The
Archdeacon of Worcester is a senior clergy position in the
Diocese of Worcester in the
Church of England. Among the archdeacon's responsibilities is the care of clergy and church buildings within the area of the Archdeaconry of Worcester.
History
The first recorded archdeacons in the Diocese of Worcester occur from c. 1086 around the same time that archdeacons occur across the church in England. Two archdeacons are recorded simultaneously from that time, but no clear territorial title occurs until 1143, when Gervase is called Archdeacon of Gloucester.
The Archdeaconry of Birmingham was created from Worcester and Coventry archdeaconries by Order-in-Council on 12 August 1892 but became part of the new Diocese of Birmingham upon its creation by Order-in-Council on 13 January 1905.
The archdeaconry is currently subdivided into six deaneries: Evesham, Malvern, Martley and Worcester West, Pershore, Upton, and Worcester East. The current Archdeacon of Worcester is the Venerable Mark Badger.
Deaneries, area deans and lay chairs as of 2024
Deanery |
Rural dean |
Lay chair
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Pershore & Evesham
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The Revd Sarah Dangerfield
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Robin Lunn
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Malvern & Upton
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The Revd Gary Crellin
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Maria Toman
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Kidderminster & Stourport
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The Revd Tim Williams
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Clare Stockford
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Worcester
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The Revd Diane Cooksey
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Sue Roulstone
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List of archdeacons
High Medieval
- Senior archdeacon of the diocese:
- bef. 1086–bef. 1114 (d.): Ailric
- bef. 1114–21 March 1125 (d.): Hugh (probably previously junior archdeacon)
- Archdeacons of Worcester:
Late Medieval
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Early modern
Late modern
- May 1881 – 1889 (d.): William Lea, sometime Vicar of St Peter's Droitwich
- 1889–1911 (ret.): William Walters, Vicar of Pershore until 1894, then Rector of Alvechurch until 1904, then Vicar of Malvern Wells from 1905
- 1911–1921 (res.): John Greig, Rector of Hartlebury (became Bishop of Gibraltar)
- 1921–1938 (ret.): James Peile, Rector of Alvechurch until 1925, then of Ripple until 1926
- 1938 – 26 September 1944 (d.): Ridley Duppuy (Canon, Assistant Bishop of Worcester from 1936, and Vice-Dean from 1940; former Bishop of Victoria)
- 1944–1961 (ret.): Thomas Wilson, Rector of Hartlebury until 1956
- 1961–1975 (ret.): Peter Eliot, Vicar of Cropthorne with Charlton until 1965 (afterwards archdeacon emeritus)
- 1975–1980 (ret.): John Williams (afterwards archdeacon emeritus)
- 1981–1984 (res.): Peter Coleman (became Bishop suffragan of Crediton)
- 1984–1999 (ret.): Frank Bentley (afterwards archdeacon emeritus)
- 1999–2008 (res.): Joy Tetley
- 5 October 2008 – 25 July 2014 (res.): Roger Morris (became area Bishop of Colchester)
- 16 November 2014 – 30 November 2023: Robert Jones
- 2 December 2023 – present Mark Badger
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