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{{Short description|Diocesan bishop in the Church of England}}{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2014}}

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}}The Bishop of Bath and Wells heads the Church of England Diocese of Bath and Wells in the Province of Canterbury in England.The present diocese covers the overwhelmingly greater part of the (ceremonial) county of Somerset and a small area of Dorset. The Episcopal seat is located in the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew in the city of Wells in Somerset.The bishop is one of two (the other is the Bishop of Durham) who escort the sovereign at the coronation.The Bishop’s residence is The Palace, Wells. In late 2013 the Church Commissioners announced that they were purchasing the Old Rectory, a Grade II-listed building in Croscombe for the Bishop’s residence.NEWS, Ovens, Ruth, Revealed bishop’s new £900k house,www.wellsjournal.co.uk/Revealed-bishop-s-new-900k-house/story-20478900-detail/story.html, 29 January 2014, Wells Journal, 22 January 2014, dead,www.wellsjournal.co.uk/Revealed-bishop-s-new-900k-house/story-20478900-detail/story.html," title="web.archive.org/web/20140201230351www.wellsjournal.co.uk/Revealed-bishop-s-new-900k-house/story-20478900-detail/story.html,">web.archive.org/web/20140201230351www.wellsjournal.co.uk/Revealed-bishop-s-new-900k-house/story-20478900-detail/story.html, 1 February 2014, dmy-all, However this decision was widely opposed,WEB, Hundreds sign petition against Bath and Wells bishop move,www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-26128852, 4 June 2014, BBC News, 11 February 2014, including by the Diocese,NEWS, Bishop attacks Wells palace move as church split opens,www.wellsjournal.co.uk/Bishop-attacks-Wells-palace-church-split-opens/story-20495058-detail/story.html, 29 January 2014, Wells Journal, 24 January 2014, dead,www.wellsjournal.co.uk/Bishop-attacks-Wells-palace-church-split-opens/story-20495058-detail/story.html," title="web.archive.org/web/20140125153312www.wellsjournal.co.uk/Bishop-attacks-Wells-palace-church-split-opens/story-20495058-detail/story.html,">web.archive.org/web/20140125153312www.wellsjournal.co.uk/Bishop-attacks-Wells-palace-church-split-opens/story-20495058-detail/story.html, 25 January 2014, dmy-all, WEB,www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-25895236, Diocese of Bath and Wells ‘cannot support’ bishop’s palace move, 25 January 2014, BBC News, and in May 2014 was overturned by a committee of the Archbishops’ Council.NEWS, Bishop of Bath and Wells to stay in Bishop’s Palace home,www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-27250829, 2 May 2014, WEB,www.churchofengland.org/media/1983886/wells%20decision%20final.pdf, Determination of objection to regulation transaction: House of Residence of Bishop of Bath and Wells, Archbishops’ Council, 1 May 2014,

History

{{See also|Diocese of Bath and Wells}}Somerset originally came under the authority of the Bishop of Sherborne, but Wells became the seat of its own Bishop of Wells from 909. King William Rufus granted Bath to a royal physician, John of Tours, Bishop of Wells and Abbot of Bath, who was permitted to move his episcopal seat for Somerset from Wells to Bath in 1090, thereby becoming the first Bishop of Bath. He planned and began a much larger church as his cathedral, to which was attached a priory, with the bishop’s palace beside it.In 1197 Bishop Savaric FitzGeldewin officially moved his seat to Glastonbury Abbey with the approval of Pope Celestine III. However, the monks there would not accept their new Bishop of Glastonbury and the title of Bishop of Bath and Glastonbury was used until the Glastonbury claim was abandoned in 1219. His successor, Jocelin of Wells, then returned to Bath, again under the title, Bishop of Bath. The official episcopal title became Bishop of Bath and Wells under a Papal ruling of 3 January 1245.By the 15th century Bath Abbey was badly dilapidated. Oliver King, Bishop of Bath and Wells, decided in 1500 to rebuild it on a smaller scale. The new abbey-church was completed just a few years before Bath Priory was dissolved in 1539. Then Henry VIII considered this new church redundant, and it was offered to the people of Bath to form their parish church; but they did not buy it, and it was stripped of its glass and lead.WEB,www.bathabbey.org/history/todays-abbey-1499-onwards, Today’s Abbey (1499 onwards), Bath Abbey, 29 May 2013, The last bishop in communion with Rome was deprived in 1559 but the succession of bishops has continued to the present day.The diocese and the episcopate are today part of the Anglican Communion.

