Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury is in Archbishop. See Canterbury Cathedral [Map].
616 Death of Æthelberht King of Kent
1052 Coronation of William The Conqueror
1532 Cranmer appointed Archbishop of Canterbury
1559 Consecration of Matthew Parker as Archbishop of Canterbury
Around 604 Archbishop Laurence was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 616. This year died Ethelbert (age 66), king of Kent, the first of English kings that received baptism: he was the son of Ermenric. He reigned fifty-six winters, and was succeeded by his son Eadbald. And in this same year had elapsed from the beginning of the world five thousand six hundred and eighteen winters. This Eadbald renounced his baptism, and lived in a heathen manner; so that he took to wife the relict of his father. Then Laurentius, who was archbishop in Kent, meant to depart southward over sea, and abandon everything. But there came to him in the night the apostle Peter, and severely chastised him19, because he would so desert the flock of God. And he charged him to go to the king, and teach him the right belief. And he did so; and the king returned to the right belief. In this king's days the same Laurentius, who was archbishop in Kent after Augustine, departed this life on the second of February, and was buried near Augustine. The holy Augustine in his lifetime invested him bishop, to the end that the church of Christ, which yet was new in England, should at no time after his decease be without an archbishop. After him Mellitus, who was first Bishop of London, succeeded to the archbishopric. The people of London, where Mellitus was before, were then heathens: and within five winters of this time, during the reign of Eadbald, Mellitus died. To him succeeded Justus, who was Bishop of Rochester, whereto he consecrated Romanus bishop.
Note 19. Literally, "swinged, or scourged him." Both Bede and Alfred begin by recording the matter as a vision, or a dream; whence the transition is easy to a matter of fact, as here stated by the Norman interpolators of the "Saxon Annals".
In 619 Bishop Mellitus was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.
In 624 Archbishop Justus was appointed 4th Archbishop of Canterbury.
On 21 Jul 625 Archbishop Paulinus of York was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 627. This year was King Edwin (age 41) baptized at Easter, with all his people, by Paulinus, who also preached baptism in Lindsey [Map], where the first person who believed was a certain rich man, of the name of Bleek, with all his people. At this time Honorius succeeded Boniface in the papacy, and sent hither to Paulinus the pall; and Archbishop Justus having departed this life on the tenth of November, Honorius was consecrated at Lincoln, Lincolnshire [Map] Archbishop of Canterbury by Paulinus; and Pope Honorius sent him the pall. And he sent an injunction to the Scots, that they should return to the right celebration of Easter.
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. This year Ithamar, Bishop of Rochester, consecrated Deus-dedit to Canterbury, on the twenty-sixth day of March.
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 667. This year Oswy (age 55) and Egbert sent Wighard, a priest, to Rome, that he might be consecrated there Archbishop of Canterbury; but he died as soon as he came thither.
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 668. This year Theodore (age 66) was consecrated archbishop, and sent into Britain.
On 26 Mar 668 Archbishop Theodore of Tarsus (age 66) was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury in Rome, Italy.
On 10 Jun 729 Archbishop Tatwine (age 59) was consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury by Bishop Daniel of Winchester.
In 735 Archbishop Nothelm was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.
In 740 Archbishop Cuthbert was consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury.
In 760 Archbishop Bregowine was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.
On 02 Feb 765 Archbishop Jænberht was consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury.
In 792 Archbishop Æthelhard was translated to Archbishop of Canterbury by King Offa of Mercia.
On 21 Jan 793 Archbishop Æthelhard was enthroned Archbishop of Canterbury in a service presided over by Archbishop Hygeberht.
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 803. This year died Hibbald, Bishop of Holy-island, on the twenty-fourth of June, and Egbert was consecrated in his stead, on the thirteenth of June following. Archbishop Ethelherd also died in Kent, and Wulfred was chosen archbishop in his stead. Abbot Forthred, in the course of the same year, departed this life.
In 870 Archbishop Æthelred was consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury.
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 870. This year the army rode over Mercia into East-Anglia, and there fixed their winter-quarters at Thetford [Map]. And in the winter King Edmund fought with them; but the Danes gained the victory, and slew the king; whereupon they overran all that land, and destroyed all the monasteries to which they came. The names of the leaders who slew the king were Hingwar and Hubba. At the same time came they to Medhamsted [Map], burning and breaking, and slaying abbot and monks, and all that they there found. They made such havoc there, that a monastery [Map], which was before full rich, was now reduced to nothing. The same year died Archbishop Ceolnoth; and Ethered, Bishop of Witshire, was chosen Archbishop of Canterbury.
In 890 Archbishop Plegmund was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.
Around 923 Archbishop Athelm was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.
Around 926 Archbishop Wulfhelm was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.
