Archdeacon of Bristol

The Archdeacon of Bristol is a senior ecclesiastical officer within the Diocese of Bristol. The archdeaconry was created – within the Diocese of Gloucester and Bristol – by Order in Council on 7 October 1836^[1] and became part of the re-erected Diocese of Bristol on 8 February 1898.^[2]

As archdeacon she or he is responsible for the disciplinary supervision of the clergy^[3] within three area deaneries: Bristol City, Bristol South and Bristol West.

List of archdeacons

• 1836–1873: Thomas Thorp^[4]
• 1873–1881: Henry Randall^[5]
• 1881–1891: John Norris^[6]
• 1891–1904: Hemming Robeson^[5]

In 1898, the archdeaconry was transferred from Gloucester & Bristol diocese to the new Diocese of Bristol.

• 1904–1910: Ravenscroft Stewart
• 1910–1921: James Tetley
• 1921–1927: Charles Dickinson
• 1927–1938: William Welchman (afterwards archdeacon emeritus)
• 1938–1941 (res.): Charles Alford
• 1941–1950: Ivor Watkins (Bishop suffragan of Malmesbury from 1946)^[7]
• 1950–1967: Percy Reddick (afterwards archdeacon emeritus)
• 1967–1979: Leslie Williams (afterwards archdeacon emeritus)
• 1979–1990: Anthony Balmforth (afterwards archdeacon emeritus)
• 1990–1998: David Banfield
• 1999–July 2012: Tim McClure^[8]
• December 2012 – 1 June 2018: Christine Froude, Archdeacon of Malmesbury (Acting)^[9]
  • from January 2013 until 1 April 2015, Derek Chedzey was part-time Assistant Archdeacon for the diocese.^[10][11]
• July 2018 – July 2019:^[12][13] Michael Johnson (Acting; for a one-year term)^[14][15]
• 4 September 2019 – 30 November 2023: Neil Warwick^[16] (became Bishop of Swindon)^[17]
• 1 September 2024 – present: Becky Waring^[18]