List of bishops

Pre-Reformation bishops{| class“wikitable� style@width:95%;� border“1� cellpadding“2�

! colspan=“4� style="background-color: #7F1734; color: white;� | Bishops of Wells! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 10%;� | From! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 10%;� | Until! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 30%;� | Incumbent! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 45%;� | Notes valign=“top� style="background-color: white;� {{circa|923}}–925| Athelmmonk at Glastonbury Abbey. Consecration>Consecrated circa 909. Translation (ecclesiastical) to Archbishop of Canterbury>Canterbury between 923 and September 925. valign=“top� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;� {{circa|926}}–928| WulfhelmArchbishop of Canterbury>Canterbury between January 926 and 928. valign=“top� style="background-color: white;� 937 or 938Alphege of Wells>Alphege| Consecrated between January 926 and 928. Died in office. Also recorded as Ælfheah. valign=“top� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;� 956| Wulfhelm II| Consecrated in 937 or 938. Died in office. valign=“top� style="background-color: white;� 973Byrhthelm (Bishop of Wells)>Byrhthelmmonk at Glastonbury Abbey. Consecrated in 956. Translated to Archbishop of Canterbury>Canterbury in 959, but deposed and translated back to Wells in the same year. Died in office on 15 May 973. valign=“top� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;� 975Cyneweard of Glastonbury>CyneweardAbbot of Milton, Dorset>Milton. Consecrated in 973 or 974. Died in office on 28 June 975. valign=“top� style="background-color: white;� 996Sigar of Wells>SigarAbbot of Glastonbury ({{circa>970}}–975). Consecrated between 975 and 979. Died in office on 28 June 996. valign=“top� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;� 998 or 999Ælfwine of Wells>Ælfwine| Consecrated in 996 or 997. Died in office on 29 August in 998 or 999. valign=“top� style="background-color: white;� 1013Lyfing (Archbishop of Canterbury)>LyfingAbbot of Chertsey Abbey. Consecrated in 998 or 999. Translated to Archbishop of Canterbury>Canterbury in 1013. valign=“top� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;� {{circa|102}}1–24Æthelwine of Wells>Aethelwine| Consecrated between 1013 and 1018. Expelled circa 1021/1023 and 1024 in favour of Brihtwine. valign=“top� style="background-color: white;� unknown| Brihtwine| Expelled. valign=“top� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;� unknownÆthelwine of Wells>Aethelwine (again)| Restored but expelled a second time. valign=“top� style="background-color: white;� before 1024| Brihtwine (again)| Restored. Died in office before 1024. valign=“top� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;� 1033| Merewith| Consecrated before 1024. Died in office on 11 or 12 April 1033. valign=“top� style="background-color: white;� 1060| Dudoc| Consecrated on 11 June 1033. Died in office on 18 January 1060. valign=“top� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;� 1088Gisa (bishop of Wells)>Gisa| Previously chaplain to King Edward the Confessor. Elected bishop after 18 January 1060 and consecrated on 15 April 1061. Died in office in 1088. Also recorded as Giso. valign=“top� style="background-color: white;� 1090| John of Tours| Consecrated Bishop of Wells in July 1088. Became Bishop of Bath when he moved the see from Wells to Bath in 1090.! colspan=“4� style="background-color: #7F1734; color: white;� | Bishops of Bath! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 10%;� | From! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 10%;� | Until! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 30%;� | Incumbent! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 45%;� | Notes valign=“top� style="background-color: white;� 1122| John of Tours| Moved the see from Wells to Bath in 1090. Died in office between 29 and 30 December 1122. Also recorded as John de Villula. valign=“top� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;� 1135Godfrey of Bath>GodfreyAdeliza of Louvain>Adeliza. Nominated on 25 March and consecrated on 26 August 1135. Died in office on 16 August 1135. valign=“top� style="background-color: white;� 1166Robert of Bath>Robert| Previously a monk at Lewes Priory. Consecrated on 22 March and received possession of the temporalities circa 22 March 1136. Died in office on 31 August 1166. valign=“top� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;� 