William Foxley Norris

In this name, the family name is Foxley Norris, not Norris.

William Foxley Norris KCVO (1859–1937) was Dean of York between 1917 and 1925 and of Westminster from then until his death in 1937.

Born into a clerical family,^[1] he was educated at Charterhouse and Trinity College, Oxford^[2] before taking Holy orders at Leeds Clergy School. After curacies in Eton and Chatham he embarked on a career that was to take him from pastoral (Incumbencies in Oxfordshire and Yorkshire^[3]) to administrative (Diocesan Educational Inspector^[4]) posts before a steady rise up the ecclesiastical ladder. He was successively Rural Dean of Silkstone, Canon of Wakefield and Archdeacon of Halifax before becoming Dean of York.^[5] An exceptionally talented artist^[6] he wrote widely on Church treasures^[7] whilst Dean of Westminster.^[8] A much respected cleric^[9] he died on 28 September 1937 and was buried in Westminster Abbey.^[10]

His grandson was Air Chief Marshal Sir Christopher Foxley-Norris the Battle of Britain Pilot who went on to have a distinguished RAF career.

References

^ His father was Canon Foxley Norris “Who was Who” 1897-1990 London, A & C Black, 1991 ISBN 071363457X
^ The Times, Saturday, 23 December 1882; p. 10; Issue 30698; col B Degree awarded
^ The Times, Thursday, 15 November 1894; p. 8; Issue 34422; col C Lambeth Palace announces the following preferments
^ “The inspection of Elementary Church Schools”Norris,WF: London, SPCK, 1904
^ Lambeth Palace Library "York Minster. Installation of the Venerable William Foxley Norris, M.A., as dean of the cathedral and metropolitical church of St. Peter of York, Saturday, 31 March 1917" Catalogued at G199 51.36
^ The Times, Thursday, 26 March 1931; p. 12; Issue 45781; col B Art Exhibitions Painters In Watercolours
^ “Decoration and enrichment in cathedrals”Norris,W.F: London, SPCK, 1927
^ The Times, Tuesday, 20 October 1925; p. 14; Issue 44097; col C The Deanery Of Westminster. Appointment Of The Dean Of York.
^ The Times, Wednesday, 29 September 1937; p. 12; Issue 47802; col F Death Of The Dean Of Westminster Burial In The Abbey
^ Lambeth Place Library “Westminster Abbey. Funeral service. The Very Reverend William Foxley Norris, K.C.V.O., D.D., Dean of Westminster and Dean of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath. 1 October 1937” G199 42.15

Church of England titles
Preceded by Arthur Purey-Cust	Dean of York 1917–1925	Succeeded by Lionel Ford
Preceded by Herbert Edward Ryle	Dean of Westminster 1925–1937	Succeeded by Paul de Labilliere

Archdeacons of Halifax

William Foxley Norris • Arthur Morris • Eric Treacy • John Lister • Alan Chesters • David Hallatt • Robert Freeman

Persondata
Name	Foxley Norris, William
Alternative names
Short description	Archdeacon of Halifax; Dean of York; Dean of Westminster
Date of birth	1859
Place of birth
Date of death	1937
Place of death