Bishop of Lincoln

Bishop of Lincoln
Bishopric
Anglican
Incumbent:
Christopher Lowson (bishop-designate)
Province: Canterbury
Diocese: Lincoln
Cathedral: Lincoln Cathedral
First Bishop: Remigius de Fécamp
Formation: 1072

The Bishop of Lincoln is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Lincoln in the Province of Canterbury.

The present diocese covers the county of Lincolnshire and the unitary authority areas of North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire. The Bishop's seat (cathedra) is located in the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the city of Lincoln. This was originally a minster church founded around 653 and re-founded as a cathedral in 1072.

The See of Lincoln is currently vacant. It was announced on 15 April 2011 that Christopher Lowson will become the 72nd Bishop of Lincoln.[1] The bishop's official residence is Bishop's House in Lincoln.

Contents

History

The Anglo-Saxon dioceses of Lindsey and Leicester were established when the large Diocese of Mercia was divided in the late 7th century into the bishoprics of Lichfield and Leicester (for Mercia itself), Worcester (for the Hwicce), Hereford (for the Magonsæte), and Lindsey (for the Lindisfaras).

The dioceses of Lindsey and Leicester continued until the Danish Viking invasions and establishment of the Danelaw in the 9th century. The see of Leicester was transferred to Dorchester, now in Oxfordshire, sometime between 869 and 888. After an interruption, the see of Lindsey was resumed until it was united with the bishopric of Dorchester in the early 11th century. The diocese was the largest in England, extending from the River Thames to the Humber Estuary.

In 1072, Bishop Remigius de Fécamp moved the see of Dorchester to Lincoln, but the Bishops of Lincoln retained significant landholdings within Oxfordshire. Because of this historic link, for a long time Banbury remained a peculier of the Bishop of Lincoln.

Until the 1530s, the bishops were in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church. During the Reformation, they changed their allegiance back and forth between the crown and the papacy. Under Henry VIII and Edward VI, the bishops conformed to the Church of England, but under Mary I they adhered to the Roman Catholic Church. Since the Reformation, the bishops and diocese of Lincoln have been part of the Church of England and the Anglican Communion.

The dioceses of Oxford and Peterborough were created in 1541 out of parts of the Diocese of Lincoln. The county of Leicestershire was transferred from Lincoln to Peterborough in 1837.

List of bishops of Lincoln

For precursor offices, see Bishop of Lindsey, Bishop of Leicester and Bishop of Dorchester