1174 See vacant valign=“top� style="background-color: white;� 1191| Reginald fitz JocelinArchdeacon of Wiltshire. Elected bishop in late April 1173 and consecrated on 23 June 1174. He became Archbishop of Canterbury>Archbishop-elect of Canterbury on 27 November 1191, but before appeals against his election were heard, he died on 26 December 1191. valign=“top� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;� 1197| Savaric FitzGeldewinArchdeacon of Northampton (1175–1192). Elected bishop by the monks of Bath Abbey between 27 November and 26 December 1191 and consecrated on 20 September 1192. Also became Abbot of Glastonbury in 1193. He moved the Cathedra>Episcopal seat from Bath Abbey to Glastonbury Abbey>Glastonbury in 1197.! colspan=“4� style="background-color: #7F1734; color: white;� | Bishops of Bath and Glastonbury! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 10%;� | From! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 10%;� | Until! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 30%;� | Incumbent! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 45%;� | Notes valign=“top� style="background-color: white;� 1205| Savaric FitzGeldewinCathedra>Episcopal seat from Bath Abbey to Glastonbury Abbey>Glastonbury in 1197, he was styled Bishop of Bath and Glastonbury. Died in office on 8 August 1205. valign=“top� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;� 1219| Jocelin of WellsCanon (priest)>Canon of Wells. Elected bishop on 3 February and consecrated on 28 May 1206. He was styled Bishop of Bath and Glastonbury until 1219, thereafter Bishop of Bath.! colspan=“4� style="background-color: #7F1734; color: white;� | Bishops of Bath! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 10%;� | From! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 10%;� | Until! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 30%;� | Incumbent! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 45%;� | Notes valign=“top� style="background-color: white;� 1242| Jocelin of Wells| Previously styled Bishop of Bath and Glastonbury until 1219, thereafter Bishop of Bath. Died in office on 19 November 1242. valign=“top� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;� 1244 See vacant valign=“top� style="background-color: white;� 1245Roger of Salisbury (bishop of Bath and Wells)>Roger of SalisburyNOTE: He is not the more notable Roger of Salisbury who died in 1139.Precentor of Salisbury Cathedral>Salisbury (1227–1244). Elected bishop by the monks of Bath Abbey on 6 February 1243 and consecrated on 11 September 1244. Became Bishop of Bath and Wells on 3 January 1245.! colspan=“4� style="background-color: #7F1734; color: white;� | Bishops of Bath and Wells! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 10%;� | From! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 10%;� | Until! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 30%;� | Incumbent! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 45%;� | Notes valign=“top� style="background-color: white;� 1247Roger of Salisbury (bishop of Bath and Wells)>Roger of Salisbury| Following a papal ruling, the episcopal title changed to Bishop of Bath and Wells on 3 January 1245. Died in office on 21 December 1247. valign=“top� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;� 1264| William of Bitton I| Formerly Archdeacon of Wells (1238–1248). Elected bishop before 24 February and consecrated on 14 June 1248. Died in office on 3 April 1264. valign=“top� style="background-color: white;� 1266| Walter GiffardLord Chancellor (1265–1266). Translated to Archbishop of York>York on 15 October 1266. valign=“top� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;� 1274| William of Bitton IIArchdeacon of Wells ({{circa>126}}3–1267). Elected bishop on 10 February and consecrated after 17 April 1267. Died in office on 4 December 1274. valign=“top� style="background-color: white;� 1292| Robert BurnellArchdeacon of York (1270–1275). Elected bishop on 23 January and consecrated on 1275. Became Archbishop of Canterbury>Archbishop-elect of Canterbury (1278–1279) and Bishop-elect of Winchester (1280). Also Lord Chancellor (1274–1292). Died in office on 25 October 1292. valign=“top� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;� 1302| William of MarchDean (Christianity)>Dean of St. Martin’s-le-Grand and Lord Treasurer. Elected bishop on 28 January and consecrated on 17 May 1293. Died in office before 19 