Abbot of Westminster

The Abbot of Westminster was the head (abbot) of Westminster Abbey, until the reformation, when the position was replaced by the Dean of Westminster. The position of Abbot of Westminster was a significant role in English history, with the abbots overseeing Westminster Abbey from its early days as a Benedictine monastery through major transformations over the centuries.

List of Abbots Abbots Edwin 1049 – c. 1071 Geoffrey of Jumièges c. 1071 – c. 1075 Vitalis of Bernay c. 1076 – 1085 Gilbert Crispin 1085 – 1117 Herbert 1121 – c. 1136 Gervase de Blois 1138 – c. 1157 Laurence c. 1158 – 1173 Walter of Winchester 1175 – 1190 William Postard 1191 – 1200 Ralph de Arundel (alias Papillon) 1200 – 1214 William de Humez 1214 – 1222 Richard de Berkying 1222 – 1246 Richard de Crokesley 1246 – 1258 Phillip de Lewisham 1258 Richard de Ware 1258 – 1283 Walter de Wenlok 1283 – 1307Richard de Kedyngton (alias Sudbury) 1308 – 1315 William de Curtlyngton 1315 – 1333 Thomas de Henley 1333 – 1344 Simon de Bircheston 1344 – 1349 Simon Langham 1349 – 1362Nicholas de Litlyngton 1362 – 1386 William de Colchester 1386 – 1420 Richard Harweden 1420 – 1440 Edmund Kyrton 1440 – 1462 George Norwich 1463 – 1469 Thomas Mylling 1469 – 1474, later Bishop of Hereford John Esteney 1474 – 1498 George Fascet 1498 – 1500 John Islip 1500 – 1532 William Benson (Abbot Boston) 1533 – 1540Bishopintra-Reformation Thomas Thirlby 1540 – 1550 Deansintra-Reformation William Benson (Abbot Boston) 1540 – 1549 Richard Cox 1549 – 1553 Hugh Weston 1553 – 1556 Abbotrestored by Mary I of England John Feckenham 1556 – 1559 Deanspost-Reformation See List of Deans of Westminster Abbey 1560 – present

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