Archdeacons in the Diocese of Liverpool

The archdeacons in the Diocese of Liverpool are senior ecclesiastical officers in the Church of England in a highly irregular area surrounding the city of Liverpool. This includes the archdeacons of Liverpool, St Helens and Warrington, Knowsley and Sefton, and Wigan and West Lancashire, each responsible for a specific geographical region within the diocese. They are tasked with the disciplinary supervision of the clergy within their respective archdeaconries.^[1]

History

The Archdeaconry of Liverpool was originally created on 10 August 1847 (from the Archdeaconry of Chester deaneries of Wirral and Warrington)^[2] in the Diocese of Chester and transferred to the Diocese of Liverpool when the latter was created on 9 April 1880.^[3] The Archdeaconry of Warrington was created from the Archdeaconry of Liverpool on 17 July 1880.^[4] Prior to the 2015 reorganisation, the old Liverpool archdeaconry consisted of eight area deaneries: Bootle, Huyton, Liverpool North, Liverpool South-Childwall, Sefton, Toxteth and Wavertree, Walton, and West Derby; and the old Warrington archdeaconry of seven: North Meols, Ormskirk, St Helens, Warrington, Widnes, Wigan, and Winwick.

Reorganisation

Per the diocese's mission paper, Fit for Mission, prepared by Paul Bayes, the then-new Bishop of Liverpool,^[5] the archdeaconries of the diocese were reorganised not long after the retirement of Peter Bradley as Archdeacon of Warrington at the end of October 2015. On 29 May 2015, it was announced that four archdeaconries would exist after the reorganisation: Liverpool (reduced in size from its current area), Knowsley and Sefton, St Helens and Warrington, and Wigan and West Lancashire;^[6] on 9 August three archdeacons-designate were announced, and it was further indicated it was hoped the reorganisation could be completed in time to collate the new archdeacons on 14 November 2015.^[7] On 5 November 2015, it was announced that Bayes had signed the pastoral order effecting the boundary changes and erection of the new archdeaconries.^[8]

Following the reorganisation, the (reduced) Liverpool archdeaconry consists of five deaneries: Liverpool North, Liverpool South-Childwall, Toxteth and Wavertree, Walton, and West Derby; Knowsley and Sefton archdeaconry of four: Bootle, Huyton, North Meols, and Sefton; St Helens and Warrington archdeaconry of four: St Helens, Warrington, Widnes, and Winwick; and Wigan and West Lancashire archdeaconry of two: Ormskirk, and Wigan.^[8]

At Bishop's Council in May 2023, it was agreed that the (vacant) Archdeaconry of Wigan and West Lancashire would be dissolved, the deanery of Wigan moved to St Helens archdeaconry, and the deanery of Ormskirk to Knowsley archdeaconry.^[9] On 1 November 2024, a Bishop's Pastoral Order gave effect to the council's decision.^[10]

List of archdeacons

Archdeacons of Liverpool

29 September 1848 – 28 September 1855 (d.): Jonathan Brooks
30 October 1855 – 1886 (res.): John Jones

Since 9 April 1880, the archdeaconry has been in Liverpool diocese.

On 17 July 1880, the Archdeaconry of Warrington was split from the Liverpool archdeaconry.^[4]

1886–1887 (res.): John Bardsley,^[11] Vicar of St Saviour's, Liverpool^[12]
1887–1895: Benjamin Clarke, Vicar of Christ Church, Southport^[13]
1895–19 March 1906 (d.): William Taylor,^[14] Vicar of St Andrew, Toxteth Park^[15]
1906–26 December 1915 (d.): Thomas Madden,^[16] Vicar of St Luke's, Liverpool (until 1913) then Vicar of Christ Church, Southport^[17]
1916–7 February 1933 (d.): Hardwicke Spooner, Rector of Walton-on-the-Hill (until 1921)^[18]
1933–1934 (ret.): George Howson^[19]
1934–3 September 1950 (d.): Cyril Twitchett^[20]
1951–1970 (ret.): Hubert Wilkinson, Vicar of St Mary's, Grassendale, (until 1968; afterwards archdeacon emeritus)^[21]
1971–1979 (res.): Eric Corbett^[22]
1979–1991 (ret.): Graeme Spiers, Vicar of Aigburth (until 1980; afterwards archdeacon emeritus)^[23]
1991–1993 (res.): Stanton Durant, Vicar of All Saints, Stoneycroft^[24]
1994–2002 (ret.): Robert Metcalf^[25] (afterwards archdeacon emeritus)^[26]
2002 – 6 May 2017 (ret.):^[27] Ricky Panter^[28]