June 1302. valign=“top� style="background-color: white;� 1308| Walter Haselshaw| Formerly Dean of Wells (1295–1302). Elected bishop on 7 August and consecrated on 4 November 1302. Died in office on 11 December 1308. valign=“top� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;� 1329| John DroxfordKeeper of the wardrobe and acting Lord High Treasurer>Lord Treasurer. Elected bishop on 5 February and consecrated on 9 November 1309. Died in office on 9 May 1329 valign=“top� style="background-color: white;� 1363| Ralph of Shrewsbury| Elected on 2 June and consecrated on 3 September 1329. Died in office on 14 August 1363. valign=“top� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;� 1366| John BarnetBishop of Worcester>Worcester. Appointed on 24 December (or about 28 November) 1363 and received the temporalities on 6 April 1364. Translated to Ely on 15 December 1366. valign=“top� style="background-color: white;� 1386| John HarewellGascony and chaplain to the Edward, the Black Prince>Black Prince. Appointed bishop on 14 December 1366 and consecrated on 7 March 1367. Died in office between 29 June and 14 July 1386. valign=“top� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;� 1388| Walter SkirlawBishop of Lichfield>Coventry & Lichfield. Appointed on 18 August and received the temporalities on 3 November 1386. Translated to Durham on 3 April 1388. valign=“top� style="background-color: white;� 1400| Ralph ErghamBishop of Salisbury>Salisbury. Appointed on 3 April and received the temporalities on 13 September 1388. Died in office on 10 April 1400. valign=“top� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;� 1401| (Richard Clifford)Bishop of Worcester>Worcester on 19 August 1401. valign=“top� style="background-color: white;� 1407| Henry BowetCanon (priest)>Canon of Wells Cathedral. Appointed bishop on 19 August 1401 and consecrated on 20 November 1401. Translated to Archbishop of York>York on 7 October 1407. valign=“top� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;� 1424| Nicholas BubwithBishop of Salisbury>Salisbury. Appointed on 7 October and received the temporalities on 2 December 1407. Died in office on 27 October 1424. valign=“top� style="background-color: white;� 1443John Stafford (bishop)>John StaffordDean of Wells (1423–1424). Elected bishop between 14 November and 19 December 1424. Consecrated on 27 May 1425. Also Lord High Treasurer>Lord Treasurer (1422–1426) and Lord Chancellor (1432–1450). Translated to Canterbury on 13 May 1443. valign=“top� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;� 1465| Thomas BeckingtonArchdeacon of Buckingham (1424–1443). Appointed bishop on 24 July and consecrated on 13 October 1443. Also the Lord Privy Seal>Keeper of the Privy Seal (1443–1444). Died in office on 14 January 1465. valign=“top� style="background-color: white;� 1491| Robert Stillington| Formerly Archdeacon of Taunton (1450–1465). Appointed bishop on 30 October 1465 and consecrated on 16 March 1466. Also intermittently Lord Chancellor between 1460 and 1473. Died in office before 15 May 1491. valign=“top� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;� 149481x81px) Richard FoxeBishop of Exeter>Exeter. Appointed on 8 February and received the temporalities on 4 May 1492. Translated to Durham on 30 July 1494. valign=“top� style="background-color: white;� 1503| Oliver KingBishop of Exeter>Exeter. Appointed on 6 November 1495 and received the temporalities on 6 January 1496. Died in office before 1503. valign=“top� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;� 1518| Cardinal Adriano CastellesiBishop of Hereford>Hereford. Appointed on 2 August and received possession of the temporalities on 13 October 1504. Deprived of the see by Pope Leo X on 5 July 1518. valign=“top� style="background-color: white;� 152373x73px) Cardinal Thomas WolseyArchbishop of York (1514–1530) and Lord Chancellor (1515–1529). Appointed in commendam the see of Bath and Wells on 27 July 1518, but exchanged it to the see of Bishop of Durham>Durham on 26 March 1523. valign=“top� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;�Sources:HTTP://WWW.BRITISH-HISTORY.AC.UK/REPORT.ASPX?COMPID=34341 >TITLE=BISHOPS OF BATH AND WELLS YEAR=2001 PUBLISHER=BRITISH HISTORY ONLINE FrydePorter1986}}, Handbook of British Chronology, pp. 222–223, 228–229.HTTP://WWW.BRITISH-HISTORY.AC.UK/REPORT.ASPX?COMPID=32141 >TITLE=BISHOPS OF BATH AND WELLS YEAR=1964 PUBLISHER=BRITISH HISTORY ONLINE, 21 August 2011,

