Deans

 

Summary. 64 Deans are listed. William de Mancecestra established the position of second to the bishop and responsible for the new cathedral, c. 1240s. Thomas Heywood, mid 15th-century transformed the organisation of the cathedral.

Some information is from T. Harwood, The history and antiquities of the church and city of Lichfield. (London: 1806). The earliest dates recorded for offices were dean 1140, sub-dean 1165.

1140 William

1165. Richard de Balam, or Dalam. In 1170, lands and rent were granted to improve the Deanery.

1173. William.

1190. Richard.

1173. William.

1190. Richard or Ralph de Nevill. Became Bishop of Chichester and Chancellor of England. Savage stated he did nothing for Lichfield.

1222–1253 William de Manecestra or Manceter. Held in high esteem. Probably the first Dean appointed by the Chapter, 1222, and who then raised the position as second to the bishop. He probably redrafted the statutes. He must have oversaw the early stages of the building of the cathedral and become involved with the rancorous dispute with the monks of Coventry cathedral regarding who had the right to elect a bishop. During his time many chantries appeared within the cathedral. He died Feb. 7, 1253, and was possibly buried in the cathedral, see the post, ’Consistory Court, St Chad’s Head Chapel and the Duckit,’ 

1254–1280? Ralph de Sempringham. He had been chancellor of Oxford.

1280–1319 John de Derby, Was Prebendary of Wells and London. He was buried in the cathedral. He was frequently summoned by the King's Letters to Parliament since he was a Royal Clerk.

1319–1324 Stephen de Seagrave or Segrave. He became Archbishop of Armagh, Ireland. In 1324, his effigy, in the habit of a priest, was put up in the first window in the south choir.

1324–1328 Roger de Convenis

1328–1335 John Garssia or Casey or Gasey. In 1334, he was a suffragan Bishop with the title of  Bishop of Marseille.

1335–1346 Richard FitzRalph. Was Archdeacon of Chester. In 1347 he was promoted to the Archbishopric of Armagh.

1346–1347 John of Thoresby.

1347–1349 Simon de Brisele, Borisley or Briesley, or, according to Wood, Griesley. Became Dean of Lincoln in 1349,                                       

1350–1363 John Bokyngham. He was Keeper of the Privy Seal to King Richard II. He was a scholar. In 1363, he was preferred to the Bishopric of Lincoln, but it did not happen. Offended at this indignity he resigned his episcopal functions in 1397, and died a few months afterwards in the Prior's lodgings at Canterbury. By his will he gave legacies to every monk in the Priory.

1364–1369 William de Manton.

1369–? Laurence de Ibstock.  Harwood has 1363 for Laurence de Ibbestock.

?–1370 Anthony Rous. There is uncertainty when he was a dean.

1371–1378 Francis de Teobaldeschi was a Roman Cardinal with the title St. Sabyne. This was a rotten benefice awarded to someone who did not visit the cathedral.

1381–1390 William Pakington or Packington, Rector of Ivinghoe, Buckinghamshire; Archdeacon of Canterbury, and Prebendary of York and Lincoln.

1390–1426 Thomas de Stretton

1426–1432 Robert Wolveden,  Precentor in 1390. Became treasurer at York.

1432–1447 John Verney. Buried in the cathedral.

      1457–1492 Thomas Heywood or Haywode. He was connected to the cathedral for 60

years, gave much to enhance the work of the clergy in worship and transformed its

administration. He became a prebendary in 1433, aged 23, and dean in 1457 until his

death, 35 years later, aged 82. A list of benefactions given to the cathedral, the three

other churches in Lichfield and churches in the diocese is long and includes, many

windows including throughout the chapter house, a rood-loft, a mass-book, chalice,

vestments, reredos at the back of a chapel, a bakehouse and brewhouse, an iron

chimney in the chaplain’s hall, a high table, new chantry chapels of Jesus and St Anne

(1468) with all its necessary vestments, a new chamber with chapel over the gateway to

the entrance to the vicar’s houses (1474), an infirmary, a great bell known as ‘the Jesus

bell’ (1477), silver-gilt monstrance (1481), and a new pair of organs to be over the choir

screen (1482). He gave the chapter 40 pounds towards building a library. He added

stained glass to the Chapter House. In 1477, he gave a great bell, called the Jesus bell.

