# Bishop of Salisbury

The Bishop of Salisbury is the ordinary of the Church of England's Diocese of Salisbury in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese covers much of the counties of Wiltshire and Dorset. The see is in the City of Salisbury where the bishop's seat is in the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The current bishop is Stephen Lake.

## History

The Diocese of Sherborne (founded c. AD 705) was the origin of the present diocese; St Aldhelm was its first bishop.
In about 705 the vast diocese of Wessex at Winchester was divided in two with the creation of a new diocese of Sherborne under Bishop Aldhelm, covering Devon, Somerset and Dorset. Cornwall was added to the diocese at the end of the ninth century, but in about 909 the diocese was divided in three with the creation of the bishoprics of Wells, covering Somerset, and Crediton, covering Devon and Cornwall, leaving Sherborne with Dorset.
In 1058, the Sherborne chapter elected Herman, Bishop of Ramsbury to be also Bishop of Sherborne. Following the Norman Conquest, the 1075 Council of London united his two sees as a single diocese and translated them to the then-larger settlement around the royal castle at Old Sarum. Disputes between Bishops Herbert and Richard Poore and the sheriffs of Wiltshire led to the removal of the see in the 1220s to New Sarum (modern Salisbury). This was chartered as the city of New Sarum by King Henry III in 1227, but it was not until the 14th century that the office was described (by Bishop Wyvil) as the bishop of Sarum (episcopus Sarum). The diocese, like the city, is now known as Salisbury. The archdeaconry around Salisbury, however, retains the name of Sarum.
Reforms within the Church of England led to the annexation of Dorset from the abolished diocese of Bristol in 1836; Berkshire, however, was removed the same year and given to Oxford. In 1925 and 1974, new suffragan bishops were appointed to assist the Bishop of Salisbury; the new offices were titled the bishops of Sherborne and Ramsbury, respectively. Until 2009 the bishops operated under an episcopal area scheme established in 1981, with each suffragan bishop having a formal geographical area of responsibility, and being known as "area bishops": the Bishop of Ramsbury had oversight of the diocese's parishes in Wiltshire, while the Bishop of Sherborne had oversight of the parishes in Dorset. This scheme was replaced to reflect the increased working across the whole diocese by all three bishops. The two suffragans may now legally function anywhere in the diocese, and the Bishop of Salisbury may delegate any of his functions to them. The Bishop of Salisbury's residence is now the South Canonry, near the cathedral.

## List of bishops
### Anglo-Saxon

Bishops of Sherborne :
| From | Until | Incumbent | Notes |
| c. 705 | 709 | Saint Aldhelm | Also Abbot of Malmesbury. |
| 709 | 737? | Forthhere | Also recorded as Fordhere. Possibly resigned the see in 737. |
| 736 | 766 x 774 | Herewald | |
| 766 x 774 | 789 x 794 | Æthelmod | |
| 793 | 796 x 801 | Denefrith | |
| 793 x 801 | 816 x 825 | Wigberht | Also recorded as Wigheorht. |
| 816 x 825 | 867 | Eahlstan | Also recorded as Alfstan. |
| 867 or 868 | 871 | Saint Heahmund | Also recorded as Saint Hamund. |
| 871 x 877 | 879 x 889 | Æthelheah | |
| 879 x 889 | 890 x 900 | Wulfsige I | |
| 890 x 900 | 909 | Asser | Also recorded as John Asser or Asserius Menevensis. |
| c. 909 | c. 909 | Æthelweard | |
| c. 909 | 918, or 909 x 925 | Wærstan | |
| 918, or 909 x 925 | 918, or 909 x 925 | Æthelbald | |
| 918, or 909 x 925 | 932 x 934 | Sigehelm | |
| 932 x 934 | 939 x 943 | Alfred | |
| 939 x 943 | 958 x 964 | Wulfsige II | |
| 958 x 964 | 978 | Ælfwold I | |
| 978 or 979 | 991 x 993 | Æthelsige I | |
| 993? | 1002 | Wulfsige III | Died in office on 8 January 1002. |
| 1002 | 1011 or 1012 | Æthelric | |
| 1011 or 1012 | c. 1014 | Æthelsige II | |
| 1014 x 1017 | 1014 x 1017 | Brithwine I | |
| 1017 | 1023 | Ælfmær | Abbot of St Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury. Died in office, possibly on 5 April 1023. |
| 1023 | 1045 | Brithwine II | Died in office, possibly on 2 June 1045. |
| 1045 | 1058 | Saint Ælfwold II | Venerated as a saint with his Feast day on 25 March. |
| 1058 | 1075 | Herman | Also Bishop of Ramsbury. Became the first Bishop of Salisbury when the sees of Sherborne and Ramsbury were transferred to Salisbury (Old Sarum) in 1075. |
| Source(s): ||||

