Dean and canons of Windsor

The Dean and Canons of Windsor are the ecclesiastical body of St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.

Foundation

The college of canons was established in 1348 by letters patent of King Edward III. It was formally constituted on the feast of St Andrew the Apostle, 30 November 1352, when the statutes drawn up by William Edington, bishop of Winchester, as papal delegate, were solemnly delivered to William Mugge, the warden of the college.

Accepting that the process of foundation took several years to complete, the college takes the year 1348 as its formal date of foundation.

Costume Three ancient monumental brasses survive depicting canons of Windsor, wearing the mantle of the Order of the Garter, purple in colour, with a circular badge on the left shoulder, displaying: Argent, a cross gules (a Saint George's Cross): c. 1370. Roger Parkers, North Stoke, Oxfordshire (half effigy with inscription; head lost). 1540. Roger Lupton, LL.D., Provost of Eton College and Canon of Windsor. Eton College Chapel (mantle worn over fur-lined cassock; no surplice). 1558. Arthur Cole, S.T.B., President of Magdalen, at Magdalen College, Oxford. Showing a very ornate mantle worn over cassock and surplice. The long cords which fasten the mantle are well represented at North Stoke and Magdalen College. In the two later examples it is gathered. On the Eton brass the mantle is fastened at the neck. The lost effigy of John Robyns, d. 1558, of which the inscription remains in St George's Chapel, may have shown him wearing the mantle. Brasses of canons of Windsor are found showing them vested in copes, without the Garter badge, as at Thurcaston, Leicestershire. (John Mershdcn, 1425), and at Harrow (Simon Marcheford, 1442). A brass was discovered in 1890 at Bennington, near Stevenage, Hertfordshire, showing a small mutilated effigy of a priest in a cope with a round badge (possibly a rose) on the left shoulder. The cope has an orphrey. This has been supposed to represent a Canon of Windsor.

Suspension of canonries Section 9 of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners Act 1840 (3 & 4 Vict. c. 113) provided for the suspension of eight of the canonries at St George's. It required that the first two vacant canonries should be suspended, the next filled, the next two suspended, the next filled, the next two suspended, the next filled, and the next two suspended.Ecclesiastical Commissioners Act 1840 (c. 113), section 9.

Current chapter As of 2 September 2023:

Dean of Windsor – Christopher Cocksworth (from November 2023) Vice-Dean, and Warden of St George's House – Hueston Finlay (canon since 25 September 2004 and warden since September 2005; steward 2006–2009; treasurer since 2012; Vice-Dean since before July 2017) Canon Precentor and Chaplain – Martin Poll (canon and chaplain since 1 October 2012 installation; precentor since before July 2017) Canon Steward – Nicholas Brown (since 2 October 2025 installation)

Minor Canons Vacant

Other Canons Papal Confrater – Pope Leo XIV (since 23 October 2025; established by King Charles III)

Deans of Windsor

See Dean of Windsor for chronological list.

Canons of the First Stall

Hugh Whytchirche 1352–1375 John Landyran 1376 Richard de Bokelly, alias Flandreyn 1376–1377 William Dole 1377–1403 William Lane 1403–1404 Walter Mabeley 1404–1407 Robert Wolveden 1407–1412 Thomas Hanley 1412–1413 John Meresden, Mersdon or Mershden 1413–1425 Roger Gates 1425–1430 John Pye 1430–1439 William Brewster 1439–1465 Thomas Downe 1465–1479 John Arundel 1479–1496 Thomas Jane 1496–1500 William Cokkes 1500–1512 Robert Birkenshaw or Bekensall 1512–1525 Miles Welles or Wyllen 1526–1535 Simon Symonds 1535–1551 Richard Turner 1551–1553 William Este 1554–1557 William Pye 1557 John Bowles or Bockle 1557–1558 Edward Morecroft 1560–1580 John King 1580–1607 Mordecai (Murdoch) Alden 1607–1615 John King 1615–1638 Samuel Baker 1638–1639 Thomas Browne 1639–1673 Robert Young 1673–1716 William Derham 1716–1735 George Stephens 1735–1751 Balthasar Regis 1751–1757 John Bostock 1757–1786 John Fisher 1786–1803 William Beaumont Busby 1803–1808 Hon. Henry Ryder 1808–1812 Hon. Henry Cockayne Cust 1813–1861

Canonry of the First Stall suspended by the Act of 1840.