Bishops during the Reformation{| class“wikitable� style@width:95%;� border“1� cellpadding“2�

! colspan=“4� style="background-color: #7F1734; color: white;� | Bishops of Bath and Wells during the Reformation align=left! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 10%;� | From! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 10%;� | Until! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 30%;� | Incumbent! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 45%;� | Notes valign=“top� style="background-color: white;� 1541John Clerk (bishop)>John Clerk| Formerly Master of the Rolls (1522–1523) and Dean of Windsor (1519–1523). Appointed bishop on 26 March and consecrated on 6 December 1523. Accepted royal supremacy in 1534. Died in office on 31 January 1541. valign=“top� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;� 1547William Knight (bishop)>William KnightSecretary of State (England)>Secretary of State to Henry VIII of England (1526–1528) and Prebendary of Old St Paul’s Cathedral>St Paul’s (1517–1541). Nominated bishop on 9 April and consecrated on 29 May 1541. Died in office on 29 September 1547. valign=“top� style="background-color: white;� 1553William Barlow (bishop of Chichester)>William BarlowBishop of St David’s>St David’s. Nominated on 3 February 1548. Resigned before 4 October 1553. Later became Bishop of Chichester in 1559. valign=“top� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;� 1559| Gilbert BournePrebendary of Old St Paul’s Cathedral>St Paul’s and Lord President of Wales and the Marches. Nominated bishop on 13 March and consecrated on 1 April 1554. Deprived between 18 October 1559 and 11 January 1560. Died on 10 September 1569. valign=“top� style="background-color: white;�Sources:{{HarvnbGreenwayRoyHandbook of British Chronology, p. 229.HTTP://WWW.BRITISH-HISTORY.AC.UK/REPORT.ASPX?COMPID=34467 LAST1=HORNLAST2= BAILEYYEAR=1979 PUBLISHER=BRITISH HISTORY ONLINE, 21 August 2011,

Post-Reformation bishops{| class“wikitable� style@width:95%;� border“1� cellpadding“2�

