Dean of Wells

Wells Cathedral

The Dean of Wells is the head of the Chapter^[1] of Wells Cathedral^[2] in the Mendip district of Somerset, England. The dean's residence is The Dean's Lodging, 25 The Liberty, Wells.^[3]

List of deans

High Medieval 1140–1164: Ivo 1164–1189: Richard of Spaxton 1190–1213: Alexander 1213–1216: Leonius 1216–1219: Ralph of Lechlade 1219–1236: Peter of Chichester 1236–1241: William of Merton 1241–1253: John Saracenus 1254–1256: Giles of Bridport 1256–1284: Edward of Cnoll 1284–1292: Thomas Bytton 1292–1295: William Burnell 1295–1302: Walter Haselshaw Late Medieval 1302–1305: Henry Husee 1305–1333: John Godelee 1333–1333: Richard of Bury 1334–1335: Wibert of Littleton 1335–1349: Walter of London 1349–1350: Thomas Fastolf 1350–1361: John of Carleton 1361–1379: Stephen Penpel 1379–1381: John Fordham 1381–1396: Thomas Thebaud (of Sudbury) 1397–1398: Henry Beaufort 1398–1401: Nicholas Slake

1401–1410: Thomas Tuttebury 1410–1413: Richard Courtenay 1413–1413: Thomas Karneka[4] 1413–1423: Walter Medeford 1423–1424: John Stafford 1425–1446: John Forest 1446–1467: Nicholas Carent 1467–1472: William Witham 1472–1498: John Gunthorpe Early modern 1498–1525: William Cosyn 1525–1529: Thomas Wynter (also Archdeacon of York, Archdeacon of Richmond (1526–1529), Archdeacon of Suffolk (1526–1529) and Archdeacon of Norfolk (from 1529)) 1529–1537: Richard Woleman 1537–1540: Thomas Cromwell 1540–1547: William Fitzwilliam (or Fitzjames) 1548–1550: John Goodman (deprived) 1551–1554: William Turner (deprived) 1554–1561: John Goodman (reinstated) 1561–1568: William Turner (restored) 1570–1573: Robert Weston 1574–1589: Valentine Dale 1590–1602: John Herbert 1602–1607: Benjamin Heydon 1607–1621: Richard Meredith 1621–1631: Ralph Barlow

1631–1641: George Warburton 1642–1644: Walter Ralegh 1660–1670: Robert Creighton 1670–1704: Ralph Bathurst 1704–1713: William Grahme (or Graham) 1713–1733: Matthew Brailsford 1733–1736: Isaac Maddox 1736–1738: John Harris 1739–1766: Samuel Creswicke 1766–1799: Lord Francis Seymour Late modern 1799–1812: George Lukin 1812–1831: Hon Henry Ryder 1831–1845: Edmund Goodenough 1845–1854: Richard Jenkyns 1854–1881: George Johnson 1881–1891: Edward Plumptre 1891–1911: Thomas Jex-Blake 1911–1933: Armitage Robinson 1933–1950: Richard Malden 1951–1958: Frederic Harton 1958–1962: Christopher Woodforde 1962–1973: Irven Edwards 1973–1989: Patrick Mitchell 1990–2003: Richard Lewis 2004 – 31 December 2015 (ret.): John Clarke 31 December 2015 – 20 November 2016: Andrew Featherstone (Acting) 20 November 2016 – 6 January 2023 (ret.): John Davies[5][6] 6 January 2023 – 16 June 2024: Anne Gell (Acting)[7] 16 June 2024[8] – present: Toby Wright[9]

References

1. List of Deans
2. "Photo of Cathedral". Archived from the original on 22 March 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2009.
3. Crockford's Clerical Directory 2008/2009. Lambeth: Church House Publishing. December 2007. ISBN 978-0-7151-1030-0.
4. "Colleges: The cathedral of Wells | British History Online". www.british-history.ac.uk. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
5. "Next Dean of Wells Appointed". Diocese of Bath and Wells. 23 August 2016. Archived from the original on 26 August 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
6. "John Davies to retire as Dean of Wells". Wells Cathedral. 6 January 2023. Archived from the original on 7 January 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
7. "Anne Gell to become Acting Dean of Wells". Wells Cathedral. Wells Cathedral. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
8. "We welcome the new Dean of Wells". Diocese of Bath & Wells. 26 June 2024. Archived from the original on 4 August 2024. Retrieved 4 August 2024. and "Installation Sermon" (PDF). Diocese of Bath & Wells. 16 June 2024. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 August 2024. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
9. "Next Dean of Wells to be Toby Wright". Diocese of Oxford. 15 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.

Further reading

• Robinson, J. A., The First Deans of Wells (1921)