Canons of the Second Stall

1. William de Polmorva 1352–1362 2. John Aleyn 1362–1368 3. Adam de Hertyngdon 1368–1380 4. Robert de More 1376 5. Walter (or William) Almaly or Almary 1380–1381 6. John Bouland 1381–1400 7. Edmund Lacey 1401–1417 8. John Longville 1417–1426 9. Alan Kirketon, or Kynton 1426–1443 10. Pagan (Payn) Burghill 1443–1474 11. Thomas Pallet 1474–1488 12. Richard Arnold 1488–1491 13. Thomas Bowde 1491–1504 14. Robert Honiwood 1504–1523 15. Richard Rawson 1523–1543 16. John Robins 1543–1558 17. Robert Iseham 1558–1560 18. Paul French 1560–1600 19. Henry Beaumont 1600–1622 20. Thomas Some 1622–1644 21. Edward Fulham 1660–1694 22. Maurice Vaughan 1695–1722 23. Peniston Booth 1722–1729 24. Robert Friend 1729–1737 25. Matthew Hutton 1737–1739 26. William Burchett 1739–1750 27. Thomas Hinton 1751–1757 28. John Lockman 1759–1807 29. Charles Digby 1808–1841

Canonry of the Second Stall suspended by the Act of 1840.

Canons of the Third Stall

1. Richard Rothley 1352–1362 2. John Leek 1362–1369 3. Thomas de Aston 1369–1376 4. John Massingham 1376–1408 5. John Malvern 1408–1416 6. John Corynham, or Coringham 1416–1444 7. Henry Hansherd or Hansard 1444–1446 8. Richard Willys 1446–1467 9. Clement Smith 1467–1471 10. John Cressy 1471 11. William Dudley 1471 (appointed Dean in 1473) 12. John Seymour 1471–1501 13. Geoffrey Symeon 1501–1508 14. Richard Rawlins 1508–1523 15. William Tate 1523–1540 16. Owen Oglethorpe 1540–1554 17. William Denys or Devenish 1554–1559 18. Simon Alleyn 1559–1563 19. John Thompson 1563–1571 20. William Wickham 1571–1584 21. William Wilson 1584–1615 22. Richard Langley 1615 23. Oliver Lloyd 1615–1617 24. Richard Montague 1617–1628 25. David Stokes 1628–1669 26. Henry Wotton 1669–1671 27. Gregory Hascard 1671–1684 28. Edward Jones 1684–1737 29. Lord James Beauclerk 1738–1746 30. Frederick Cornwallis 1746–1750 31. Walter Harte 1750–1774 32. James King 1774–1776 33. Thomas Bray 1776–1785 34. Henry William Majendie 1785–1798 35. Samuel Goodenough 1798–1802 36. George Champagne 1802–1828 37. Richard Adolphus Musgrave 1828–1841

Canonry of the Third Stall suspended by the Act of 1840.

Canons of the Fourth Stall

1. Roger Parker 1353–1355 2. Stephen Scaldeford (Shalford) alias Brunkter 1355–1378 3. Thomas de Lynton 1378–1387 4. John Notyngham 1387–1389 5. Thomas Haule or Hauley 1389–1399 6. Robert Ravendale 1399–1404 7. William Asshrigge 1404–1405 8. Geoffrey Melton 1405–1411 9. Henry Drayton 1411–1413 10. William Lochard 1413–1431 11. John Brydbroke 1431–1444 12. William Mychell 1444–1463 13. Leyson Geffrey 1463–1474 14. John Marshall 1474–1478 15. William Corkys 1478–1487 16. Thomas Fraunces 1487–1500 17. John Esterfield 1500–1513 18. Christopher Plummer 1513–1535 19. James Blythe 1536–1546 20. Henry Aglionby 1546–1554 21. William Saxey 1554–1566 22. Anthony Rushe 1566–1577 23. Herbert Westfaling 1577–1586 24. Alexander Southayke 1586–1606 25. John Buckeridge 1606–1628 26. Gilbert Primrose 1628–1642 27. Hugh Paulinus de Cressy 1642–1646 (not installed) Interregnum 1646–1660 28. John Lloyd 1660–1671 29. John Saumares 1671–1697 30. Samuel Pratt 1697–1723 31. Henry Bland 1723–1733 32. Hugh Lewis 1733–1742 33. Richard Terrick 1742–1749 34. Richard Newcome 1749–1755 35. Lord Francis Seymour 1755–1766 36. Thomas Hurdis 1766–1784 37. Folliott Herbert Walker Cornewall 1784–1793 38. Hon. William Stuart 1793–1800 39. George Heath 1800–1822 40. Hon. Richard Bagot 1822–1827 41. David Frederick Markham 1827–1853

Canonry of the Fourth Stall suspended by the Act of 1840.