### Pre-Reformation

Bishops of Salisbury :
| From | Until | Incumbent | Notes |
| See at Old Sarum ||||
| 1075 | 1078 | Herman | Bishop of Sherborne (1058–75) and of Ramsbury (1045–55 and 1058–75). Removed the two sees to Salisbury (Old Sarum) in 1075. Died in office. |
| 1078 | 1099 | Saint Osmund | Died in office. Canonized by Pope Callixtus III in 1457. |
| 1099 | 1102 | See vacant | See vacant |
| 1102 | 1139 | Roger of Salisbury | Formerly Lord Chancellor. Died in office. |
| 1140 | 1140 | Henry de Sully | Nominated by Henry of Blois, but was rejected by King Stephen. In compensation, Sully became abbot of Fécamp Abbey. |
| 1140 | 1141 | Philip de Harcourt | Dean of Lincoln. Nominated by King Stephen, but Henry of Blois refused to consecrate. Harcourt appealed to Rome, but the nomination was quashed. Later became Bishop of Bayeux. |
| 1142 | 1184 | Josceline de Bohon | Also recorded as Jocelin Bohon. Formerly Archdeacon of Winchester. Resigned in 1184 and became a Cistercian monk at Forde Abbey, Dorset. |
| 1184 | 1189 | See vacant | See vacant |
| 1189 | 1193 | Hubert Walter | Formerly Dean of York. Translated to Canterbury |
| 1194 | 1217 | Herbert Poore | Formerly Archdeacon of Canterbury. Translated to Canterbury. |
| 1217 | 1225 | Richard Poore | Previously Dean of Salisbury (1197–1215) and translated from Chichester. Removed see to Salisbury. |
| See at Salisbury ||||
| 1225 | 1228 | Richard Poore (cont.) | Removed the see from Old Sarum. Translated to Durham. |
| 1229 | 1246 | Robert de Bingham | Also recorded as Robert Bingham. Died in office. |
| 1246 | 1256 | William de York | Formerly Provost of Beverley. Died in office. |
| 1256 | 1262 | Giles of Bridport | Formerly Dean of Wells. Died in office. |
| 1263 | 1271 | Walter de la Wyle | Formerly Sub-chanter of Salisbury. Died in office. |
| 1271 | 1284 | Robert Wickhampton | Formerly Dean of Salisbury. Died in office. |
| 1284 | 1286 | Walter Scammel | Formerly Dean of Salisbury. Died in office. |
| 1287 | 1288 | Henry Brandeston | Formerly Dean of Salisbury. Died in office. |
| 1288 | 1288 | Lawrence de Awkeburne | Elected but died before consecration. |
| 1288 | 1291 | William de la Corner | Formerly Archdeacon of Northumberland. Died in office. |
| 1291 | 1297 | Nicholas Longespee | Formerly a Prebendary of Salisbury. Died in office. |
| 1297 | 1315 | Simon of Ghent | Died in office. |
| 1315 | 1330 | Roger Martival | Formerly Dean of Lincoln. Died in office. |
| 1330 | 1375 | Robert Wyvil | Also recorded as Robert Wyville. Died in office. |
| 1375 | 1388 | Ralph Ergham | Translated to Bath & Wells. |
| 1388 | 1395 | John Waltham | Also Master of the Rolls and Lord Treasurer. Died in office. |
| 1395 | 1407 | Richard Mitford | Translated from Chichester. Died in office. |
| 1407 | 1407 | Nicholas Bubwith | Also recorded as Nicholas Bubbewith. Translated from London. Afterwards translated to Bath & Wells. |
| 1407 | 1417 | Robert Hallam | Formerly Archdeacon of Canterbury and Chancellor of Oxford. Created a pseudocardinal by Antipope John XXIII in 1411, but Hallam did not accept the promotion. Died in office. |
| 1417 | 1426 | John Chandler | Also recorded as John Chaundler. Formerly Dean of Salisbury. Died in office. |
| 1427 | 1438 | Robert Neville | Also recorded as Robert Nevill. Formerly Provost of Beverley. Translated to Durham. |
| 1438 | 1450 | William Ayscough | Also recorded as William Aiscough. Murdered by an angry mob during Jack Cade's rebellion. |
| 1450 | 1481 | Richard Beauchamp | Translated from Hereford. Died in office. |
| 1482 | 1484 | Lionel Woodville | Formerly Dean of Exeter and Chancellor of Oxford. Died in office. |
| 1485 | 1493 | Thomas Langton | Translated from St David's. Afterwards translated to Winchester. |
| 1493 | 1499 | John Blyth | Also recorded as John Blythe. Also Master of the Rolls and Chancellor of Cambridge. Died in office. |
| 1501 | 1501 | Henry Deane | Translated from Bangor. Afterwards translated to Canterbury |
| 1502 | 1524 | Edmund Audley | Translated from Hereford. Died in office. |
| 1524 | 1534 | Lorenzo Campeggio | Bishop of Bologna. Appointed Administrator of Salisbury. Deprived by Act of Parliament on the grounds of non-residence. Continued to be recognized as Administrator by the Vatican until July 1539. |
| Source(s): ||||

