The Archdeacon of West Ham is a senior ecclesiastical officer – in charge of the Archdeaconry of West Ham – in the Church of England Diocese of Chelmsford. The current archdeacon is Mike Power.
Brief history Historically, the Archdeaconry of Essex formed part of the Diocese of London, until the Victorian diocese reforms transferred it, on 1 January 1846, to the Diocese of Rochester.Dioceses Commission – The Dioceses of England: An Outline History The title first occurs in sources before 1100, as one of four archdeacons in the (then much larger) Diocese of London, but there had been four archdeacons prior to this point, some of whom may be regarded as essentially predecessors in the line of the Essex archdeacons.
From 4 May 1877, the archdeaconry made up part of the newly created Diocese of St Albans until it became part of the newly created Diocese of Chelmsford on 23 January 1914.
On 17 March 1922, the Archdeaconry of Essex was renamed the Archdeaconry of West Ham when the new Archdeaconry of Southend was created from part of the old archdeaconry.St John's Stratford – Timeline (1913–1927)Seax, Essex Archives Online – Archdeaconry of West Ham
The role of Archdeacon of West Ham has existed separately from the Bishop suffragan of Barking since 1958;St John's Church the archdeaconry was itself divided to create the Harlow archdeaconry following a 1989 decision of the Diocesan SynodDiocese of Chelmsford – Transforming Leadership and again on 1 February 2013, by Pastoral Order of the Bishop of Chelmsford, the new Archdeaconry of Barking was created from the West Ham archdeaconry; initially, the Archdeacon of West Ham was also Acting Archdeacon of Barking.Diocese of Chelmsford – Archdeaconries in the Diocese of Chelmsford (Retrieved 6 February 2013)
List of archdeacons
High Medieval ?–: Theobald bef. 1102–bef. 1111: WalterWalter is not called "Archdeacon of Essex" in any sources; rather his territory can be deduced. bef. 1132–1167 (d.): Richard Ruffus bef. 1168–bef. 1196 : Robert Banastre bef. 1204–aft. 1215: Richard de Hegham bef. 1221–aft. 1225: Theobald de Valognes bef. 1228–aft. 1243: Thomas de Fauconberg bef. 1248–aft. 1250 (res.): Hugh de Sancto Edmundo bef. 1253–aft. 1265: Stephen de Sandwic bef. 1272–aft. 1271 (res.): Richard of Gravesend bef. 1271–aft. 1274: Adam de Faversham bef. 1274–1283 (res.): Roger de La Legh bef. 1288–1293 (res.): Robert Winchelsey bef. 1295–bef. 1297 (deprived): Laurence de Fuscis de Bera 31 March 1299–aft. 1301: Aldebrand Riccardi de Militiis
Late Medieval bef. 1307–aft. 1307: Hildebrand de Anibaldis 29 January 1315–bef. 1319: Stephen de Segrave bef. 1328–bef. 1331 (d.): John de Elham 2 December 1331 – 3 September 1332 (exch.): William Vygerous 3 September 1332–bef. 1333 (d.): Robert de Canterbury 9 November 1333 – 22 January 1337 (exch.): Hugh de Statherne 22 January 1337– (res.): John de Bouser 20 June 1351 – 1361 (d.): William de Rothwell 30 November 1361–bef. 1367 (res.): John Barnet (son of Bishop John Barnet) 20 June 1367–?: John de Cantebrugg ?–bef. 1368 (res.): Roger de Freton (afterwards Dean of Chichester) 18 January 1368–bef. 1400 (d.): Henry de Winterton 11 February 1400–?: Richard Prentys bef. 1406–7 September 1420 (exch.): Edward Prentys 7 September 1420–bef. 1435 (d.): John Shirborne 5 April 1435–bef. 1461 (d.): Zanobius Mulakyn 5 August 1461 – 1472 (res.): James Goldwell (also Dean of Salisbury from 1463) 3 October 1472 – 16 May 1478 (exch.): John Gunthorpe 16 May 1478–bef. 1479 (d.): John Crall/Sudbury 22 December 1479 – 1480 (res.): Edmund Audley 21 July 1480 – 1499 (res.): Thomas Jane 4 November 1499–bef. 1502 (d.): John de Lopez 1502–23 August 1503 (d.): François de Busleyden, Archbishop of Besançon 24 January 1503–bef. 1543 (d.): Richard Rawson