Pre-Reformation bishops

Pre-Reformation Bishops of Lincoln [2][3][4]
From Until Incumbent Notes
1072 1092 Remigius de Fécamp Formerly Almoner of Fécamp, Normandy; consecrated bishop of Dorchester (possibly in 1067); transferred the see from Dorchester to Lincoln in 1072; died in office 8 May 1092; also known as Remigius de Feschamp
1093 1123 Robert Bloet Formerly Lord Chancellor 1092–1093; nominated bishop in March 1093 and consecrated before 22 February 1094; died in office 10 January 1123; also known as Robert Bluet
1123 1148 Alexander Formerly Archdeacon of Salisbury; nominated bishop in April and consecrated 22 July 1123; died in office 20 February 1148
1148 1166 Robert de Chesney Elected bishop 13 December and consecrated 19 December 1148; died in office 27 December 1166; also known as Robert de Cheney alias Querceto
1168 1173 See vacant
1173 1182 Geoffrey Plantagenet Elected bishop circa May 1173 and confirmed before July 1175; resigned without being consecrated 6 January 1182; later became Archbishop of York in 1189
1183 1184 Walter de Coutances Formerly Archdeacon of Oxford; elected bishop 8 May and consecrated 3 July 1183; translated to Rouen in the summer of 1184; also known as Walter de Coutances, Walter of Coutances, or Walter of Rouen
1184 1186 See vacant
1186 1200 Hugh of Avalon Formerly Prior of Witham Charterhouse; elected bishop 25 May and consecrated 21 September 1186; installed at Lincoln Cathedral 29 September 1181; died in office 16 November 1200; canonised in 1220; also known as Hugh of Burgundy or Saint Hugh of Lincoln
1200 1203 See vacant
1203 1206 William de Blois Formerly Prebendary of Lincoln; elected bishop before 6 July and consecrated 24 August 1203; died in office 10 Mau 1206
1206 1209 See vacant
1209 1235 Hugh of Wells Formerly Archdeacon of Wells; elected bishop before 14 April and consecrated 20 December 1209; in exile until 1213 due to Pope Innocent III's interdict against King John's England; died in office 7 February 1235; also known as Hugh Troteman
1235 1253 Robert Grosseteste Formerly Archdeacon of Leicester; elected bishop 25 March and consecrated 17 June 1235; died before 9 October 1253; also known as Robert Grosthead or Robert Grouthed
1254 1258 Henry of Lexington Formerly Dean of Lincoln; elected bishop 21 or 30 December 1253 and consecrated 17 May 1254; died in office 8 August 1258
1258 1279 Richard of Gravesend Formerly Dean of Lincoln; elected bishop 21 or 23 September and consecrated 3 November 1258; died in office 18 December 1279; also known as Richard de Gravesend
1280 1299 Oliver Sutton Formerly Dean of Lincoln; elected bishop 6 February and consecrated 19 May 1280; died in office 13 November 1299
1300 1320 Dr John Dalderby Formerly Chancellor of Lincoln; elected bishop 15 January and consecrated 12 June 1300; died in office 12 January 1320; also known as John Aldberry or John d'Aldreby
1320 (Dr Anthony Bek) Elected bishop 3 February 1320, but was quashed later in the same year; became Bishop of Norwich in 1337
1320 1340 Henry Burghersh Appointed 27 May and consecrated 20 July 1320; also was Lord Treasurer 1327–1328 and Lord Chancellor 1328–1330; died before 27 December 1340
1341 1347 Dr Thomas Bek Elected bishop before 1 March 1341 and consecrated 7 July 1342; died in office 2 February 1347; also known as Thomas le Bec
1347 1363 John Gynwell Formerly Archdeacon of Northampton; appointed bishop and consecrated 23 September 1342; died in office 5 August 1362; also known as John Gyndell, John Gyndwelle or John Sinwell
1363 1398 John Bokyngham Formerly Keeper of the Privy Seal 1360–1363; elected bishop sometime between 20 August and 4 October 1362; appointed 5 April and consecrated 25 June 1363; resigned sometime between March and July 1398; died 10 March 1399; also known as John Buckingham
1398 1404 Henry Beaufort Chancellor of the University of Oxford and Dean of Wells; appointed 27 February and consecrated 14 July 1398; also was Lord Chancellor; translated to Winchester 19 November 1404 where later created a Cardinal in 1426.[5]
1404 1419 Dr Philip Repyngdon Formerly Abbot of Leicester and Chancellor of the University of Oxford; appointed bishop 19 November 1404 and consecrated 29 March 1405; created a Cardinal 19 September 1408 but revoked in 1409; resigned 21 November 1419; died 1424; also known as Philip de Repingdon.[6]
1420 1431 Dr Richard Fleming Formerly a Canon of Lincoln; appointed 20 November 1419 and consecrated 28 April 1420; he was appointed archbishop of York 14 February 1424, but resigned the appointment 20 July 1425; continued as bishop of Lincoln until died 25 January 1431; also known as Richard Fleyming
1431 1436 Dr William Grey Translated from London; appointed 30 April 1431; died in office sometime between 10 and 18 February 1436; also known as William Gray
1437 1450 Dr William Alnwick Translated from Norwich; appointed 19 September 1437; died in office 5 December 1449; also known as William Alnewick
1450 Marmaduke Lumley Translated from Carlisle; appointed 28 January 1450; died in office 1 December 1450
1450 1452 See vacant
1452 1472 Dr John Chadworth Formerly Provost of King's College, Cambridge; elected bishop before 11 February 1451 and consecrated 18 June 1452; died 23 June 1471; also known as John Chedworth
1472 1480 Dr Thomas Rotherham Translated from Rochester; appointed 8 January 1472; also was Keeper of the Privy Seal and Lord Chancellor; translated to York 7 July 1480; also known as Thomas de Rotherham, or Thomas Scot
1480 1494 Dr John Russell Translated from Rochester; appointed 7 July 1480; died in office 30 December 1494
1495 1514 William Smyth Translated from Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield; appointed 6 November 1495; died in office 2 January 1514
1514 1515 Thomas Wolsey Formerly Dean of Lincoln 1509–1514 and York 1513–1514; appointed bishop of Lincoln 6 February and consecrated 26 March 1514; translated to archbishopric of York 15 September 1514
1514 1521 Dr William Atwater Appointed 15 September and consecrated 12 November 1514; died in office 4 February 1521