### During the Reformation

Bishops of Salisbury :
| From | Until | Incumbent | Notes |
| 1535 | 1539 | Nicholas Shaxton | Formerly Treasurer of Salisbury. Resigned due to non-subscription to the Six Articles. |
| 1539 | 1557 | John Capon | Also known as John Salcott. Translated from Bangor. Died in office. |
| 1539 | 1542 | Gasparo Contarini | Bishop of Belluno. Appointed apostolic administrator of Salisbury by Pope Paul III, but was not recognised by King Henry VIII. |
| 1543 | 1553 | William Petow | Appointed by Pope Paul III, but was not recognised by King Henry VIII. Did not take possession on the accession of Queen Mary I in 1553. |
| 1558 | 1558 | Francis Mallet | Dean of Lincoln (1555–1570). Nominated by Queen Mary but not consecrated, and set aside on her death. |
| Source(s): ||||

### Post-Reformation

Bishops of Salisbury :
| From | Until | Incumbent | Notes |
| 1559 | 1571 | John Jewel | Died in office. |
| 1571 | 1577 | Edmund Gheast | Translated from Rochester. Also Lord High Almoner. Died in office. |
| 1577 | 1589 | John Piers | Translated from Rochester. Also Lord High Almoner. Afterwards translated to York |
| 1589 | 1591 | See vacant | See vacant |
| 1591 | 1596 | John Coldwell | Formerly Dean of Rochester. Died in office. |
| 1596 | 1598 | See vacant | See vacant |
| 1598 | 1615 | Henry Cotton | Formerly a Prebendary of Winchester. Died in office. |
| 1615 | 1618 | Robert Abbot | Formerly Master of Balliol College, Oxford. Died in office. |
| 1618 | 1620 | Martin Fotherby | Formerly a Prebendary of Canterbury. Died in office. |
| 1620 | 1621 | Robert Tounson | Also recorded as Robert Townson, Toulson, or Thompson. Formerly Dean of Westminster. Died in office. |
| 1621 | 1641 | John Davenant | Formerly President of Queens' College, Cambridge. Died in office. |
| 1641 | 1646 | Brian Duppa | Translated from Chichester. Deprived of the see when the episcopacy was abolished by Parliament. |
| 1646 | 1660 | See abolished during the Commonwealth and the Protectorate. | See abolished during the Commonwealth and the Protectorate. |
| 1660 | 1660 | Brian Duppa (restored) | Reinstated on the restoration of the episcopacy. Afterwards translated to Winchester. |
| 1660 | 1663 | Humphrey Henchman | Formerly Precentor of Salisbury. Translated to London. |
| 1663 | 1665 | John Earle | Translated from Worcester. Died in office. |
| 1665 | 1667 | Alexander Hyde | Formerly Dean of Winchester. Died in office. |
| 1667 | 1689 | Seth Ward | Translated from Exeter. Died in office. |
| 1689 | 1715 | Gilbert Burnet | Formerly Preacher at the Rolls Chapel. Died in office. |
| 1715 | 1721 | William Talbot | Translated from Oxford. Afterwards translated to Durham. |