! colspan=“4â€� style="background-color: #7F1734; color: white;â€� | Post-Reformation Bishops of Bath and Wells align=left! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 10%;â€� | From! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 10%;â€� | Until! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 30%;â€� | Incumbent! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 45%;â€� | Notes valign=“topâ€� style="background-color: white;â€� 158160px) Gilbert Berkeley| Nominated on 11 January and consecrated on 24 March 1560. Died in office on 2 November 1581. valign=“topâ€� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;â€� 1584 See vacant valign=“topâ€� style="background-color: white;â€� 159060px) Thomas Godwin| Formerly Dean of Canterbury (1567–1584). Nominated bishop on 25 July and consecrated on 13 September 1584. Died in office on 19 November 1590. valign=“topâ€� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;â€� 1592 See vacant valign=“topâ€� style="background-color: white;â€� 160860px) John StillList of Masters of Trinity College, Cambridge>Master of Trinity College, Cambridge (1577–1593). Nominated bishop on 13 January and consecrated on 11 February 1593. Died in office on 26 February 1608. valign=“topâ€� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;â€� 161660px) James MontagueDean of Worcester (1604–1608). Nominated bishop on 21 March and consecrated on 17 April 1608. Translated to Bishop of Winchester>Winchester on 4 October 1616. valign=“topâ€� style="background-color: white;â€� 162660px) Arthur Lake| Formerly Dean of Worcester (1608–1616). Elected on 17 October and consecrated on 8 December 1616. Died in office on 4 May 1626. valign=“topâ€� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;â€� 162860px) William LaudBishop of St David’s>St David’s. Nominated bishop of Bath & Wells on 20 June and confirmed on 18 September 1626. Translated to London on 15 July 1628. valign=“topâ€� style="background-color: white;â€� 162960px) Leonard MaweList of Masters of Trinity College, Cambridge>Master of Trinity College, Cambridge (1625–1628). Died in office on 2 September 1629 valign=“topâ€� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;â€� 163260px) Walter CurleBishop of Rochester>Rochester. Elected on 29 October and confirmed on 4 December 1629. Translated to Winchester on 16 November 1632. valign=“topâ€� style="background-color: white;â€� 164660px) William PiersBishop of Peterborough>Peterborough. Nominated on 19 November and confirmed on 13 December 1632. Deprived of the see when the English episcopy was abolished by Parliament on 9 October 1646. valign=“topâ€� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;â€� 1660 ‘’The see was abolished during the Commonwealth of England and the The Protectorate>Protectorate’’.PLANT >FIRST=DAVID URL=HTTP://BCW-PROJECT.ORG/CHURCH-AND-STATE/SECTS-AND-FACTIONS/EPISCOPALIANS WEBSITE=BCW PROJECT DATE=JULY 1968 JOURNAL=THE ENGLISH HISTORICAL REVIEW ISSUE= 328 PUBLISHER=OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS DOI=10.1093/EHR/LXXXIII.CCCXXVIII.523, valign=“topâ€� style="background-color: white;â€� 167060px) William Piers (restored)| Returned when the see was restored in 1660. Died in office on 30 April 1670. valign=“topâ€� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;â€� 167260px) Robert Creighton| Formerly Dean of Wells (1660–1670). Nominated on 2 May and consecrated on 19 June 1670. Died in office on 20 November 1672. valign=“topâ€� style="background-color: white;â€� 168460px) Peter MewsDean of Rochester (1670–1673). Nominated on 23 November 1672 and consecrated 6 February 1673. Translated to Bishop of Winchester>Winchester on 22 November 1684. valign=“topâ€� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;â€� 169060px) Thomas KenCanon (priest)>Canon of Winchester Cathedral (1669–1685). Nominated on 24 November 1684 and consecrated on 25 January 1685. Deprived of the see on 1 February 1690 for not taking the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy Act 1688>oaths to the sovereigns. Died on 19 March 1711. valign=“topâ€� style="background-color: white;â€� 170360px) Richard Kidder| Formerly Dean of Peterborough (1689–1691). Nominated on 11 June and consecrated on 30 August 1691. Died in office on 26 November 1703. valign=“topâ€� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;â€� 172760px) George HooperBishop of St Asaph>St Asaph. Nominated on 23 December 1703 and confirmed on 14 March 1704. Died in office on 6 September 1727. valign=“topâ€� style="background-color: white;â€� 174360px) John WynneBishop of St Asaph>St Asaph. Nominated on 19 September and confirmed on 11 November 1727. Died in office on 15 July 1743. valign=“topâ€� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;â€� 177360px) Edward WillesBishop of St David’s>St David’s. Nominated on 13 September and confirmed on 12 December 1743. Died in office on 24 November 1773. valign=“topâ€� style="background-color: