# Bishop of Chichester

The Bishop of Chichester is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Chichester in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese covers the counties of East and West Sussex. The see is based in the City of Chichester where the bishop's seat is located at the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity. On 3 May 2012 the appointment was announced of Martin Warner, Bishop of Whitby, as the next Bishop of Chichester. His enthronement took place on 25 November 2012 in Chichester Cathedral.
The bishop's residence is The Palace, Chichester. Since 2015, Warner has also fulfilled the diocesan-wide role of alternative episcopal oversight, following the decision by Mark Sowerby, then Bishop of Horsham, to recognise the orders of priests and bishops who are women.
Between 1984 and 2013, the Bishop of Chichester, in addition to being the diocesan bishop, also had specific oversight of the Chichester Episcopal Area (the then Archdeaconry of Chichester), which covered the coastal region of West Sussex along with Brighton and Hove.

## Earliest history at Selsey

The episcopal see at Selsey was founded by Saint Wilfrid, formerly Bishop of the Northumbrians, for the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Sussex in the late 7th century. He was granted land by Æthelwealh of Sussex to build a cathedral at Selsey. However, shortly afterwards Cædwalla of Wessex conquered the Kingdom of Sussex, but he confirmed the grant to Wilfrid. The bishop's seat was located at Selsey Abbey. Nine years after the Norman conquest, in 1075, the Council of London enacted that episcopal sees should be removed to cities or larger towns. Accordingly, the see at Selsey was removed to Chichester. Some sources claim that Stigand, the last Bishop of Selsey, continued to use the title Bishop of Selsey until 1082, before adopting the new title Bishop of Chichester, indicating that the transfer took several years to complete.

