart). Who's Who 2014 (November 2014 online ed.). A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
34. Bradley, Ven. Peter David Douglas. Who's Who 2014 (November 2014 online ed.). A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
35. Diocese of Liverpool — Bishop Paul collates new Archdeacons at Liverpool Cathedral (Accessed 20 November 2015)

Sources

• Horn, Joyce M.; Smith, David M.; Mussett, Patrick, Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1541–1857 11, pp. 49–50