Much of the territory of the archdeaconry was given to the new Knowsley and Sefton archdeaconry.

10 September 2017^[29] – January 2023 (res.): Mike McGurk^[30]^[31]
9 September 2023 – present: Miranda Threlfall-Holmes^[32]^[33] (Acting since 1 February 2023)^[34]

Archdeacons of Warrington and of St Helens and Warrington

The archdeaconry was erected from the Liverpool archdeaconry on 17 July 1880.

1880–1886 (res.): John Bardsley,^[11] Vicar of St Saviour's, Liverpool (became Archdeacon of Liverpool)^[12]
1887–1889 (res.): William Lefroy, perpetual curate of St Andrew's, Liverpool (became Dean of Norwich)^[35]
1889–1895 (res.): William Taylor,^[14] Vicar of St Chrysostom, Everton (until 1890), then Vicar of St Andrew, Toxteth Park (became Archdeacon of Liverpool)^[15]
1895–1906 (res.): Thomas Madden, Vicar of St Luke's, Liverpool (became Archdeacon of Liverpool)^[17]
1906–1916 (res.): Hardwicke Spooner, Rector of Walton-on-the-Hill (became Archdeacon of Liverpool)^[18]
1916–1933 (res.): George Howson,^[36] Rector of Woolton (until 1923; became Archdeacon of Liverpool)^[19]
1933–1934 (res.): Cyril Twitchett (became Archdeacon of Liverpool)^[20]
1934–1947 (ret.): Percy Baker, Vicar of Mossley Hill (until 1935), then Rector of Winwick (afterwards archdeacon emeritus)^[37]
1947–1958 (ret.): Arthur White, Vicar of Billinge (until 1950; afterwards archdeacon emeritus)^[38]
1959–1970 (ret.): Eric Evans, Rector of North Meols (until 1968; afterwards archdeacon emeritus)^[39]
1970–1981 (res.): John Lawton, Rector of Winwick (afterwards archdeacon emeritus)^[40]
1981–2001 (ret.): David Woodhouse, Vicar of St Peter's, Hindley (until 1992; afterwards archdeacon emeritus)^[41]
2001 – 31 October 2015 (ret.): Peter Bradley^[42]

The archdeaconry was renamed on 5 November 2015.^[43]

14 November 2015 – 30 September 2019 (res.): Roger Preece^[44]^[45]
25 January 2020 – present: Simon Fisher^[46]

Archdeacons of Knowsley and Sefton

The archdeaconry was erected on 5 November 2015.

14 November 2015–present: Pete Spiers^[44]

Archdeacons of Wigan and West Lancashire

The archdeaconry was erected on 5 November 2015.

14 November 2015 – 31 July 2021 (res.): Jennifer McKenzie^[44]^[47]

The archdeaconry was dissolved on 1 November 2024.^[10]