| 1721 | 1723 | Richard Willis | Translated from Gloucester. Afterwards translated to Winchester. |
| 1723 | 1734 | Benjamin Hoadly | Translated from Hereford. Afterwards translated to Winchester. |
| 1734 | 1748 | Thomas Sherlock | Translated from Bangor. Afterwards translated to London. |
| 1748 | 1757 | John Gilbert | Translated from Llandaff. Afterwards translated to York. |
| 1757 | 1761 | John Thomas (I.) | Translated from Peterborough. Afterwards translated to Winchester |
| 1761 | 1761 | Robert Hay Drummond | Translated from St Asaph. Afterwards translated to York. |
| 1761 | 1766 | John Thomas (II.) | Translated from Lincoln. Died in office. |
| 1766 | 1782 | John Hume | Translated from Oxford. Died in office. |
| 1782 | 1791 | Shute Barrington | Translated from Llandaff. Afterwards translated to Durham. |
| 1791 | 1807 | John Douglas | Translated from Carlisle. Died in office |
| 1807 | 1825 | John Fisher | Translated from Exeter. Died in office. |
| 1825 | 1837 | Thomas Burgess | Translated from St David's. Died in office. |
| 1837 | 1854 | Edward Denison | Fellow of Merton College, Oxford. Died in office. |
| 1854 | 1869 | Walter Kerr Hamilton | Formerly a Canon-resident and Precentor of Salisbury. Died in office. |
| 1869 | 1885 | George Moberly | Formerly a Canon of Chester. Died in office. |
| 1885 | 1911 | John Wordsworth | Oriel Professor of Divinity, Oxford. Founder of Bishop Wordsworth's School. Died in office. |
| 1911 | 1921 | Frederick Ridgeway | Translated from Kensington. Died in office. |
| 1921 | 1935 | St Clair Donaldson | Translated from Brisbane. Died in office. |
| 1936 | 1946 | Neville Lovett | Translated from Portsmouth. Retired. |
| 1946 | 1948 | Geoffrey Lunt | Translated from Ripon. Died in office. |
| 1949 | 1962 | William Anderson | Translated from Portsmouth. Retired. |
| 1963 | 1972 | Joseph Fison | Died in office. |
| 1973 | 1981 | George Reindorp | Translated from Guildford. Retired. |
| 1982 | 1993 | John Baker | Retired. |
| 1993 | 2010 | David Stancliffe | Retired. |
| 2011 | 2021 | Nicholas Holtam | Nominated on 12 April, consecrated on 22 July, and installed on 15 October 2011. Retired 3 July 2021. |
| 2021 | 2022 | Karen Gorham, Bishop of Sherborne | Acting diocesan bishop in vacancy. |
| 2022 | current | Stephen Lake | Consecrated 25 April 2022. |
| Source(s): ||||

## Assistant bishops

Among those who have served the diocese as assistant bishops have been:
* in 1928: Albert Joscelyne, Vicar of St Mark's, Salisbury (1913–1919), of Chardstock (1919–1930), of Preston (1930–1937), Archdeacon of Sherborne (1919–1941) and former Bishop Coadjutor of Jamaica (1905–1913)