Bishops of Chester

Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1541-1857: Volume 11, Carlisle, Chester, Durham, Manchester, Ripon, and Sodor and Man Dioceses. Originally published by Institute of Historical Research, London, 2004.

'Bishops of Chester', in Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1541-1857: Volume 11, Carlisle, Chester, Durham, Manchester, Ripon, and Sodor and Man Dioceses, (London, 2004) pp. 37-42. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/fasti-ecclesiae/1541-1847/vol11/pp37-42 [accessed 25 April 2024]

John Birde O. Carm., D.D. 1541–1554.

Birde, bp. of Bangor, apptd. by king in foundation charter 4 Aug. 1541 (L. & P. XVI no. 1135(41)). Depriv. by 19 March 1554 because married (Canterbury cath. libr., Reg. N f. 38v; C.P.R. 1553–4 pp. 7, 9; cf. p. 175).

George Cotes D.D. 1554–1556.

Congé d'élire and letter missive for Cotes 19 March 1554 (C.P.R. 1553–4 p. 7; EDD. 3913/3/1 f. 64v). Cons. 1 Apr. by bps. of Winchester, London and Durham (Canterbury cath. libr., Reg. N f. 38). Temps. 18 Apr. (C.P.R. 1553–4 p. 9). Papal provision 6 July (Hierarchia Catholica III 164). D. c. Jan. 1556 (Survey of Cath. I 331).

Cuthbert Scott D.D. 1556–1559.

Custody of temps. 14 Apr. 1556 as 'bp. nominate and elect' (C.P.R. 1555–7 p. 7). Congé d'élire (no name) 28 May (ibid. p. 9). Papal provision 6 July (Hiearchia Catholica III 164). Plenary restoration of temps. 29 Sept. (C.P.R. 1555–7 p. 246). Depriv. by 24 Nov. 1559 (C.P.R. 1558–60 p. 259).

William Downham M.A. 1561–1577.

Date fixed for el. of bp. (not named) to be held 11 Apr. 1561 (EDD. 3913/3/1 ff. 23–24v, 42v). Royal assent to el. of Downham 1 May (C.P.R. 1560–3 p. 148). Temps. 9 May (ibid. p. 146). D. 3 Dec. 1577 (m.i., Chester cath.) (Survey of Cath. I 331).

William Chaderton D.D. 1579–1595.

Congé d'élire and letter missive for Chaderton 13 June 1579 (EDD. 3913/3/1 f. 41r–v; C.P.R. 1578–80 no. 1272). Royal assent to el. 14 Oct. (ibid. no. 1275; BI, Reg. 31 ff. 55v–56). Abp. of Canterbury granted lic. 31 Oct. 1579 to abp. of York to conf. el. in province of Canterbury (Lamb., Reg. Grindal f. 188). Abp's conf. 7 Nov. (EDA. 2/2 f. 17r–v). Cons. 8 Nov. (BI, Reg. 31 ff. 55–9). Temps. 14 Dec. (C.P.R. 1578–80 nos. 1626–7). Trans. to Lincoln 1595.

Hugh Bellot D.D. 1595–1596.

Congé d'élire and letter missive for Bellot, bp. of Bangor, 2 June 1595 (P.R.O., C 66/1427). Royal assent to el. 4 Sept. (P.R.O., C 66/1427). Abp's conf. 25 Sept. (BI, Bps. Conf. 1595/2). Temps. 27 Oct. (P.R.O., C 66/1427). Allegedly enthr. 1 Nov. (Ormerod, Hist. Ches. I 237). Buried Wrexham, Denbighs. (m.i., no. date); funeral at Chester cath. 22 June 1596 (ibid. p. 98).

Richard Vaughan D.D. 1597–1604.

Congé d'élire (no name) 23 Apr. 1597 (P.R.O., C 66/1467). Vaughan, bp. of Bangor, allegedly el. 16 May (Survey of Cath. I 333). Royal assent 4 June; temps. 12 Aug. (P.R.O., C 66/1467). Allegedly enthr. 10 Nov. (Survey of Cath. I 333). Trans. to London 1604.

George Lloyd D.D. 1605–1615.