## List of bishops

Bishops of Selsey :
| From | Until | Incumbent | Notes |
| ? 681 | ? 685 | Saint Wilfrid | Founder of the see; status as bishop of this see disputed; previously ejected from York; later Bishop of Leicester then of Hexham. |
| c. 685 | c. 706 | See absorbed by Winchester diocese, after Wessex conquered Sussex under Cædwalla. | See absorbed by Winchester diocese, after Wessex conquered Sussex under Cædwalla. |
| ? betw. 706–716 | betw. 716–731 | Eadberht | Also recorded as Eadbeorht, Eadbertus; previously Abbot of Selsey Abbey; often deemed first bishop of this see; died in office. |
| betw. 716–731 | betw. 716–731 | Eolla | Died in office. |
| betw. 716–731 | 733 | See vacant | See vacant |
| 733 | betw. 747–765 | Sigeferth | Also recorded as Sigelmus, Sigfridus, Sigga, Siggca, Sicgga ; died in office. |
| betw. 747–765 | betw. 772–780 | Aluberht | Also recorded as Ealabeorht, Alubrithus, Alubertus; died in office. |
| betw. 747–765 | betw. 772–780 | Oswald | Also recorded as Osweald, Osa; died in office. |
| betw. 772–780 | betw. 781–787 | Gislhere | Also recorded as Giselherus; died in office. |
| betw. 781–787 | betw. 786–789 | Tota | Died in office. |
| betw. 787–789 | betw. 805–811 | Wihthun | Died in office. |
| betw. 805–811 | betw. 816–824 | Æthelwulf | Also recorded as Ethelulphus; died in office. |
| betw. 816–824 | betw. 839–845 | Cynered | Also recorded as Coenred, Coenredus; died in office. |
| betw. 839–845 | aft. 860 | Guthheard | Also recorded as Guthard, Guðheard; left office. |
| aft. 860 | bef. 900 | See possibly vacant | See possibly vacant |
| bef. 900 | c. 909, or betw. 909–925 | Wighelm | Died in office. |
| c. 909, or betw. 909–925 | 930 or 931 | Beornheah | Also recorded as Beornegus; died in office; in Heylyn is placed between Ethelulphus and Coenredus. |
| 930 or 931 | betw. 940–943 | Wulfhun | Omitted in Heylyn; died in office. |
| betw. 940–943 | betw. 953–956 | Ælfred | Also recorded as Alfredus; died in office. |
| betw. 953–956 | betw. 956–963 | Brihthelm | Sometimes identified with Beorhthelm of Winchester; either died in office or translated to Winchester. |
| betw. 956–963 | 979 or 980 | Eadhelm | Died in office. |
| 980 | 988 | Æthelgar | Translated to Canterbury. |
| betw. 988–990 | betw. 1007–1009 | Ordbriht | Died in office. |
| betw. 1007–1011 | 1031 or 1032 | Ælfmær | Died in office. |
| 1032 or 1033 | 1038 | Æthelric (I) | Died in office. |
| 1039 | 1047 | Grimketel | Also recorded as Grimcytel (also Grimkell in Scandinavian sources); listed as Bishop of Elmham for 1043 as well; died in office. |
| 1047 | 1057 | Heca | Died in office. |
| 1058 | 1070 | Æthelric (II) | Also recorded as Ethelric; deposed and imprisoned by William the Conqueror. |
| 1070 | c. 1075 | Stigand | See moved to Chichester by decree of the Council of London (1075), Stigand was the last Bishop of Selsey and first Bishop of Chichester. |
| Pre-Reformation Bishops of Chichester ||||
| From | Until | Incumbent | Notes |
| c. 1075 | 1087 | Stigand of Selsey | Hitherto Bishop of Selsey; died in office. |
| 1088 | 1088 | Godfrey | Some sources cite William as bishop. Godfrey; died in office. |
| 1091 | 1123 | Ralph de Luffa | Radulphus; died in office. |
| 1125 | 1145 | Seffrid (I) | Seffridus Pelochin; also Abbot of Glastonbury; deprived. |
| 1147 | 1169 | Hilary | Date of consecration sometimes given as 1133; previously unsuccessfully nominated for York; died in office. |
| 1169 | 1173 | See vacant | See vacant |
| 1173 | 1180 | John of Greenford | John de Greenford; previously Dean of Chichester; died in office. |
| 1180 | 1204 | Seffrid (II) | Seffridus; died in office. |
| 1204 | 1207 | Simon of Wells | Simon Sutwell, Simon FitzRobert, Simon de Camera; died in office. |
| 1209 | 1214 | Nicholas de Aquila | Gilbert de l'Aigle; Dean of Chichester; election quashed. |
| 1215 | 1217 | Richard Poore | Previously Dean of Salisbury; translated to Salisbury then Durham. |
| 1217 | 1222 | Ranulf of Wareham | Ralph de Warham; previously Prior of Norwich; died in office. |
| 1224 | 1244 | Ralph Neville | Also Lord Chancellor; elected to Canterbury but rejected by Pope Innocent IV; also unsuccessfully elected to Winchester; died in office. |
| 1244 | 1244 | Robert Passelewe | Archdeacon of Lewes; Henry III's favoured candidate; election declared void by Pope Innocent IV. |
| 1244 | 1253 | Saint Richard | Richard de Wych; Archbishop Boniface's favoured candidate; election confirmed by Pope Innocent IV; died in office. |
| 1253 | 1262 | John Climping | John of Arundel; previously Chancellor of Chichester; died in office. |
| 1262 | 1287 | Stephen Bersted | Stephen of Pagham; died in office. |
| 1288 | 1305 | Gilbert of St Leonard | Gilbert de Sancto Leofardo; previously Treasurer of Chichester; died in office. |
| 1305 | 1337 | John Langton | Also Lord Chancellor; previous election to Ely quashed; died in office. |
| 1337 | 1362 | Robert de Stratford | Previously Archdeacon of Canterbury; also Lord Chancellor and Chancellor of Oxford; died in office. |
| 1362 | 1368 | William Lenn | William Lullimore; previously Dean of Chichester; translated to Worcester. |
| 1369 | 1385 | William Reade | Previously Archdeacon of Rochester; died in office. |
| 1386 | 1389 | Thomas Rushhook | Thomas Rushocke; translated from Llandaff; exiled to Breifne. |
| 1390 | 1395 | Richard Mitford | Previously unsuccessfully elected to St David's; also Lord Treasurer of Ireland; translated to Salisbury. |
| 1395 | 1396 | Robert Waldby | Translated from Dublin; translated to York. |
| 1396 | 1415 | Robert Reed | Translated from Carlisle; died in office. |
| 1417 | 1417 | Stephen Patrington | Translated from St David's; died immediately after appointment. |
| 1418 | 1420 | Henry Ware | Previously official to the Archbishop of Canterbury; died in office. |
| 1421 | 1421 | John Kemp | Translated from Rochester; translated to London. |