References

^ "ABCD: a basic church dictionary" Meakin, T: Norwich, Canterbury Press, 2001 ISBN 978-1-85311-420-5
^ "No. 20769". The London Gazette. 1847. p. 3159.
^ "No. 24832". The London Gazette. 9 April 1880. p. 2435.
^ ^a ^b "No. 24860". The London Gazette. 2 July 1880. p. 3755.
^ Diocese of Liverpool — Fir for Mission (Accessed 16 August 2015)
^ Diocese of Liverpool — Sharing the Ministry of Archdeacons (Accessed 16 August 2015)
^ Diocese of Liverpool — Our new Archdeacons Designate Archived 21 November 2015 at the Wayback Machine (Accessed 16 August 2015)
^ ^a ^b Diocese of Liverpool — Bishop of Liverpool signs pastoral order (Accessed 20 November 2015)
^ "Associate Archdeacons in the Diocese of Liverpool". Diocese of Liverpool. 16 June 2023. Archived from the original on 1 November 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
^ ^a ^b "Bishop's pastoral order moves us from 4 to 3 Archdeaconries". Diocese of Liverpool. 22 November 2024. Archived from the original on 25 November 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
^ ^a ^b "John Wareing Bardsley – Bishop 1887–1892". Retrieved 20 January 2012.
^ ^a ^b "Bardsley, John Wareing". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 1920–2015 (April 2014 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 15 February 2015. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ Toon, Peter; Smout, Michael. John Charles Ryle – Evangelical Bishop Archived 2016-06-11 at the Wayback Machine III – First Bishop of Liverpool; c. Diocesan Strategy: ‘More Living Agents’ (Accessed 20 October 2013)
^ ^a ^b "Distinguished Churchmen and Phases of Church Work/William Francis Taylor". Retrieved 20 January 2012.
^ ^a ^b "Taylor, William Francis". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 1920–2015 (April 2014 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 15 February 2015. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ "Archdeacon Madden Dead" (PDF). New York Times. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
^ ^a ^b "Madden, Thomas John". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 1920–2015 (April 2014 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 15 February 2015. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ ^a ^b "Spooner, George Hardwicke". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 1920–2015 (April 2014 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 15 February 2015. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ ^a ^b "Howson, George John". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 1920–2015 (April 2014 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 15 February 2015. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ ^a ^b "Twitchett, Cyril Frederick". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 1920–2015 (April 2014 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 15 February 2015. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ "Wilkinson, Hubert Seed". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 1920–2008 (November 2012 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 20 October 2013. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ "Corbett, (Charles) Eric". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 1920–2008 (November 2012 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 20 October 2013. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ "Spiers, Graeme Hendry Gordon". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 1920–2008 (December 2007 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 20 October 2013. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ The Independent – Church appointments, Saturday 9 October 1993 (Accessed 20 October 2013)
^ "Farewell service for retiring clergyman". Retrieved 20 January 2012.
^ "Metcalf, Robert Laurence". Who's Who. Vol. 2013 (November 2012 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 20 October 2013. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ Diocese of Liverpool — Ricky Panter announces his retirement (Accessed 21 April 2017)
^ "Panter, Richard James Graham (Ricky)". Who's Who. Vol. 2013 (November 2012 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 20 October 2013. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ Diocese of Liverpool — Collation of new Archdeacon of Liverpool – September 10th Archived 2017-09-02 at the Wayback Machine (Accessed 1 September 2017)
^ Diocese of Liverpool — We announce the next Archdeacon of Liverpool (Accessed 21 April 2017)
^ "Archdeacon Mike to take up new role in Diocese of Manchester". Diocese of Liverpool. 4 November 2022. Archived from the original on 4 November 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
^ "Miranda Threlfall-Holmes to be the next Archdeacon of Liverpool". Diocese of Liverpool. 11 June 2023. Archived from the original on 11 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
^ @JPerumbalath (9 September 2023). "Delighted to have collated the Venerable Dr Miranda Threlfall-Holmes..." (Tweet). Archived from the original on 11 October 2023 – via Twitter.
^ "We announce acting Archdeacons for Liverpool and Wigan and West Lancashire". Diocese of Liverpool. 16 December 2022. Archived from the original on 20 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
^ "Lefroy, William". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 1920–2015 (April 2014 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 15 February 2015. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ "George John Howson 1854". Retrieved 20 November 2012.
^ "Baker, John Percy". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 1920–2015 (April 2014 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 15 February 2015. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ "White, Arthur". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 1920–2015 (April 2014 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 15 February 2015. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ "Evans, Eric Herbert". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 1920–2015 (April 2014 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 15 February 2015. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ "Lawton, John Arthur". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 1920–2015 (April 2014 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 15 February 2015. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ "Woodhouse, (Charles) David (Stewart)". Who's Who. Vol. 2014 (November 2014 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 15 February 2015. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ "Bradley, Peter David Douglas". Who's Who. Vol. 2014 (November 2014 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 15 February 2015. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ "Archdeaconry of St Helens and Warrington".
^ ^a ^b ^c Diocese of Liverpool — Bishop Paul collates new Archdeacons at Liverpool Cathedral (Accessed 20 November 2015)
^ "Diocese of Liverpool".
^ "Error". Archived from the original on 3 February 2020.
^ "Diocese of Liverpool | Archdeacon Jennifer appointed to new role at Virginia Theological Seminary".