Congé d'élire and letter missive for Lloyd, bp. of Sodor and Man, 18 Dec. 1604 (Cal. S.P. Dom. 1603–10 p. 176). El. 29 Dec.; royal assent 15 Jan. 1605; abp. of York's conf. 19 Jan. (BI, Bps. Conf. 1604/1). D. 1 Aug. 1615 (m.i., formerly Chester cath.) (Brit. Libr., Lansdowne MS. 983 f. 265/151; Survey of Cath. I 333).

[Gerard Massie D.D.

Nominated by king; d. before cons. 16 Jan. 1616 (Survey of Cath. I 333).]

Thomas Morton D.D. 1616–1618.

Congé d'élire and letter missive for Morton, dean of Winchester, 13 May 1616 (P.R.O., C 66/2119). El. 22 May; royal assent 10 June; abp. of York's conf. 5 July; cons. 7 July (BI, Bps. Conf. 1616/1; ibid., Reg. 31 f. 193; Lamb., Reg. Abbot I ff. 60v–67v). Temps. 16 July (Cal. S.P. Dom. 1611–18 p. 383). Trans. to Coventry and Lichfield 1618.

John Bridgeman D.D. 1619–1652.

Congé d'élire and letter missive for Bridgeman 7 March 1619 (P.R.O., C 66/ 3028). El. 15 March; royal assent 20 Apr.; abp. of York's conf. 7 May; cons. 9 May (BI, Bps. Conf. 1619/1; Lamb., Reg. Abbot II ff. 1–7v; EDA. 3/1 f. 196v). Temps. 28 May (P.R.O., C 66/2211). Allegedly d. n.d. 1652 at Kinnersley, Salop (Survey of Cath. I 334).

Brian Walton D.D. 1660–1661.

El. 19 Oct. 1660 (EDA. 1/4 f. 137; BI, Bps. Conf. 1660/2; ibid., Reg. 33 f. 11). Royal assent 13 Nov.; abp. of York's conf. 22 Nov. (BI, Bps. Conf. 1660/2; ibid., Reg. 33 ff. 7–12). Cons. 2 Dec. 1660 (BI, Reg. 33 f. 21). Enthr. 17 Dec. (EDA. 1/ 4 f. 137). D. 29 Nov. 1661 (ibid.; Obituary of Richard Smyth, ed. H. Ellis (Camden Soc., xliv, 1849) p. 54).

Henry Ferne D.D. 1662.

Warrant 3 Dec. 1661 for Congé d'élire and letter missive for Ferne, dean of Ely; issued 23 Jan. 1662; el. 28 Jan.; warrant for royal assent 1 Feb.; issued 6 Feb. (Cal. S.P. Dom. 1661–2. pp. 167, 251, 256, 263; EDD. 3913/3/2 p. 23; EDA. 1/4 f. 137; BI, Bps. Conf. 1662/1). Abp. of York's conf. 8 Feb.; cons. 9 Feb. (BI, Bps. Conf. 1662/1; Wood's Life and Times I 431). Enthr. 18 Feb. (EDA. 1/4 f. 137). Temps. 20 Feb. (Cal. S.P. Dom. 1661–2 p. 279). D. 16 March (m.i., Westminster Abbey) (Survey of Cath. I 335).

George Hall D.D. 1662–1668.

Congé d'élire (no name) 7 Apr. 1662 (P.R.O., C 66/3028). El. of Hall, archden. of Canterbury, 24 Apr. (EDA. 1/4 f. 137; BI, Bps. Conf. 1662/2). Royal assent 7 May; abp. of York's conf. 10 May; cons. 11 May (BI, Bps. Conf. 1662/2; ibid., Reg. 33 ff. 56v–61v). Enthr. 31 July (EDA. 1/4 f. 137). D. 22 Aug. 1668 (Obituary of Richard Smyth, ed. H. Ellis (Camden Soc., xliv, 1849) p. 79) or 23 Aug. (EDA. 1/4 f. 137).

John Wilkins D.D. 1668–1672.