white;â€� 180260px) Charles MossBishop of St David’s>St David’s. Nominated on 23 April and confirmed on 2 June 1774. Died in office on 13 April 1802. valign=“topâ€� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;â€� 182460px) Richard BeadonBishop of Gloucester>Gloucester. Nominated on 27 April and confirmed on 2 June 1802. Died in office on 21 April 1824. valign=“topâ€� style="background-color: white;â€� 184560px) George Henry LawBishop of Chester>Chester. Nominated on 8 May and confirmed on 8 June 1824. Died in office on 22 September 1845. valign=“topâ€� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;â€� 185460px) Richard BagotBishop of Oxford>Oxford. Nominated on 15 October and confirmed on 12 November 1845. Died in office on 15 May 1854. valign=“topâ€� style="background-color: white;â€� 186960px) The Lord Auckland| Translated from Bishop of Sodor and Man. Nominated on 2 June and confirmed on 1 July 1854. Resigned as bishop on 6 September 1869 and died on 25 April 1870. valign=“topâ€� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;â€� 189460px) Lord Arthur Hervey| Formerly Archdeacon of Sudbury (1862–1869). Nominated on 11 November and consecrated 21 December 1869. Died in office on 9 June 1894. valign=“topâ€� style="background-color: white;â€� 192160px) George KennionAnglican Diocese of Adelaide>Adelaide in Australia. Nominated on 24 August and confirmed on 17 October 1894. Resigned on 1 August 1921 and died on 19 May 1922. valign=“topâ€� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;â€� 193760px) Basil Wynne Willson| Nominated on 6 October and consecrated on 1 November 1921. Resigned on 1 October 1937 and died on 15 October 1946. valign=“topâ€� style="background-color: white;â€� 194360px) Francis Underhill| Nominated on 6 October and consecrated on 30 November 1937. Died in office on 24 January 1943. valign=“topâ€� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;â€� 194560px) William WandAnglican Diocese of Brisbane>Brisbane. Nominated on 23 September and confirmed on 27 October 1943. Translated to London on 22 August 1945. valign=“topâ€� style="background-color: white;â€� 196060px) Harold Bradfield| Nominated on 5 March and consecrated on 1 May 1946. Died in office on 1 May 1960. valign=“topâ€� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;â€� 197560px) Edward HendersonBishop of Tewkesbury>Tewkesbury. Nominated on 1 July and confirmed 19 July 1960. Resigned on 31 May 1975 and died in 1986. valign=“topâ€� style="background-color: white;â€� 198660px) John BickerstethBishop of Warrington>Warrington. Nominated on 15 October and confirmed on 12 December 1975. Also Clerk of the Closet (1979–1989). Retired in 1986. valign=“topâ€� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;â€� 199160px) George CareyPrincipal (academia)>Principal of Trinity College, Bristol (1982–1988). Nominated and consecrated bishop in 1986. Translated to Archbishop of Canterbury>Canterbury in 1991. valign=“topâ€� style="background-color: white;â€� 200160px) Jim ThompsonBishop of Stepney>Stepney. Nominated and confirmed in 1991. Retired in 2001 and died in 2003. valign=“topâ€� style="background-color: #F7F0F2;â€� 201360px) Peter PriceBishop of Kingston-upon-Thames>Kingston-upon-Thames. Nominated in 2001 and enthroned in 2002.HTTP://WWW.SOUTHWARK.ANGLICAN.ORG/NEWS/PR173.HTM >TITLE=BISHOP OF KINGSTON TO BE BISHOP OF BATH & WELLS ACCESS-DATE=21 AUGUST 2011 ARCHIVE-URL=HTTPS://WEB.ARCHIVE.ORG/WEB/20110927014107/HTTP://WWW.SOUTHWARK.ANGLICAN.ORG/NEWS/PR173.HTM DF=DMY-ALL, Retired on 30 June 2013. valign=“topâ€� style="background-color: white;â€� May 202160px) Peter HancockBishop of Basingstoke>Basingstoke, 4 March 2014.Diocese of Bath and Wells – Bishop’s Synod address (24 March 2014) {{Webarchivewww.bathandwells.org.uk/diocese/news/story/656/ >date=27 March 2014 }} & Welcome to Christ Church Winchester, 9 March 2014 {{Webarchivewww.bathandwells.org.uk/diocese/news/story/656/ >date=27 March 2014 }} (both accessed 4 April 2014) Nominated in December 2013 and installed on 7 June 2014;HTTPS://WWW.BBC.CO.UK/NEWS/UK-ENGLAND-SOMERSET-27739710>TITLE=NEW BISHOP OF BATH AND WELLS PETER HANCOCK INSTALLEDDATE=7 JUNE 2014, retired May 2021.BISHOP PETER ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT AS HE CONTINUES RECOVERY FROM LEUKAEMIA >URL=HTTPS://WWW.BATHANDWELLS.ORG.UK/2021/03/BISHOP-PETER-ANNOUNCES-RETIREMENT-AS-HE-CONTINUES-RECOVERY-FROM-LEUKAEMIA/ ACCESS-DATE=13 MARCH 2021, 12 March 2021, valign=“topâ€� style="background-color: #F7F0F2â€� onwards60px) Michael BeasleyBishop of Hertford. Election confirmed on 29 June 2022.BISHOP MICHAEL BEASLEY HAS OFFICIALLY BECOME THE 80TH BISHOP OF BATH AND WELLS... AUTHOR-LINK=DIOCESE OF BATH AND WELLS NUMBER=1542186508207144969 ACCESS-DATE=2 OCTOBER 2022 ARCHIVE-DATE=2 OCTOBER 2022, valign=“topâ€� style="background-color: whiteâ€�Sources:{{HarvnbGreenwayRoy|1986}}, Handbook of British Chronology, pp. 229–230.