Sources

Horn, Joyce M.; Smith, David M.; Mussett, Patrick (2004), Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1541–1857, vol. 11, pp. 49–50

[1] "ABCD: a basic church dictionary" Meakin, T: Norwich, Canterbury Press, 2001 ISBN 978-1-85311-420-5

[2] "No. 20769". The London Gazette. 1847. p. 3159.

[3] "No. 24832". The London Gazette. 9 April 1880. p. 2435.

[ReferenceA-4] "No. 24860". The London Gazette. 2 July 1880. p. 3755.

[5] Diocese of Liverpool — Fir for Mission (Accessed 16 August 2015)

[6] Diocese of Liverpool — Sharing the Ministry of Archdeacons (Accessed 16 August 2015)

[7] Diocese of Liverpool — Our new Archdeacons Designate Archived 21 November 2015 at the Wayback Machine (Accessed 16 August 2015)

[pa-8] Diocese of Liverpool — Bishop of Liverpool signs pastoral order (Accessed 20 November 2015)

[wigan-diss-9] "Associate Archdeacons in the Diocese of Liverpool". Diocese of Liverpool. 16 June 2023. Archived from the original on 1 November 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.

[wigan-bpo-10] "Bishop's pastoral order moves us from 4 to 3 Archdeaconries". Diocese of Liverpool. 22 November 2024. Archived from the original on 25 November 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2024.

[manx-11] "John Wareing Bardsley – Bishop 1887–1892". Retrieved 20 January 2012.

[bardsley-12] "Bardsley, John Wareing". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 1920–2015 (April 2014 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 15 February 2015. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[13] Toon, Peter; Smout, Michael. John Charles Ryle – Evangelical Bishop Archived 2016-06-11 at the Wayback Machine III – First Bishop of Liverpool; c. Diocesan Strategy: ‘More Living Agents’ (Accessed 20 October 2013)

[dcap-14] "Distinguished Churchmen and Phases of Church Work/William Francis Taylor". Retrieved 20 January 2012.

[taylor-15] "Taylor, William Francis". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 1920–2015 (April 2014 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 15 February 2015. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[16] "Archdeacon Madden Dead" (PDF). New York Times. Retrieved 20 January 2012.

[madden-17] "Madden, Thomas John". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 1920–2015 (April 2014 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 15 February 2015. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[spooner-18] "Spooner, George Hardwicke". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 1920–2015 (April 2014 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 15 February 2015. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[howson-19] "Howson, George John". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 1920–2015 (April 2014 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 15 February 2015. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[twitchett-20] "Twitchett, Cyril Frederick". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 1920–2015 (April 2014 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 15 February 2015. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[21] "Wilkinson, Hubert Seed". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 1920–2008 (November 2012 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 20 October 2013. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[22] "Corbett, (Charles) Eric". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 1920–2008 (November 2012 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 20 October 2013. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[23] "Spiers, Graeme Hendry Gordon". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 1920–2008 (December 2007 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 20 October 2013. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[24] The Independent – Church appointments, Saturday 9 October 1993 (Accessed 20 October 2013)

[25] "Farewell service for retiring clergyman". Retrieved 20 January 2012.