Warrant 26 Sept. 1668 for Congé d'élire and letter missive for Wilkins, dean of Ripon (Cal. S.P. Dom. 1667–8 p. 603). Congé d'élire dated 3 Oct. (EDD. 3913/ 3/2 p. 23). El. 9 Oct. (EDD. 3913/3/2 pp. 77–8). Warrant 17 Oct. for royal assent; issued 24 Oct.; abp. of York's conf. 14 Nov.; cons. 15 Nov. (Cal. S.P. Dom. 1668–9 pp. 11, 19; BI, Bps. Conf. 1668/1; ibid., Reg. 33A ff. 3–6v; Lond. Gaz. no. 313). Temps. n.d. Nov. (Cal. S.P. Dom. 1668–9 p. 82). D. 19 Nov. 1672 (Wood, Athenae Oxon. III 970); buried 12 Dec. (PR London, St. Lawrence Jewry, cited in Memorials of Ripon II 266n.).

John Pearson D.D. 1673–1686.

Warrant 1 Dec. 1672 for Congé d'élire and letter missive for Pearson, archden. of Surrey; issued 7 Dec. (EDD. 3913/3/2 p. 102; EDD. 4027). El. 23 Dec. (EDD. 3913/3/2 pp. 103–5). Warrant 6 Jan. 1673 for royal assent; issued 11 Jan.; abp. of York's conf. 7 Feb.; cons. 9 Feb. (Cal. S.P. Dom. 1672– 3 pp. 234, 305, 398; BI, Bps. Conf. 1673/1; ibid., Reg. 33 f. 125; ibid., Reg. 33A ff. 6v–10). Warrant 10 Feb. for temps. (Cal. S.P. Dom. 1672–3 p. 536). Enthr. 15 May (EDD. 3913/3/2 p. 110). D. 16 July 1686 (Survey of Cath. I 336).

Thomas Cartwright D.D. 1686–1689.

Warrant 21 Aug. 1686 for Congé d'élire and letter missive for Cartwright, dean of Ripon; issued 9 Sept. (Cal. S.P. Dom. 1686–7 nos. 909, 991; EDD. 3913/3/3 pp. 64–7). El. 15 Sept.; royal assent 7 Oct.; abp. of York's conf. 12 Oct.; cons. 17 Oct. (Lamb., Reg. Sancroft ff. 157–62). Warrant 18 Oct. for temps. (Cal. S.P. Dom. 1686–7 no. 1072). Enthr. 1 Dec. (Diary of Dr. Thomas Cartwright, ed. J. Hunter (Camden Soc., xxii, 1843) pp. 1, 5–6, 15). D. 15 Apr. 1689; buried Dublin, Christ Church (Survey of Cath. I 337).

Nicholas Stratford D.D. 1689–1707.

Congé d'élire and letter missive for Stratford, dean of St. Asaph, 22 June 1689 (EDD. 2574/1/1–2). El. 19 July (EDD. 3913/3/3 p. 85). Warrant 1 Aug. for royal assent (P.R.O., SP 44/150 p. 15). Warrant 23 Sept. for temps. (ibid. pp. 21, 32; Cal. S.P. Dom. 1689–90 p. 270). Mand. for enthr. 24 Sept. (EDD. 11/1/1). D. 12 Feb. 1707 (m.i., Chester cath.) (Brit. Libr., Lansdowne MS. 987 f. 304/188; Survey of Cath. I 337).

Sir William Dawes Bart. D.D. 1708–1714.

El. 19 Jan. 1708 (EDD. 3913/3/4 p. 56). Royal assent 2 Feb. (BI, Bps. Conf. 1708/1). Abp. of York's conf. 7 Feb.; cons. 8 Feb. (EDA. 11/1/3; BI, Inst. AB. 10 pt. 1 p. 42). Mand. for enthr. 10 Feb. (BI, Inst. AB. 10 pt. 1 p. 43). Trans. to York 1714.

Francis Gastrell D.D. 1714–1725.

El. 17 March 1714 (EDD. 3913/3/4 p. 79; BI, Bps. Conf. 1714/1). Royal assent 23 March; abp. of York's conf. 1 Apr. (BI, Bps. Conf. 1714/1; ibid., Reg. 34 ff. 1r–v, 3v). Cons. 4 Apr. (BI, Bps. Conf. 1714/1; ibid., Reg. 34 f. 10r–v). Enthr. by proxy 19 Apr. (ibid., Bp. C. & P. XXIV/6). D. 14 Nov. 1725 (Hist. Reg. Chron. 1725, × 47).