Bishops during the Reformation

Bishops of Lincoln during the Reformation [4][7][8]
From Until Incumbent Notes
1521 1547 Dr John Longland Formerly Dean of Salisbury 1514–1521; appointed bishop 20 March and consecrated 5 May 1521; died in office 7 May 1547
1547 1551 Dr Henry Holbeach Translated from Rochester; nominated 1 August and confirmed 20 August 1547; died in office 6 August 1551
1552 1554 Dr John Taylor Nominated 18 June and consecrated 26 June 1552; deprived of the see 15 March 1554; died in December 1554
1554 1556 Dr John White Nominated before 1 April 1554 and consecrated on that date; translated to Winchester 6 July 1556
1557 1559 Dr Thomas Watson Nominated 7 December 1556; appointed 24 May and consecrated 15 August 1557; deprived of the see 26 June 1559; died in September 1584

Post-Reformation bishops

Post-Reformation Bishops of Lincoln [8][9]
From Until Incumbent Notes
1560 1571 Dr Nicholas Bullingham Nominated 25 November 1559 and consecrated 21 January 1560; translated to Worcester 26 January 1571
1571 1584 Dr Thomas Cooper Nominated 15 January and consecrated 24 February 1571; translated to Winchester 23 March 1584
1584 1595 William Wickham Nominated 28 October and consecrated 6 December 1584; translated to Winchester 22 February 1595
1595 1608 Dr William Chaderton Translated from Chester; nominated before 28 March and confirmed 24 May 1595; died in office 11 April 1608
1608 1613 Dr William Barlow Translated from Rochester; elected bishop of Lincoln 21 May and confirmed 27 June 1608; died in office 7 September 1613
1614 1617 Dr Richard Neile Translated from Lichfield; elected bishop of Lincoln 17 January and confirmed 18 February 1614; translated to Durham 9 October 1617
1617 1621 Dr George Montaigne Elected bishop 21 October and consecrated 14 December 1617; translated to London 20 July 1621; also known as George Mountain
1621 1641 Dr John Williams Elected bishop 3 August and consecrated 11 November 1621; also was Lord Chancellor 1621–1625 (the last cleric to hold the position); translated to York in December 1641
1641 1654 Dr Thomas Winniffe Nominated 17 December 1641 and conscrated 6 February 1642; after November 1646, he retired to Lambourne; died 19 September 1654
1654 1660 See vacant
1660 1663 Dr Robert Sanderson Nominated 3 October and consecrated 28 October 1660; died in office 29 January 1663
1663 1667 Dr Benjamin Lany Translated from Peterborough; nominated 20 February and consecrated 2 April 1663; translated to Ely 12 June 1667
1667 1675 Dr William Fuller Translated from Limerick, Ardfert and Aghadoe; nominated 5 September and confirmed 27 September 1667; died in office 22 April 1675
1675 1691 Dr Thomas Barlow Nominated 1 May and consecrated 27 June 1675; died in office 8 October 1691
1691 1695 Dr Thomas Tenison Nominated 27 October 1691 and consecrated 10 January 1692; translated to Canterbury 16 January 1695
1695 1705 Dr James Gardiner Nominated 18 January and consecrated 10 March 1695; died in office 1 March 1705
1705 1716 Dr William Wake Nominated 16 July and consecrated 21 October 1705; translated to Canterbury 16 January 1716
1716 1723 Dr Edmund Gibson Nominated 17 December 1715 and consecrated 12 February 716; translated to London 4 May 1723
1723 1743 Dr Richard Reynolds Translated from Bangor; nominated 16 May and confirmed 10 June 1723; died in office 15 January 1744
1744 1761 Dr John Thomas Formerly Bishop-elect of St Asaph; nominated 20 January and consecrated 1 April 1744; translated to Salisbury 25 November 1761
1761 1779 Dr John Green Nominated 28 November and consecrated 28 December 1761; died in office 25 April 1779
1779 1787 Dr Thomas Thurlow Nominated 5 May and consecrated 30 May 1779; translated to Durham 19 February 1787
1787 1820 Dr George Pretyman
(later Pretyman Tomline)		 Nominated 19 February and consecrated 11 March 1787; changed his surname to Pretyman Tomline in June 1803; translated to Winchester 18 August 1820
1820 1827 The Hon Dr George Pelham Translated from Exeter; nominated 18 August and confirmed 16 October 1820; died in office 7 February 1827