[26] "Metcalf, Robert Laurence". Who's Who. Vol. 2013 (November 2012 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 20 October 2013. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[27] Diocese of Liverpool — Ricky Panter announces his retirement (Accessed 21 April 2017)

[28] "Panter, Richard James Graham (Ricky)". Who's Who. Vol. 2013 (November 2012 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 20 October 2013. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[29] Diocese of Liverpool — Collation of new Archdeacon of Liverpool – September 10th Archived 2017-09-02 at the Wayback Machine (Accessed 1 September 2017)

[30] Diocese of Liverpool — We announce the next Archdeacon of Liverpool (Accessed 21 April 2017)

[31] "Archdeacon Mike to take up new role in Diocese of Manchester". Diocese of Liverpool. 4 November 2022. Archived from the original on 4 November 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2022.

[32] "Miranda Threlfall-Holmes to be the next Archdeacon of Liverpool". Diocese of Liverpool. 11 June 2023. Archived from the original on 11 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.

[33] @JPerumbalath (9 September 2023). "Delighted to have collated the Venerable Dr Miranda Threlfall-Holmes..." (Tweet). Archived from the original on 11 October 2023 – via Twitter.

[34] "We announce acting Archdeacons for Liverpool and Wigan and West Lancashire". Diocese of Liverpool. 16 December 2022. Archived from the original on 20 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.

[35] "Lefroy, William". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 1920–2015 (April 2014 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 15 February 2015. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[36] "George John Howson 1854". Retrieved 20 November 2012.

[37] "Baker, John Percy". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 1920–2015 (April 2014 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 15 February 2015. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[38] "White, Arthur". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 1920–2015 (April 2014 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 15 February 2015. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[39] "Evans, Eric Herbert". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 1920–2015 (April 2014 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 15 February 2015. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[40] "Lawton, John Arthur". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 1920–2015 (April 2014 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 15 February 2015. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[41] "Woodhouse, (Charles) David (Stewart)". Who's Who. Vol. 2014 (November 2014 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 15 February 2015. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[42] "Bradley, Peter David Douglas". Who's Who. Vol. 2014 (November 2014 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 15 February 2015. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[43] "Archdeaconry of St Helens and Warrington".

[coll-44] Diocese of Liverpool — Bishop Paul collates new Archdeacons at Liverpool Cathedral (Accessed 20 November 2015)

[45] "Diocese of Liverpool".

[46] "Error". Archived from the original on 3 February 2020.

[47] "Diocese of Liverpool | Archdeacon Jennifer appointed to new role at Virginia Theological Seminary".

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v t e Archdeacons in the Diocese of Liverpool
Liverpool	Jonathan Brooks John Jones John Bardsley Benjamin Clarke William Taylor Thomas Madden Hardwicke Spooner George Howson Cyril Twitchett Hubert Wilkinson Eric Corbett Graeme Spiers Stanton Durant Robert Metcalf Ricky Panter Mike McGurk Miranda Threlfall-Holmes
Warrington	John Bardsley William Lefroy William Taylor Thomas Madden Hardwicke Spooner George Howson Cyril Twitchett Percy Baker Arthur White Eric Evans John Lawton David Woodhouse Peter Bradley Roger Preece, Archdeacon of St Helens and Warrington Simon Fisher, Archdeacon of St Helens and Warrington
Jennifer McKenzie, Archdeacon of Wigan and West Lancashire Pete Spiers, Archdeacon of Knowsley and Sefton

v t e Diocese of Liverpool
Liverpool Cathedral Bishop's Lodge, Woolton St James' House, Liverpool
Office holders	Ruth Worsley, Interim Bishop of Liverpool and Bishop suffragan of Wigan John Perumbalath, Bishop of Liverpool (on leave) Bev Mason, Bishop suffragan of Warrington (on leave) AEO: Stephen Race, Bishop suffragan of Beverley & Rob Munro, Bishop suffragan of Ebbsfleet Sue Jones, Dean of Liverpool Pete Spiers, Archdeacon of Knowsley and Sefton Simon Fisher, Archdeacon of St Helens and Warrington Miranda Threlfall-Holmes, Archdeacon of Liverpool
Historic offices	Archdeacon of Wigan and West Lancashire

Archdeacons in the Diocese of Liverpool

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