In 941 Archbishop Oda was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.
In 958 a charter of King Edgar "Peaceful" I of England (age 15) describes Penkridge, Staffordshire [Map] as a "famous place". St Michael's Church Penkridge [Map] was established as a Royal Free Chapel making it a Royal Peculiar. The church was independent of the Bishop of Lichfield and, correspondingly, the Archbishop of Canterbury.
In 959 Archbishop Dunstan (age 50) was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 961. This year departed Odo, the good archbishop, and St. Dunstan (age 52) took to the archbishopric. This year also died Elfgar, a relative of the king, in Devonshire; and his body lies at Wilton [Map]: and King Sifferth killed himself; and his body lies at Wimborn [Map]. This year there was a very great pestilence; when the great fever was in London; and St. Paul's minster was consumed with fire, and in the same year was afterwards restored. In this year Athelmod the masspriest, went to Rome, and there died on the eighteenth before the calends of September.
In 988 Archbishop Ethelgar was elected Archbishop of Canterbury.
In 989 Archbishop Sigeric was elected Archbishop of Canterbury.
In 994 Archbishop Ælfric was elected Archbishop of Canterbury.
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 996. This year was Elfric consecrated archbishop at Christ church.49
Note 49. i.e. at Canterbury. He was chosen or nominated before, by King Ethelred (age 30) and his council, at Amesbury: vid. an. 994. This notice of his consecration, which is confirmed by Florence of Worcester, is now first admitted into the text on the authority of three MSS.
In 1004 Archibishop Ælfheah (age 51) was elected Archbishop of Canterbury.
In 1006 Archibishop Ælfheah (age 53) was consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury.
In 1013 Archibishop Ælfstan aka Lyfing was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury by King Æthelred "Unready" II of England (age 47).
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 1020. This year came King Knute (age 25) back to England; and there was at Easter a great council at Cirencester, Gloucestershire [Map], where Alderman Ethelward was outlawed, and Edwy, king of the churls. This year went the king (age 25) to Assingdon; with Earl Thurkyll, and Archbishop Wulfstan, and other bishops, and also abbots, and many monks with them; and he ordered to be built there a minster of stone and lime, for the souls of the men who were there slain, and gave it to his own priest, whose name was Stigand; and they consecrated the minster at Assingdon. And Ethelnoth the monk, who had been dean at Christ's church, was the same year on the ides of November consecrated Bishop of Christ's church by Archbishop Wulfstan.
On 13 Nov 1020 Archbishop Æthelnoth was consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury by Archibishop Wulfstan.
In 1038 Archbishop Eadsige was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.
In 1044 Archbishop Robert of Robert of Jumièges was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury; the first Norman Archbishop of Canterbury.
In 1052 Archbishop Stigand was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury which he held jointly with his Bishopric of Worcester making him very wealthy. Five successive Popes excommunicated Stigand for his holding of both Winchester and Canterbury. His excommunication meant he could ot preside at the Coronation of William The Conqueror.
On 29 Aug 1070 Archbishop Lanfranc (age 65) was consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury.
Flowers of History. 08 Apr 1071. A general council of the kingdom of England was held, to discuss the question of the primacy of the church of Canterbury, as superior to the church of York, on the eighth of April. And at last it was decreed that the archbishop of Canterbury had the preeminence, and that the archbishop of York was subordinate to him in everything.
Flowers of History. 24 Apr 1071. Lanfranc (age 66), abbot of Caen, was consecrated archbishop of Canterbury, on the twenty-fourth of April. And this Lanfranc (age 66), when archbishop, established the order of monks according to the rule of Saint Benedict in many of the convents of England. And he did so, first of all, in the church of Canterbury; after that, in the church of Saint Alban [Map], the protomartyr of the English, where also, when the abbot Frederic died, he appointed his [Lanfranc's] nephew Paul as his successor; who, relying on the support of his uncle (age 66), restored the church, and reformed the brotherhood, which had fallen into some irregularities.
In 1072 the Accord of Winchester established the primacy of the Archbishop of Canterbury over the Archbishop of York. It was signed by ...
King William "Conqueror" I of England (age 44) and Matilda Flanders Queen Consort England (age 41).
Archbishop Ealdred who signed "I concede" whereas other signatories signed "I subscribe".
Bishop Wulfstan (age 64).
Herfast Bishop Chancellor.
In 1093 Archbishop Anselm (age 60) was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.
On 21 Apr 1109 Archbishop Anselm (age 76) was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.
On 26 Apr 1114 Archibishop Ralph d'Escures was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.
