Archdeacon of Tonbridge explained

The Archdeacon of Tonbridge is a senior ecclesiastical officer in charge of the Archdeaconry of Tonbridge in the Church of England Diocese of Rochester. The archdeaconry was created from Rochester archdeaconry by Order in Council on 4 April 1906.

The archdeaconry covers 6 deaneries, namely Malling, Paddock Wood, Sevenoaks, Shoreham, Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells.^[1]

List of archdeacons

• 1906–18 June 1925 (d.): Avison Scott, Vicar of St James's Tunbridge Wells (first archdeacon)
• 1925–1940 (ret.): Leonard Savill (afterwards archdeacon emeritus)
• 1940–1953 (ret.): William Gray,^[2] Vicar of St Nicholas, Rochester (until 1942) then Vicar of Kippington (until 1952; afterwards archdeacon emeritus)
• 1953–1976 (ret.): Maples Earle,^[3] Rector of Wrotham (until 1959) then Vicar of Shipbourne (afterwards archdeacon emeritus)
• 1977–1995 (ret.): Richard Mason,^[4] Vicar of Edenbridge (until 1983) then Minister of St Luke's Sevenoaks (afterwards archdeacon emeritus)
• 1996–2002 (ret.): Judith Rose^[5]
• 200231 July 2017: Clive Mansell
• 24 September 2017^[6] 19 July 2021: Julie Conalty^[7] (became Bishop of Birkenhead)^[8]
• 16 January 2022^[9] October 2024 (res.): Sharon Copestake^[10]
• 2025 onwards: Nick Cornell (announced)^[11]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Archdeacon Clive Mansell. 26 October 2013.
2. News: Kent and Sussex Courier. 22 December 1939.
3. Web site: The History of St James. 26 October 2013.
4. Oxford Index
5. Web site: Archdeacon to retire. Kent Online. 26 October 2013.
6. http://rochester.anglican.org/content.php?page_id=10108 Diocese of Rochester — Archdeacon of Tonbridge
7. http://www.jameslangstaff.co.uk/?p=179 James Langstaff — New Archdeacon of Tonbridge
8. Web site: Julie and Sam to be consecrated at York Minster - Diocese of Chester.
9. Web site: Diocese of Rochester Service welcomes the new Archdeacon of Tonbridge. 2022-01-19. www.rochester.anglican.org.
10. Web site: Diocese of Rochester . News regarding the Archdeacon of Tonbridge . 5 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240806131935/https://www.rochester.anglican.org/news/news-regarding-the-archdeacon-of-tonbridge.php . 6 August 2024 . 7 August 2024 .
11. Web site: Diocese of Rochester . Two new Archdeacons for the Diocese of Rochester . 30 October 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241104022121/https://rochester.anglican.org/news/two-new-archdeacons-for-the-diocese-of-rochester.php . 4 November 2024 . 25 November 2024 .