Samuel Peploe B.D. 1726–1752.

'Apptd.' 14 Jan. 1726 (Hist. Reg. Chron. 1726, xi 5). El. 4 March (EDD. 3913/ 3/4 p. 144). Royal assent 23 March; conf. by commissaries of abps. of York and Canterbury 9 Apr.; cons. 12 Apr. (Lamb., Reg. Wake II ff. 175–182v; BI, Inst. AB. 11 pp. 25–7). Mand. for enthr. 14 Apr. (BI, Inst. AB. 11 p. 27; EDD. 11/1/4). D. 21 Feb. 1752 (Gent. Mag. 1752, xxii 92).

Edmund Keene D.D. 1752–1771.

Congé d'élire and letter missive for Keene issued 5 March 1752 (P.R.O., C 209/13; EDD. 2574/1/6–7); pubd. 7 March (Lond. Gaz. no. 9146). El. 9 March; royal assent 12 March; conf. by commissaries of abps. of Canterbury and York 21 March; cons. 22 March (Lamb., Reg. Herring ff. 144–154v). Temps. 26 March (P.R.O., C 209/13). Enthr. by proxy 2 Apr. (EDD. 3913/3/5 p. 23). Trans. to Ely 1771.

William Markham D.C.L. 1771–1777.

Congé d'élire and letter missive for Markham, dean of Christ Church, Oxford, pubd. 26 Jan. 1771 (Lond. Gaz. no. 11112); congé issued 30 Jan. (P.R.O., C 209/19; EDD. 2574/1/8–9). El. 4 Feb.; royal assent 11 Feb.; conf. by abp. of York 14 Feb.; cons. 17 Feb. (EDD. 3913/3/5 p. 154; EDA. 1/7 f. 129v; BI, Inst. AB. 15 p. 78; Lamb., Reg. Cornwallis ff. 103v–113v). Temps. 18 Feb. (P.R.O., C 209/19). Enthr. by proxy 23 Feb. (EDD. 3913/3/5 p. 154). Trans, to York 1777.

Beilby Porteus D.D. 1777–1787.

Congé d'élire and letter missive for Porteus pubd. 21 Jan. 1777 (Lond. Gaz. no. 11737); congé issued 22 Jan. (P.R.O., C 209/19; EDD. 2574/1/11–12). El. 27 Jan.; royal assent 3 Feb.; abp. of York's conf. 7 Feb.; cons. 9 Feb. (BI, Bps. Conf. 1777/1; EDD. 3913/3/5 p. 188; BI, Inst. AB. 15 p. 228; EDA. 1/8 f. 1v; Lamb., Reg. Cornwallis ff. 216–225v). Enthr. by proxy 14 Feb. (EDD. 3913/3/5 p. 188; EDA. 11/1/5). Temps. 20 Feb. (P.R.O., C 209/19). Trans. to London 1787.

BISHOPS OF CHESTER

William Cleaver D.D. 1788–1800.

Congé d'élire and letter missive for Cleaver issued 14 Dec. 1787 (P.R.O., IND 16816; EDD. 2574/1/13–14). El. 20 Dec. (EDD. 3913/3/5 p. 245; Lamb., Reg. Moore f. 135). Congé d'élire and letter missive pubd. 29 Dec. (Lond Gaz. no. 12951). Royal assent 7 Jan. 1788; abp. of York's conf. 19 Jan.; cons. 20 Jan. (BI, Inst. AB. 16 pp. 111, 112; Lamb., Reg. Moore ff. 128v–139v). Temps. 31 Jan. (P.R.O., IND 16816). Enthr. by proxy 12 Feb. (EDD. 3913/3/5 pp. 245–6). Trans. to Bangor 1800.

Henry William Majendie D.D. 1800–1809.