Florence of Worcester Continuation. 16 Feb 1123. William (age 53), a canon of St. Osythe, at Chiche1, was named to the archbishopric of Canterbury at Gloucester, where the king held his court at the feast of the Purification of St. Mary; and he was consecrated at Canterbury by William, bishop of Winchester, assisted by many other bishops, on the fourteenth of the calends of March [16th February]. With his approval, the bishopric of Lincoln was given to Alexander, archdeacon of Salisbury. Afterwards, archbishop William (age 53), in company with Thurstan (age 53), archbishop of York, Bernard, bishop of St. David's2, Sigefred, abbot Glastonbury, and Anselm, abbot of St. Edmund's, went to Rome to receive the pallium.
Note 1. St. Osythe, in Essex, a priory rebuilt in 1118 for canons of the Augustine order, of which there are considerable remains.
Note 2. Henry of Huntingdon includes Alexander, the new bishop of Lincoln, among the archbishop's companions to Rome, and it is probable that the historian attended his patron. See his character of bishop Alexander, p. 253, of his history in the Antiq. Lib.
In 1139 Archbishop Theobald of Bec (age 49) was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.
On 24 May 1162 Archbishop Thomas Becket (age 42) was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.
On 07 Apr 1174 Archbishop Richard de Dover was consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury in Anagni Frosinone Latium by Pope Alexander III.
In Dec 1184 Archbishop Baldwin Avigo (age 59) was translated to Archbishop of Canterbury.
On 29 May 1193 Archbishop Hubert Walter (age 33) was elected as Archbishop of Canterbury.
On 07 Jun 1207 Archbishop Stephen Langton (age 57) was consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury at Viterbo by Pope Innocent III (age 47).
In 1233 Archbishop Edmund Rich (age 58) was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.
On 15 Jan 1245 Archbishop Boniface Savoy (age 38) was consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury at Lyon, France [Map] by Pope Innocent IV during the First Council of Lyon.
On 25 Jan 1279 Archbishop John Peckham (age 49) was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.
On 13 Feb 1293 Archbishop Robert Winchelsey (age 48) was elected Archbishop of Canterbury.
On 12 Sep 1294 Archbishop Robert Winchelsey (age 49) was consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury in Aquila by Pope Celestine V.
In 1313 Archbishop Walter Reynolds was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.
In Jan 1314 Archbishop Walter Reynolds was enthroned Archbishop of Canterbury at Canterbury Cathedral [Map].
In May 1375 Archbishop Simon Sudbury (age 59) was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.
On 30 Jul 1381 Archbishop William de Courtenay (age 39) was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.
On 25 Sep 1396 Archbishop Thomas Fitzalan aka Arundel (age 43) was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.
On 08 Nov 1397 Archbishop Roger Walden was elected Archbishop of Canterbury as a result of the influence of Archbishop Thomas Fitzalan aka Arundel (age 44).
Before 13 Oct 1399 Archbishop Thomas Fitzalan aka Arundel (age 46) was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.
On 17 Jun 1408 Archbishop Henry Chichele (age 45) was consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury.
In May 1443 Archbishop John Stafford was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury which position he held until his death.
In Jul 1452 Cardinal John Kempe (age 72) was translated to Archbishop of Canterbury.
In Apr 1454 Cardinal Thomas Bourchier (age 36) was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.
On 06 Oct 1486 Cardinal John Morton (age 66) was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.
In 1501 Archbishop Henry Deane was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.
On 22 Jan 1501 Bishop Thomas Langton was elected Archbishop of Canterbury but within a week of the plague before being consecrated.
On 29 Nov 1503 Archbishop William Warham (age 53) was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.
After 01 Sep 1532 Thomas Cranmer (age 43), whilst staying in Mantua, received a royal letter dated 01 Sep 1532 by which he was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury; he was ordered to return to England. Cranmer's appointment, supported, if not arranged, by the Boleyn family who he subsequently supported.
On 30 Mar 1553 Archbishop Thomas Cranmer (age 63) was consecrated as Archbishop of Canterbury at St Stephen's Chapel [Map] by Bishop John Longland, Bishop John Vesey aka Harman (age 91) and Bishop Henry Standish.
On 01 Aug 1559 Archbishop Matthew Parker (age 54) was elected Archbishop of Canterbury. He was helped by his friend Nicholas Bacon Lord Keeper (age 48).
Henry Machyn's Diary. 16 Dec 1559. The xvj day of Desember was the sam man bered in sant Don stones in the est, master Cottell, that was slayne with (the) falle, and he had a sarmon, and all ys compene in ther clothyng, and a grett dener, for ther was mad mon [moan] for hym, and a dolle.... Parker (age 55) electyd byshope of Canturbere.
On 17 Dec 1559 Archbishop Matthew Parker (age 55) was consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth Palace [Map] by Bishop William Barlow (age 61).