Early modern 29 October 1543–bef. 1558 (d.): Edward Moylle 22 October 1558 – 23 October 1559 (deprived): Thomas Darbyshire (deprived) 3 January 1560–June 1571 (d.): Thomas Cole 10 July 1571–bef. 1585 (res.): John Walker 27 August 1585–bef. 1603 (res.): William Tabor 17 January 1603 – 1609 (res.): Samuel Harsnett 8 November 1609–bef. 1634 (d.): George Goldman 1634–11 August 1680 (d.): Edward Layfield 20 December 1680–bef. 1689 (res.): Thomas Turner 17 July 1689–bef. 1714 (d.): Charles Alston 22 July 1714–bef. 1737 (res.): Thomas Gooch 22 July 1737 – 9 August 1746 (d.): Reuben Clerke 6 February 1747 – 31 October 1752 (d.): William Gibson 28 November 1752 – 5 October 1771 (d.): Thomas Rutherforth 11 October 1771 – 5 April 1773 (d.): Stotherd Abdy 21 April 1773 – 10 November 1795 (d.): James Waller 2 December 1795 – 29 September 1813 (d.): William Gretton 11 December 1813 – 12 October 1823 (d.): Francis Wollaston 14 November 1823 – 1861 (res.): Hugh Jones On 1 January 1846, the archdeaconry was moved to the Diocese of Rochester.
Late modern 18 February 1862 – 13 July 1878 (d.): Carew St John Mildmay On 4 May 1877, the archdeaconry was again moved, this time to the newly created Diocese of St Albans. 1878–1882: Alfred Blomfield bef. 1883–17 March 1885 (d.): Gaspard-le-Marchant CareyNational Church Institutions Database of Manuscripts and Archives – Entry for a letter from CareyPub history – Chelmsford (inc. Boreham) 1885–1894 (res.): Henry Johnson 1894–22 August 1920 (d.): Thomas StevensSt John's Stratford – A Brief History of the Parish (as Bishop suffragan of Barking, 1901–1919) On 23 January 1914, the archdeaconry was again moved, this time to the newly created Diocese of Chelmsford. 1920–1922: James Inskip, Bishop suffragan of Barking (became Archdeacon of West Ham)Alumni Cantabrigienses – Inskip, James Theodore On 17 March 1922, the Archdeaconry of Essex was renamed to the Archdeaconry of West Ham. 1922–1948 (ret.): James Inskip, Bishop suffragan of Barking 1948–1958: Hugh Gough, Bishop suffragan of BarkingThe Independent, Obituary – Hugh Gough 1958–25 October 1964 (d.): John ElvinSeax, Essex Archives Online – Licences of Elvin 1965–1970 (res.) Denis WakelingThe Telegraph, Obituary – Denis WakelingThe Independent, Obituary – Denis Wakeling 1970–1975 (res.): James AdamsThe Independent – James Adams 1975–1980 (res.): John TaylorDiocese of St Alban's – Bishops of St Alban's p. 3 1980–1988 (res.): Peter DawesThe Church Times, 29 May 2009 – Case for fewer bishops 1988–1991 (res.): Roger Sainsbury 1991–1995 (res.): Tim StevensDiocese of Leicester – Bishop of Leicester 1995–2007 (ret.): Michael FoxThe Church Times – Appointments, 29 June 2007 (archived) 20072024 (ret.): Elwin CockettDiocese of Chelmsford – Hammers chaplain to be Archdeacon (archived)Chelmsford Anglican Mainstream – New Archdeacon of West Ham (retired 30 September 2024) 2024–present: Mike Power (previously Archdeacon of Southend; collated 5 October 2024)
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