| 1421 | 1426 | Thomas Polton | Thomas Pulton; translated from Hereford; translated to Worcester. |
| 1426 | 1429 | John Rickingale | Chancellor of York; died in office. |
| 1429 | 1429 | Thomas Brunce | Thomas Brouns; election quashed; later Bishop of Rochester then of Norwich. |
| 1430 | 1438 | Simon Sydenham | Simon Sidenham; died in office. |
| 1438 | 1445 | Richard Praty | Richard Pratty; also Chancellor of Oxford. |
| 1446 | 1450 | Adam Moleyns | Adam Molins; previously Dean of Salisbury; also Lord Privy Seal; died in office. |
| 1450 | 1459 | Reginald Pecock | Reginald Peacock; translated from St Asaph; deprived for heresy. |
| 1459 | 1477 | John Arundel | Previously Archdeacon of Richmond. |
| 1478 | 1503 | Edward Story | Translated from Carlisle. |
| 1503 | 1506 | Richard FitzJames | Translated from Rochester; translated to London. |
| 1508 | 1536 | Robert Sherborne | Robert Sherburne; translated from St David's; resigned shortly before his death. |
| Bishops of Chichester during the Reformation ||||
| From | Until | Incumbent | Notes |
| 1536 | 1543 | Richard Sampson | Previously Dean of Lichfield; also Dean of St Paul's; translated to Lichfield & Coventry. |
| 1543 | 1551 | George Day | Provost of King's College, Cambridge; deprived by Edward VI. |
| 1552 | 1553 | John Scory | Translated from Rochester; deprived by Mary I; later Bishop of Hereford. |
| 1553 | 1556 | George Day (restored) | Restored by Mary I; died in office. |
| 1557 | 1558 | John Christopherson | Previously Dean of Norwich; died in office. |
| Post-Reformation Bishops of Chichester ||||
| From | Until | Incumbent | Notes |
| 1559 | 1568 | William Barlow | Marian exile; had resigned Bath and Wells (being married); died in office. |
| 1570 | 1582 | Richard Curteys | Richard Curtis; died in office. |
| 1582 | 1586 | See vacant | See vacant |
| 1586 | 1596 | Thomas Bickley | Previously Warden of Merton College, Oxford. |
| 1596 | 1605 | Anthony Watson | Previously Lord High Almoner; also Dean of Bristol 1590–1598; died in office. |
| 1605 | 1609 | Lancelot Andrewes | Previously Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge; translated to Ely then Winchester. |
| 1609 | 1619 | Samuel Harsnett | Previously Archdeacon of Essex; translated to Norwich then York. |
| 1619 | 1628 | George Carleton | Translated from Llandaff; died in office. |
| 1628 | 1638 | Richard Montagu | Previously Archdeacon of Hereford; translated to Norwich. |
| 1638 | 1641 | Brian Duppa | Previously Dean of Christ Church, Oxford; translated to Salisbury. |
| 1642 | 1646 | Henry King | Previously Dean of Rochester; deprived of the see when the English episcopy was abolished by Parliament on 9 October 1646. |
| 1646 | 1660 | The see was abolished during the Commonwealth and the Protectorate. | The see was abolished during the Commonwealth and the Protectorate. |
| 1660 | 1669 | Henry King (restored) | Reinstated on the restoration of the episcopacy; died in office. |
| 1670 | 1675 | Peter Gunning | Previously Master of St John's College, Cambridge; also Regius Professor of Divinity 1661–1674; translated to Ely. |
| 1675 | 1678 | Ralph Brideoake | Previously Dean of Salisbury; died in office. |
| 1679 | 1685 | Guy Carleton | Translated from Bristol; died in office. |
| 1685 | 1689 | John Lake | Translated from Bristol; deprived as a non-juror. |
| 1689 | 1691 | Simon Patrick | Previously Dean of Peterborough; translated to Ely. |
| 1691 | 1696 | Robert Grove | Previously Archdeacon of Middlesex; died in office. |
| 1696 | 1709 | John Williams | Died in office. |
| 1709 | 1722 | Thomas Manningham | Previously Dean of Windsor; died in office. |
| 1722 | 1724 | Thomas Bowers | Also Archdeacon of Canterbury since 1721. |
| 1724 | 1731 | Edward Waddington | Died in office. |
| 1731 | 1740 | Francis Hare | Translated from St Asaph. |
| 1740 | 1754 | Matthias Mawson | Translated from Llandaff; translated to Ely. |
| 1754 | 1797 | Sir William Ashburnham, Bt. | Previously Dean of Chichester. |
| 1798 | 1824 | John Buckner | Sometime Rector of St Giles, London; died in office. |
| 1824 | 1831 | Robert Carr | Previously Dean of Hereford; translated to Worcester. |
| 1831 | 1836 | Edward Maltby | Translated to Durham. |
| 1836 | 1840 | William Otter | Previously Principal of King's College, London; died in office. |
| 1840 | 1842 | Philip Shuttleworth | Previously Warden of New College, Oxford; died in office. |
| 1842 | 1870 | Ashurst Gilbert | Previously Principal of Brasenose College, Oxford; died in office. |
| 1870 | 1895 | Richard Durnford | Previously Archdeacon of Manchester; died in office. |
| 1896 | 1907 | Ernest Wilberforce | Translated from Newcastle; died in office. |
| 1908 | 1919 | Charles Ridgeway | Previously Dean of Carlisle. |
| 1919 | 1929 | Winfrid Burrows | Translated from Truro; died in office. |
| 1929 | 1958 | George Bell | Previously Dean of Canterbury; died in office. |
| 1958 | 1974 | Roger Wilson | Translated from Wakefield; retired. |
| 1974 | 2001 | Eric Kemp | Previously Dean of Worcester; retired and became "Bishop Emeritus of Chichester". |
| 2001 | 2012 | John Hind | Translated from Europe; retired. |
| 2012 | incumbent | Martin Warner | Translated from Whitby. |
| Source(s): ||||

## Assistant bishops

Among those who were called Assistant Bishop of Chichester, or coadjutor bishop, were:
* 1930 – 1937 (d.): Henry Southwell, Canon Precentor of Chichester Cathedral and Provost of Lancing College, former Bishop of Lewes
* 1939 – 1953 (ret.): Charles Saunders, Rector of Uckfield (until 1942), of Barcombe (1942–47) and Vicar of West Lavington (from 1947); former Bishop in Lucknow
* 1965–1980 (d.): Ambrose Reeves, Rector of Lewes (until 1972) and former Anglican Bishop of Johannesburg
* 1966: Nathaniel Newnham Davis, former Bishop of Antigua
* 1994 – 1997 (res.): David Evans, Gen. Sec. of SAMS and former Bishop in Peru