Congé d'élire and letter missive for Majendie, canon of St. Paul's, pubd. 24 May 1800 (Lond Gaz. no. 15259); congé issued 27 May 1800 (P.R.O., IND 16816; EDD. 2574/1/17–18). El. 3 June; royal assent 7 June; abp. of York's conf. 14 June; cons. 15 June (BI, Bps. Conf. 1800/1; ibid., Inst. AB. 17 pp. 90–1; EDD. 3913/3/5 p. 312; Lamb., Reg. Moore ff. 353–364v). Temps. 24 June (P.R.O., IND 16816). Enthr. by proxy 27 June 1800 (EDD. 3913/3/5 p. 312). Trans. to Bangor 1809.

Bowyer Edward Sparke D.D. 1810–1812.

Congé d'élire and letter missive for Sparke, [dean of Bristol], pubd. 7 Oct. 1809 (Lond Gaz. no. 16303); congé issued 5 Oct. 1809 (P.R.O., IND 16816; EDD. 2574/2/1–2). El. 26 Oct.; royal assent 21 Nov.; abp. of York's conf. 19 Jan. 1810; cons. 21 Jan. (BI, Bps. Conf. 1809/1; EDD. 3913/3/5 p. 368; BI, Inst. AB. 17 p. 342; Lamb., Reg. Sutton I ff. 177v–187v). Temps. 2 Feb. (P.R.O., IND 16816). Enthr. by proxy 7 Feb. (EDD. 3913/3/5 p. 371). Trans. to Ely 1812.

George Henry Law D.D. 1812–1824.

Congé d'élire and letter missive for Law, [canon of Carlisle and preb. of York], pubd. 20 June 1812 (Lond. Gaz. no. 16614); congé issued s.d. (P.R.O., IND 16816; EDD. 2574/2/4–5). El. 23 June; royal assent 27 June; abp. of York's conf. 2 July; cons. 5 July (BI, Bps. Conf. 1812/1; EDD. 3913/3/5 p. 379; BI, Inst. AB. 18 p. 47; Lamb., Reg. Sutton ff. 205v–215). Temps. 25 July (P.R.O., IND 16816). Enthr. by proxy 28 July (EDD. 3913/3/5 p. 380). Trans. to Bath and Wells 1824.

Charles James Blomfield D.D. 1824–1828.

Congé d'élire and letter missive for Blomfield pubd. 8 June 1824 (Lond. Gaz. no. 18034); congé issued s.d. (P.R.O., IND 16816; EDD. 2574/2/4–5). El. 9 June; royal assent 15 June; abp. of York's conf. 19 June; cons. 20 June (EDD. 3913/3/6 pp. 39–40; BI, Inst. AB. 19 pp. 122–3; Lamb., Reg. Sutton I ff. 371v–378v). Temps. 8 July (P.R.O., IND 16816). Enthr. 10 Aug. (EDD. 3913/3/6 p. 40). Trans. to London 1828.

John Bird Sumner D.D. 1828–1848.

Congé d'élire and letter missive for Sumner, [canon of Durham], pubd. 26 Aug. 1828 (Lond. Gaz. no. 18499); congé issued 1 Sept. (P.R.O., IND 16816; EDD. 2574/2/8–9). El. 3 Sept.; royal assent 5 Sept.; abp. of York's conf. 13 Sept.; cons. 14 Sept. (EDD. 3913/3/6p. 137; BI, Bps. Conf. 1828/1; Lamb., Reg. Howley pp. 30–41). Temps. 29 Nov. (P.R.O., IND 16816; EDA. 11/1/7–15). Trans. to Canterbury 1848.

John Graham D.D. 1848–1865.

Congé d'élire and letter missive for Graham pubd. 11 March 1848 (Lond. Gaz. no. 20836); congé issued 15 March (P.R.O., IND 16816). El. 31 March; royal assent 11 Apr.; abp. of York's conf. 13 May; cons. 14 May (EDD. 3913/3/6 p. 243; EDA. 1/13 p. 561; Lamb., Reg. Sumner pp. 22–38). Temps. 27 May (P.R.O., IND 16816). Enthr. 16 June (EDD. 3913/3/6 p. 243; EDA. 11/1/17). D. 15 June 1865 (The Times, 16 June, p. 9).