He was buried at the upper end of the south aisle near the high altar. Heywood, ‘seems

to have had a desire to turn a mixed bag of assorted clerics into a spiritual community.’

Many of his contributions appear to encourage pilgrimage and prayer. Scaife pointed

out that much of Heywood’s work had a backdrop of the 30 years’ War of the Roses,

1455-85, which make his achievements more remarkable.

1493–1512 John Yotton or Yottun. The library was finished in his time; he gave 100       Marks. It is likely when he died, he lay inside his chantry chapel, but by 1720 his tomb       was set in the nave wall in the north aisle. This connected to a chapel on the outside.       Stukeley, wrote,1715, "As you walk down the north aisle, by a little doorway, formerly a chapel, were the remains of Dean Yotton, his coat of arms at his head and Yot with a tun by it which shows his name." The remaining sign of this chapel is the entrance, which can be seen on the outside of the cathedral.

       1512–1521 Ralph Colyngwood. He was also Archdeacon of Coventry. He Willed to be                buried near to St Chad in the cathedral. He was the first dean who preached a sermon of          half an hour every Sunday.

       1522–1533 James Denton. He was also a Prebendary of York, Lincoln, Salisbury, and                Canon of Windsor. He was sent in 1524 by the King to Ireland to appease the                            disturbances. He was Lord President of Wales, and died at Ludlow Castle. He assisted            in framing statutes for the cathedral.

1533–1536 Richard Sampson. Became the Bishop of Chichester, 1536, then the Bishop of Coventry in 1543.

1536–1553 Richard or Henry Williams. He was chaplain to Henry VIII, and was valued for his skill in architecture. In 1553, he was deprived of all preferments having married a widow in the reign of Edward VI.

1554–1559 John Ramridge. He was a zealous papist leaving England at the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's reign. He went to Flanders where he was met by thieves who robbed and murdered him.

1560–1576 Laurence Nowell. In the reign of Queen Mary, he absconded to Germany. He returned with the accession of Queen Elizabeth and became Archdeacon of Derby, and Dean. He was also Prebendary of York and Chichester. He wrote a Saxon-English Dictionary, in 1567.

1576–1603 George Boleyn or Bollen. He became Rector of Bangor, and was Prebendary of Canterbury and Chichester. He was related (cousin) to Queen Elizabeth, who would have promoted him to the see of Worcester, but he refused it. He was buried near the west entrance into the choir.

July 1603–4 James Montague or Mountague. In 1604 he became the Dean of Worcester, and Dean of the Chapel-Royal. In 1608, he was made Bishop of Bath and Wells, and, in 1616, Bishop of Winchester. Described as pious and learned.

1605–1622 William Tooker.  He became Archdeacon of Barnstaple, Chaplain to Queen Elizabeth, Prebendary of Salisbury, arid Canon of Exeter. A Latin scholar.

1622–1627 Walter Curle or Curll. In 1627, he became Bishop of Rochester, and in 1629, Bishop of Bath and Wells; and, in 1632, was translated to Worcester. He was Lord Almoner to Charles I.

 

1628–1632 Augustine Lindsell. He was a Prebendary of Durham, and in 1632, Bishop of Peterborough. In 1633, he was translated to the see of Hereford.

1633–1637 John Warner. He became Chaplain to the King, Prebendary of Canterbury, and in 1637, Bishop of Rochester. He suffered in the Civil Wars.

1637–1638 Samuel Fell. He was a Chaplain to King James I. He was favoured by Archbishop Laud.

1638–1659 Griffith Higgs. In 1627, he went to the Hague, as Chaplain to the Queen of Bohemia. On his return he was Chaplain to the King. He was a benefactor to the cathedral, but suffered much in the Civil War sieges.

1661–1663 William Paul. He was Chaplain to the King, and Canon of Chichester. In 1663 he was made Bishop of Oxford.

1664–1671 Thomas Wood. He was a canon, then a dean and finally the bishop. History has him being mean, manipulative and disliked by all. He was publicly excommunicated by Bishop John Hacket.

 

1671–1683 Matthew Smallwood. He was a Prebendary of St. Paul's, chaplain to Charles II, and published several sermons. He was buried in the north aisle.

1683–1703 Lancelot Addison. In 1684, he became Archdeacon of Coventry. He was buried at the west door, on the outside of the cathedral. He wrote essays.

