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^[1] 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^[2] and 6 February 1925 respectively.^[3]

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.^[4]

List of archdeacons

Archdeacons of the Isle of Wight

The archdeaconry was created in Winchester diocese, split from Winchester archdeaconry, in 1871.

1874–16 November 1886 (d.): Francis McDougall (also assistant bishop)^[5]
1886–7 September 1906 (d.): Henry Haigh^[6]
1906–2 February 1922 (d.): James Macarthur (also Bishop suffragan of Southampton until 1920; afterwards assistant bishop for the island)^[7]^[8]
1922–1928 (res.): Lewen Tugwell^[9]

Wight archdeaconry has been part of Portsmouth diocese since the latter's creation in 1927.

1929–1936 (ret.): Robert McKew^[10]
1937–31 August 1948 (d.): Hampton Weekes^[11]
1948–1952 (res.): Edward Roberts^[12]
1952–1961 (ret.): Alexander Cory (afterward archdeacon emeritus)^[13]
1961–1965 (res.): Geoffrey Tiarks^[14]
1965–1977 (res.): Ron Scruby^[15]
1977–1986 (res.): Freddie Carpenter (afterward archdeacon emeritus)^[16]
1986–1996 (ret.): Tony Turner (afterward archdeacon emeritus)^[17]
1996–2003 (ret.): Mervyn Banting (afterward archdeacon emeritus)^[18]
2003–2006 (res.): Trevor Reader^[19]
2006–2011 (res.): Caroline Baston^[20]
2011–2018 (res.): Peter Sutton^[21]
18 May 2019 – 2022 (res.):^[22] Peter Leonard
22 January 2023 – present: Steve Daughtery (also Vicar of Bembridge)^[23]

Archdeacons of Portsmouth

1925–1927 (res.): Neville Lovett^[24]
1927–1936 (res.): Harold Rodgers^[25]
1937–1945 (res.): Harold Hyde-Lees^[26]
1945–1952 (res.): Arthur Kitching (also an assistant bishop)^[27]
1952–1956 (res.): Edward Roberts^[12]
1956–1964 (res.): Michael Peck^[28]
1965–1969 (res.): Geoffrey Tiarks^[14]
1969–1977 (ret.): Christopher Prior (afterwards archdeacon emeritus)^[29]
1977–1985 (ret.): Ron Scruby (afterwards archdeacon emeritus)^[15]
1985–1993 (ret.): Norman Crowder (afterwards archdeacon emeritus)^[30]
1993–1999 (res.): Graeme Knowles^[31]
February – November 1999: Chris Lowson^[32]^[33] (became Archdeacon of Portsdown)^[34]

In November 1999, the archdeaconry of Portsmouth was split into Portsdown and the Meon.

Archdeacons of Portsdown

November 1999–2006: Chris Lowson (previously Archdeacon of Portsmouth)
2006–2013 (ret.): Trevor Reader^[19]
14 April 2013 – 3 July 2019 (res.): Joanne Grenfell^[35] (became Bishop of Stepney)^[36]
3 July 2019 – 2020: vacant
2020 – 31 January 2024 (res.): Jenny Rowley^[37]^[38]
7 September 2025 – present: Bob White^[39]

Archdeacons of the Meon

1999–2010 (res.): Peter Hancock^[40]
11 September 2011 – 28 January 2021: Gavin Collins^[41]
28 January 2021 – 2 July 2023 (Acting): Will Hughes^[42]
2 July 2023 – present: Kathryn Percival^[43]^[44]