1827 1853 Dr John Kaye Translated from Bristol; nominated 12 February and confirmed 1 March 1827; died in office 19 February 1853
1853 1869 Dr John Jackson Nominated 18 March and consecrated 5 May 1853; translated to London 11 January 1869
1869 1885 Dr Christopher Wordsworth Nominated 9 February and consecrated 24 February 1869; resigned in February 1885; died 20 March 1885
1885 1910 Dr Edward King Nominated 5 March and consecrated 25 April 1885; died in office 8 March 1910
1910 1919 Dr Edward Hicks Nominated 28 April and consecrated 24 June 1910; died in office 14 August 1919
1919 1932 Dr William Swayne Nominated 26 November 1919 and consecrated 6 January 1920; resigned 14 November 1932; died 30 June 1941
1932 1942 Dr Frederick Hicks Translated from Gibraltar; nominated 12 December 1932 and confirmed 15 February 1933; died in office 10 February 1942
1942 1946 Dr Alymer Skelton Translated from Bedford; nominated 27 July and confirmed 27 August 1942; resigned 1 May 1946; died 30 August 1959
1946 1947 Leslie Owen Translated from Maidstone; nominated 12 June and confirmed 17 July 1946; died in office 2 March 1947
1947 1956 Dr Maurice Harland Translated from Croydon; nominated 22 May and confirmed 11 July 1947; translated to Durham 7 July 1956
1956 1974 Dr Kenneth Riches Translated from Dorchester; nominated 24 August and confirmed 26 September 1956; resigned 30 September 1974; died 15 May 1999.[10]
1974 1986 Simon Phipps Translated from Horsham; nominated 7 October 1974 and confirmed 2 January 1975; retired in 1986; died 29 January 2001.[11][12]
1987 2002 Dr Robert Hardy Translated from Maidstone; nominated and confirmed in 1987; retired in 2002
2002 2011 Dr John Saxbee Translated from Ludlow; nominated 4 September 2001[13] and installed at Lincoln Cathedral 23 March 2002; retired 2011[14]
Bishop-designate Christopher Lowson Currently national Director of Ministry; announced 15 April 2011[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Number 10 — Diocese of Lincoln
  2. ^ Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I. (1986). Handbook of British Chronology (3rd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 255–256. ISBN 0-521-56350-X. 
  3. ^ Greenway, Diana E. (1977). Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066-1300. volume 3: Lincoln. pp. 1–5. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=33560. 
  4. ^ a b King, H.P.F. (1962). Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1300-1541. volume 1: Lincoln. pp. 1–3. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=32590. 
  5. ^ Miranda, Salvador. "Henry Beaufort". The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church. http://www.fiu.edu/~mirandas/bios1426.htm#Beaufort. Retrieved 27 December 2009. 
  6. ^ Miranda, Salvador. "Philip Repington". The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church. http://www.fiu.edu/~mirandas/bios1408-ii.htm#Repington. Retrieved 27 December 2009. 
  7. ^ Fryde, ibid., p. 256.
  8. ^ a b Horn, Joyce M.; Smith, David M. (1999). Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1541-1857. volume 9: Lincoln. pp. 1–5. ISBN 0485171287. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=35150. 
  9. ^ Fryde, ibid., pp. 256–257.
  10. ^ Alan Webster (19 May 1999). "Obituary: The Right Rev Kenneth Riches". The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-the-right-rev-kenneth-riches-1094494.html. Retrieved 27 December 2009. 
  11. ^ Stephen Roberts (14 February 2001). "The Right Rev Simon Phipps". The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/the-right-rev-simon-phipps-728824.html. Retrieved 27 December 2009. 
  12. ^ "The Right Reverend Simon Phipps". The Daily Telegraph. 14 February 2001. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1321433/The-Right-Reverend-Simon-Phipps.html. Retrieved 27 December 2009. 
  13. ^ "See of Lincoln". Number 10. 4 September 2001. http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page2724. Retrieved 27 December 2009. 
  14. ^ Lincoln Diocese — Bishop signs off