1703–1712 William Binckes. He built the front of the deanery. In 1681, he was prebendary of Lincoln.

1713–1720 Jonathan Kimberley. He was a celebrated preacher. He was buried in the Lady Chapel.

1720–1730 William Walmesley. He was interested in history.

1730–1745 Nicholas Penny

1745–1776 John Addenbrooke

1776–1807 Baptist Proby The cathedral was in a dilapidated state and Proby raised funds to repair some of the fabric by Wyatt in 1795. He oversaw the installation of the Herkenrode glass in the Lady Chapel.

      1807–1833 John Woodhouse. Born in Lichfield. Wrote, ‘A short  account of the city and close of Lichfield to which is added a short account of the cathedral.’ (Lomax: 1834). It was Woodhouse who allowed the statues to be covered with grey Roman cement.

 

1833–1868 Henry Howard. Son of Earl of Carlisle. A Prebendary at York. The
establishment of the Lichfield Diocesan Training School, as well as Lichfield Theological College owed much to his efforts. Buried in the cathedral with an elaborate monument.

1868–1875 William Weldon Champneys. Before coming to Lichfield,  heworked in Whitechapel, London, helping to improve the health and education of the young. A Canon at St Pauls. He was buried in the Close.

1875–1892 Edward Bickersteth. An Archdeacon of Buckingham and
Canon at Oxford. His chief achievement was the restoration of the west front of the cathedral, begun in 1877 and completed on 9 May 1884. He also added to an account of the cathedral’s history by John Hewitt.

1892–1909 Herbert Luckock.  He was made a canon of Ely Cathedral and principal of Ely Theological College. A sportsman playing cricket and football.

1909–1939 Henry Savage. Best known for addresses on St Chad’s Day, in which some aspect of cathedral history was elucidated.

1939–1952 Frederic Iremonger Graduated from Cambridge. In 1933, he was appointed Director of Religion at the BBC, and had acclaimed success bringing a notable rise in the standard of religious broadcasting. He was Honorary Chaplain to the King in 1936. Few months only in office when he died. 

1954–1969 William MacPherson. He was a canon at Ripon and Archdeacon at Richmond.

1970–1979 George Holderness. He was chaplain in the forces and suffragan bishop of Burnley.

1980–1993 John Lang. Graduated from King’s College, London, and served in the forces. He was  chaplain of Emmanuel College, Cambridge before becoming dean.

1994–1999 Tom Wright. Graduated from Oxford. Lecturer at Oxford before becoming dean . Was Bishop of Durham for 7 years. Has written much on theology.

1999–2005 Michael Yorke. Graduated from Cambridge. He was Succentor, Precentor and chaplain at Chelmsford Cathedral. 

2005–2023 Adrian Dorber. Graduated from Durham and King’s College, London. He was Director of Ministries and Training in the diocese of Durham. 

2024 Jan McFarlane. She has previously served as a Canon of Lichfield, as Bishop of Repton (the suffragan bishop of the Diocese of Derby), and as Acting Bishop of Derby. She is also an honorary assistant bishop of the Diocese.  

Bishop Meuland - an enigma

Summary.  Much of the cathedral was built during the 37 year-long episcopate of Bishop Meuland. He must have been pivotal for funding, managing and maintaining worship. He might have been the first to keep a register.

           Roger de Meuland (Meulan, Mayland),[1] c. 1215–1295, was Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield for 37 years, 1258–1295, when there was much construction of the current cathedral, yet little is known about what he achieved. Nothing is known of his paternity and early life, but he might have been brought up in France. There are indications he was distantly related (cousin?) to the king, Henry III.[2] There is now a notion that he was a hitherto unknown grandson of King John. By 1257, he was a canon at Lichfield and also a papal chaplain. That year he bought buildings and land in St Mary-le-Strand, London, in 1257, presumably for residency. His elevation to bishop, 1258, was probably managed by Richard the king’s brother.[3] He spoke French and this must have been a hindrance in relationships with resident Medieval speakers.

 

AI Bishop Roger de Meuland. Surely royal.