In Nov 1604 Richard Bancroft Archibishop Canterbury (age 60) was elected Archbishop of Canterbury.
In 1611 Archbishop George Abbott (age 48) was elected Archbishop of Canterbury.
On 06 Aug 1633 Archbishop William Laud (age 59) was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.
On 13 Sep 1660 Archbishop William Juxon (age 78) was elected Archbishop of Canterbury.
In 1663 Archbishop Gilbert Sheldon (age 64) was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.
Evelyn's Diary. 31 Aug 1663. I was invited to the translation of Dr. Sheldon (age 65), Bishop of London, from that see to Canterbury, the ceremony performed at Lambeth Palace [Map]. First, went his Grace's mace bearer, steward, treasurer, comptroller, all in their gowns, and with white staves; next, the bishops in their habits, eight in number; Dr. Sweate, Dean of the Arches, Dr. Exton, Judge of the Admiralty, Sir William Merick, Judge of the Prerogative Court, with divers advocates in scarlet. After divine service in the chapel, performed with music extraordinary, Dr. French and Dr. Stradling (his Grace's chaplains) said prayers. The Archbishop in a private room looking into the chapel, the bishops, who were commissioners, went up to a table placed before the altar, and sat round it in chairs. Then Dr. Chaworth presented the commission under the broad seal to the Bishop of Winchester (age 65), and it was read by Dr. Sweate. After which, the Vicar-General went to the vestry, and brought his Grace into the chapel, his other officers marching before. He being presented to the Commissioners, was seated in a great armchair at one end of the table, when the definitive sentence was read by the Bishop of Winchester (age 65), and subscribed by all the bishops, and proclamation was three times made at the chapel door, which was then set open for any to enter, and give their exceptions; if any they had. This done, we all went to dinner in the great hall to a mighty feast. There were present all the nobility in town, the Lord Mayor of London, Sheriffs, Duke of Albemarle (age 54), etc. My Lord Archbishop did in particular most civilly welcome me. So going to visit my Lady Needham, who lived at Lambeth, I went over to London.
Evelyn's Diary. 07 Mar 1666. Dr. Sancroft (age 49), since Archbishop of Canterbury, preached before the King (age 35) about the identity and immutability of God, on Psalm cii. 27.
In 1667 Archbishop William Sancroft (age 49) was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury at the express wish of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 36).
Evelyn's Diary. 09 Dec 1694. I had news that my dear and worthy friend, Dr. Tenison (age 58), Bishop of Lincoln, was made Archbishop of Canterbury, for which I thank God and rejoice, he being most worthy of it, for his learning, piety, and prudence.
In 1695 Archbishop Thomas Tenison (age 58) was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.
On 21 Oct 1747 Archbishop Thomas Herring (age 54) was elected Archbishop of Canterbury.
In 1768 Archbishop Frederick Cornwallis (age 54) was translated to Archbishop of Canterbury.
In 1805 Archbishop Charles Manners-Sutton (age 49) was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.
In 1828 Archbishop William Howley (age 61) was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.
In 1862 Archibishop Charles Longley (age 67) was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.
In 1883 Archibishop Edward White Benson (age 53) was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.
On 24 Jun 1884 Bishop Adelbert John Robert Anson (age 43) was consecrated Bishop of Bishop of Qu'Appelle in Canada by Archbishop of Canterbury at St Mary at Lambeth Church, Surrey [Map].
In 1903 Bishop Randall Davidson (age 54) was elected Archbishop of Canterbury.
On 26 Jul 1928 Archibishop Cosmo Gordon Lang (age 63) was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.
On 04 Dec 1928 Archibishop Cosmo Gordon Lang (age 64) was enthroned Archbishop of Canterbury.
On 12 Jan 1945 Archbishop Geoffrey Fisher (age 57) was elected Archbishop of Canterbury.
Bede. But the apostolic pope having consulted about that affair, made diligent inquiry for some one to send to be archbishop of the English churches. There was then in the Niridan monastery, which is not far from the city of Naples in Campania, an abbot, called Hadrian, by nation an African, well versed in holy writ, experienced in monastical and ecclesiastical discipline, and excellently skilled both in the Greek and Latin tongues. The pope, sending for him, commanded him to accept of the bishopric, and repair into Britain; he answered, that he was unworthy of so great a dignity, but said he could name another, whose learning and age were fitter for the episcopal office. And having proposed to the pope a certain monk, belonging to a neighbouring monastery of virgins, whose name was Andrew, he was by all that knew him judged worthy of a bishopric; but bodily infirmity prevented his being advanced to the episcopal station. Then again Hadrian was pressed to accept of the bishopric; but he desired a respite for a time, to see whether he could find another fit to be ordained bishop.
