Archdeacons in the Diocese of Portsmouth

The archdeacons in the Diocese of Portsmouth are senior ecclesiastical officers in the Church of England in south-east Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. They currently include: the Archdeacon of the Meon, the Archdeacon of the Isle of Wight and the Archdeacon of Portsdown. Each one has responsibility over a geographical area within the diocese, providing organisational leadership and pastoral support to clergy within their area.

History

The Anglican Diocese of Portsmouth was created on 1 May 1927 from the Diocese of Winchester's archdeaconries of the Isle of Wight and of Portsmouth, which had been created in that diocese on 22 December 1871 and 6 February 1925 respectively.

In November 1999, the Portsmouth archdeaconry was split in two: Lowson remained as Archdeacon of Portsdown and a new Archdeacon of the Meon was appointed.

List of archdeacons

Archdeacons of the Isle of Wight

• 1874–16 November 1886 (d.): Francis McDougall (also assistant bishop)
• 1886–7 September 1906 (d.): Henry Haigh
• 1906–2 February 1922 (d.): James Macarthur (also Bishop suffragan of Southampton until 1920; afterwards assistant bishop for the island)
• 1922–1928 (res.): Lewen Tugwell

• 1929–1936 (ret.): Robert McKew
• 1937–31 August 1948 (d.): Hampton Weekes
• 1948–1952 (res.): Edward Roberts
• 1952–1961 (ret.): Alexander Cory (afterward archdeacon emeritus)
• 1961–1965 (res.): Geoffrey Tiarks
• 1965–1977 (res.): Ron Scruby
• 1977–1986 (res.): Freddie Carpenter (afterward archdeacon emeritus)
• 1986–1996 (ret.): Tony Turner (afterward archdeacon emeritus)
• 1996–2003 (ret.): Mervyn Banting (afterward archdeacon emeritus)
• 2003–2006 (res.): Trevor Reader
• 2006–2011 (res.): Caroline Baston
• 2011–2018 (res.): Peter Sutton
• 18 May 20192022 (res.): Peter Leonard
• 22 January 2023present: Steve Daughtery (also Vicar of Bembridge)

Archdeacons of Portsmouth

• 1925–1927 (res.): Neville Lovett
• 1927–1936 (res.): Harold Rodgers
• 1937–1945 (res.): Harold Hyde-Lees
• 1945–1952 (res.): Arthur Kitching (also an assistant bishop)
• 1952–1956 (res.): Edward Roberts
• 1956–1964 (res.): Michael Peck
• 1965–1969 (res.): Geoffrey Tiarks
• 1969–1977 (ret.): Christopher Prior (afterwards archdeacon emeritus)
• 1977–1985 (ret.): Ron Scruby (afterwards archdeacon emeritus)
• 1985–1993 (ret.): Norman Crowder (afterwards archdeacon emeritus)
• 1993–1999 (res.): Graeme Knowles
• FebruaryNovember 1999: Chris Lowson (became Archdeacon of Portsdown)

Archdeacons of Portsdown

• November 1999–2006: Chris Lowson (previously Archdeacon of Portsmouth)
• 2006–2013 (ret.): Trevor Reader
• 14 April 20133 July 2019 (res.): Joanne Grenfell (became Bishop of Stepney)
• 3 July 20192020: vacant
• 202031 January 2024 (res.): Jenny Rowley
• 7 September 2025present: Bob White

Archdeacons of the Meon

• 1999–2010 (res.): Peter Hancock
• 11 September 201128 January 2021: Gavin Collins
• 28 January 20212 July 2023 (Acting): Will Hughes
• 2 July 2023present: Kathryn Percival

References