          In 1259, he upset King Henry III by attempting unsuccessfully to take control of the royal free chapels in the diocese. In 1263, the king entrusted him with the bishops of London and Lincoln to make a settlement with Simon de Montfort, sixth earl of Leicester, and it was attempted again in the following year, but without success. He then co-operated with Montfort, after he gained power in 1264, helping to arrange settlements with the Marcher barons.[4] He also, with the Bishop of Worcester, helped release Prince Edward from imprisonment in Kenilworth Castle. In 1265, the king regained power with a bloody battle at Evesham. Meuland returned with allegiance to the king, but now did little in the affairs of the state. He did represent the king in negotiations with the Welsh.

          Much of his known episcopy was concerned with obtaining funds for the cathedral and other churches in the diocese. He assigned ten marks to the fabric fund. It was during his episcopate that the whole of the nave and the lower part of the great west front were built and he probably played a significant part in raising funds for the enterprise. He must have been the facilitator for Henry III taking such a strong interest in the building of the cathedral, see the post, ‘King Henry III architect’.

AI rendition of King Henry III supervising the building of the cathedral with Bishop Meuland

          With the succession of Edward I, Meuland was granted the forest or free Chase of Canok and the free warren in the manors of Rugeley and Cannock. Together with his office of sheriff of Oxfordshire and Berkshire, 1271–3, he would have gained wealth. A good relationship between Edward and Meuland could have been a forerunner for the close relationship with the next bishop, Walter de Langton.

          Late in his episcopy he, the Dean and Chapter came under strong criticism from Archbishop Peckham for serious offences leading to the conclusion that he did not care about the diocese. The bishop was too often absent from his diocese. It later proved (mostly) untrue,[5] but the ageing French-speaking bishop must have felt helpless against the archbishop’s condemnation. It resulted in the appointment of a suffragan bishop, the archdeacon of Derby, who spoke the native language.

          There are scattered indications he was the first bishop to keep an episcopal register, kept as a roll, but unfortunately his Acta has been lost, presumably in the Civil War siege of 1646.[6] One of his last acts was to issue new statutes governing the conduct of the chapter, which increased the daily provision for each prebendary. He must have been heavily involved in the making of the cathedral. He does not have a statue on the west front of the cathedral,[7] which considering the whole of the present nave, together with the lower part of the great west front, was built mostly during his episcopate is surprising.

         

Meuland died December 16 1295 aged 80, and was possibly buried, January 1296, on the south side of the high altar in bay 5. If so, the stone coffin was seen in the excavations of 1992.[8]

Probable site of Bishop Meuland’s grave according to Dugdale. Cist on the right.

                  

Meuland claimed ‘he was devoted to his spouse, the church of Lichfield.'[9]

He is an enigma.

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[1] Also spelt Meuleng, Meulent, Molend, Meulan, Mulent, Meulinges and recently Mayland could have indicated an ancestral connection with Meulon in Normandy. Matthew Paris of St Albans, c. 1200–1259, named him master Longespée prompting speculation that he was the son of William Longespée, earl of Salisbury. If true, and it is doubtful, it would mean King Henry III was his uncle.

[2] H. E. Savage, ed., The great register of Lichfield Cathedral known as magnum registrum album, William Salt Archaeological Society (1924), 3rd ser. (1926), 101. Full a comprehensive review see D. Richardson, Plantagenet Ancestry: A study in Colonial and Medieval Families. 2nd ed. (2011), 39–40. There are many competing ancestries, all conjectural.

[3] In the year of his consecration, he joined Richard in Germany for his coronation as King of the Romans. His relationship with the king’s brother suggests a familial connection.

[4] Simon Montfort was a bigoted Christian with a hatred for Jews. His wars were under the banner of killing Jews and removing usury. There is no evidence Meuland supported this cause.

[5] H. E. Savage, The Great Register of Lichfield. Unpub. address in Cathedral Library (1923).

[6] They were known up to the Civil War. W. Dugdale, Monasticum Anglicanum. (London: 1673) gave short references. See R. N. Swanson, ‘The rolls of Roger de Meuland, bishop of Coventry and Lichfield (1258‐1295)’. Journal of the Society of Archivists. (1990), 11, 37–40.

[7] It would be reasonable to believe he once had a statue on the west front that was built in the time of his episcopy.

[8] W. Rodwell, Revealing the history of the Cathedral. Unpub. paper in Cathedral Library (1992), 24–34.

[9] H. E. Savage, (1926), 164, See note 2.