The Dean of (the) Arches is the judge who sits at the ecclesiastical court of the Archbishop of Canterbury in England.[1] This appeal court is commonly called the Arches Court.
The Dean of Arches is a joint appointment of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishop of York; he serves the same role in the latter's 'Chancery Court' where he or she has the title of 'Auditor'. The Dean of Arches also acts as Master of the Faculties.
The current Dean of the Arches is Charles George, QC, who succeeded the Right Worshipful Dr Sheila Cameron on 1st May 2009.[2]
| Years | Dean |
|---|---|
| 2009– | Charles George, QC |
| 2001–2009 | Sheila Cameron, QC |
| 1980–2000 | Sir John Owen, QC |
| 1977–1980 | Rev'd Kenneth Elphinstone, QC |
| 1972–1976 | Sir Harold Kent, GCB QC |
| 1971–1972 | Walter Wigglesworth, QC |
| 1955–1971 | Rt Hon Sir Henry Willink, Bt MC QC |
| 1934–1955 | Sir Philip Wilbraham-Baker, KBE |
| 1903–1934 | Sir Lewis Dibdin, KC |
| 1898–1903 | Sir Arthur Charles |
| 1875–1898 | Lord Penzance |
| 1867–1875 | Sir Robert Phillimore |
| 1858–1867 | Stephen Lushington [3] |
| 1852–1858 | Sir John Dodson [3] |
| 1834–1852 | Herbert Jenner-Fust |
| 1809–1834 | Rt Hon Sir John Nicholl |
| 1788–1809 | Sir William Wynne |
| 1778–1788 | Peter Calvert |
| 1764–1778 | Sir George Hay |
| 1758–1764 | Sir Edward Simpson |
| 1751–1758 | Sir George Lee |
| 1710–1751 | John Bettesworth |
| 1703–1710 | Sir John Cooke |
| 1689–1703 | George Oxendon |
| 1686–1688 | Sir Thomas Exton |
| 1684–1686 | Sir Richard Lloyd |
| 1672–1684 | Sir Robert Wiseman |
| 1660–1672 | Sir Giles Sweit |
| c.1660 | Richard Zouch |
| c.1660 | Walter Walker |
| c.1658- | John Godolpin |
| c.1647–1655 | William Clerke |
| c.1646 | William Sammes |
| 1633–1643 | Sir John Lambe |
| 1624–1633 | Sir Henry Marten[4] |
| 1618–1624 | Sir William Bird |
| 1598–1617 | Daniel Donne |
| 1597–1598 | Thomas Byng |
| 1590–1597 | Richard Cosin |
| 1573-1589/90 | Bartholomew Clerke |
| 1572- | John Cooke |
| 1567–1573 | Thomas Yale |
| 1560- | Robert Weston |
| 1559–1560 | William Mowse |
| 1558–1559 | Nicholas Harpisfield |
| 1557–1558 | Henry Cole |
| 1556–1557 | David Pole |
| 1553- | John Story |
| 1543–1545 | John Cock (or Cockys) [5] |
| 1520–1522 | Thomas Wodynton |
| c.1511 | [?]Richard Bodewell or Blodwell |
| 1504–1515 | Humphrey Hawardyn |
| ... | Thomas Beckington |
| 1426- | William Lyndwood |
| ... | John de Ufford |
| ... | Simon Islip |