Assistant bishops

Among those who have served as assistant bishops of the diocese are:

• 4 October 1852{{snd}}10 May 1853 (res.): George Spencer, commissary during Bagot’s illness, and former Bishop in Madras{{Church Times | title = The late Bishop Spencer | archive = 1866_07_28_242 | issue = 182 | date = 28 July 1866 | page = 242 | accessed = 16 March 2020 }}
• late 1860s (Eden’s illness): James Chapman, Coadjutor-Bishop, Rector of Wootton Courtenay, a Prebendary of Wells and former Bishop of Colombo{{Church Times | title = The late Bishop Chapman | archive = 1879_11_21_731 | issue = 878 | date = 21 November 1879 | page = 731 | accessed = 26 December 2019 }}
• 1891–1900:{{acad|id=BRMY833CH|name=Bromby, Charles Henry}} Charles Bromby, former Bishop of Tasmania (lived at Clifton with his son)
• 1931{{snd}}1942 (d.): Charles de Salis, Archdeacon of Taunton until 1938, and former Bishop of Taunton{{Who’s Who |id=U231405 |title=De Salis, Charles Fane}}
• 1940{{snd}}1943 (res.): Edmund Sara, former Coadjutor Bishop of Jamaica and later Assistant Bishop of Hereford{{Who’s Who |id=U51445 |title=Sara, Edmund Willoughby}}
• 1950–1967 (ret.): Fabian Jackson, Rector of Batcombe and former Bishop of Trinidad{{Who’s Who | id= U156043 | title=Jackson, Fabian Menteath Elliot }}
• 1956{{snd}}1973 (ret.): Douglas Wilson, Canon Treasurer of Wells and former Bishop of Trinidad{{Who’s Who | id= U161083 | title=Wilson, Douglas John }}

In popular culture

Television

Blackadder, BBC historical sitcom, features a fictional bishop played by Ronald Lacey of this title in the second series’ fourth episode “Money�, in which the bishop is portrayed as an obese, blasphemous, self-confessed pervert who eats children.WEB, Memorable quotes for “Black-Adder II� Money (1986),www.imdb.com/title/tt0526719/quotes, IMDb, 9 February 2013, WEB, Black Adder II, Episode 4,www.suslik.org/Humour/FilmOrTV/BlackAdder/ba2-4.html, Adrian Hilton, 9 February 2013, dead,www.suslik.org/Humour/FilmOrTV/BlackAdder/ba2-4.html," title="web.archive.org/web/20130303211730www.suslik.org/Humour/FilmOrTV/BlackAdder/ba2-4.html,">web.archive.org/web/20130303211730www.suslik.org/Humour/FilmOrTV/BlackAdder/ba2-4.html, 3 March 2013, dmy-all, NEWS, Walker, Tim, Bishop of Bath and Wells’ Lingering torment of Blackadder,www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mandrake/3660275/Bishop-of-Bath-and-Wells-Lingering-torment-of-Blackadder.html, 9 February 2013, The Telegraph, 7 December 2008, Monty Python features two skits in which the Bishop of this title is mentioned.BOOK, Larsen, Darl, Monty Python’s Flying Circus: An Utterly Complete, Thoroughly Unillustrated, Absolutely Unauthorized Guide to Possibly All the References, 2008, Scarecrow Press, 978-1-4616-6970-8, 377,books.google.com/books?id=Ud9h3kdxQNQC&q=Bishop+of+Bath+and+Wells+Monty+Python&pg=PA377,

Radio

Absolute Power, BBC radio comedy features such a Bishop.

Literature

Neil Gaiman’s 2008 work The Graveyard Book features a character named the Bishop of Bath and Wells â€“ he is one of a trio of ghouls who spirit the main character away.WEB, The Graveyard Book,www.shmoop.com/graveyard-book/ghouls.html, shmoop, 9 February 2013, WEB, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman,www.fantasybookreview.co.uk/Neil-Gaiman/The-Graveyard-Book.html, Fantasy Book Review, 9 February 2013, Ralph of Shrewsbury, Bishop of Bath and Wells, appears as a character in the 1994 fantasy novel The Dragon, The Earl and The Troll, by Gordon Dickson.

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

Bibliography

• BOOK, Fryde, E. B., Greenway, D. E., Porter, S., Roy, I., Handbook of British Chronology, 3rd, reprinted 2003, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1986, 0-521-56350-X,

External links

• Official Diocese of Bath & Wells Website
• www.trin.cam.ac.uk/chartwww/Bishops/sees/wells.html" title="web.archive.org/web/20111006183341www.trin.cam.ac.uk/chartwww/Bishops/sees/wells.html">Episcopal succession: Wells (archived 6 October 2011)

{{Clear}}{{Bishops of Bath and Wells}}{{Anglican hierarchy in Great Britain and Ireland}}{{Diocese of Bath and Wells}}