Canons of the Fifth Stall

1. Reginald Lodington 1351–1365 2. Stephen de Estnore 1365–1368 3. John Saxton 1368–1382 4. Nicholas Slake 1382–1394 5. William Spigurnell 1394–1425 6. John Snell 1425–1431 7. Thomas Damet or Dannet 1431–1436 8. Richard Wyot 1436–1449 9. John Arundel 1449–1459 10. Richard Bowyer 1459–1471 11. John Vaughan 1471–1499 12. Richard Payne 1499–1507 13. William Atkinson 1507–1509 14. John Chambre (Chamber) 1509–1549 15. Ottuell (Ottiwell) Hollinshed 1550–1554 16. John Browne 1554–1572 17. Robert Johnson 1572–1625 18. John King 1625–1638 19. William Brough 1638–1671 20. Peter Scot (Scott) 1671–1689 21. John Hern 1690–1707 22. Thomas Goddard 1707–1731 23. William George 1731–1748 24. Theophilus Lowe 1748–1769 25. Thomas Dampier 1769–1774 26. John James Majendie 1774–1783 27. Hon. George Hamilton 1783–1787 28. William Langford 1787–1814 29. Charles Proby 1814–1859 30. Hon. Charles Leslie Courtenay 1859–1894 31. Richard Gee 1894–1902 32. Clement Smith 1902–1921 33. Vacancy 1921–1974 34. Anthony Oakley Dyson 1974–1977 35. Vacancy 1977–1981 36. John David Treadgold 1981–1989 37. Michael Anthony Moxon 1990–1998 38. Barry Thompson 1998–2004 39. Hueston Edward Finlay 2004–2025

Canons of the Sixth Stall

1. Reginald Garderobe 1353–1354 2. Richard de Bokelly, alias Flanderyn 1354–1376 (then Canon of the First Stall) 3. Richard Shawe 1376–1403 4. Richard Prentys 1403–1404 5. John Ailleston or Ayleston 1404–1405 6. John Exton 1405–1430 7. John Depeden 1430–1460 8. James Goldwell 1460–1472 9. Thomas Danett 1472–1481 10. Robert Morton 1481–1486 11. John Stokes 1486–1503 12. William Butler 1503–1519 13. John Longland 1519–1520 14. Thomas Magnus 1520–1547 15. Richard Cox 1548–1553 16. William Chedsey 1554–1559 17. George Whitehorne 1559–1565 18. Edmund Freke 1565–1572 19. Hugh Blythe 1572–1610 20. Thomas Frith 1610–1631 21. Daniel Collins 1631–1648 Interregnum 1648–1660 22. William Chamberlain 1660–1666 23. Richard Milward 1666–1680 24. Thomas Sprat 1681–1684 25. John Wickart 1684–1722 26. Richard Sleech 1722–1730 27. Michael Stanhope 1730–1737 28. John Ewer 1738–1774 29. John Hallam 1775–1811 30. Hon. Richard Bruce Stopford 1812–1844 31. Frederick Anson 1845–1885 32. John Neale Dalton 1885–1931 33. Harry William Blackburne 1931–1934 34. Arthur Stafford Crawley 1934–1948 35. Edward Malcolm Venables 1948–1957 36. James Atherton Fisher 1958–1978 37. David John Burgess 1978–1987 38. Alan Alfred Coldwells 1987–1995 39. Laurence Gunner 1996–2006 40. James Woodward 2009-2015 41. Mark Powell 2016–2025 42. Nick Brown 2025–

Canons of the Seventh Stall

1. Robert Burnham (Bernham) 1351–1362 2. Hugh de Briddeham 1363–1372 3. Richard Raundes (Randes) 1372–1400 4. Richard Kingston (Kyngeston) 1400–1402 5. Henry Spicer (Spisour) 1402–1437 6. John Kette 1437–1452 7. John Hore 1452–1474 8. Edmund Audley 1474–1480 9. Oliver Dynham (Denham) 1480–1500 10. Roger Lupton 1500–1540 11. John London 1540–1543 12. Francis Mallett 1543–1570 13. Roger Browne 1571–1601 14. John Chamber 1601–1604 15. Richard Field 1604–1616 16. Edmund Wilson 1616–1617 17. Godfrey Goodman 1617–1656 Interregnum 1656–1660 18. George Hall 1660–1662 19. Henry Carpenter 1662 20. Peter Mews 1662–1673 21. Thomas Doughty 1673–1701 22. George Verney, 12th Baron Willoughby de Broke, 1701–1714 23. John Pelling 1715–1750 24. John Fulham 1750–1777 25. Anthony Shepherd 1777–1796 26. Thomas Powys 1796–1797 27. Edward Northey 1797–1828 28. William Canning 1828–1860

Canonry of the Seventh Stall suspended by the Act of 1840.

Canons of the Eighth Stall

1. Whitecroft or Wythecroft 1353–1361 2. William de Mulsho (Moulsoe) 1361–1368 3. Adam de Hertyngdon (Hartington) 1368 4. Richard de Hankedon or Launceston 1368–1379 5. John Prust or Prest 1379–1403 6. Roger Redeburne 1403–1406 7. John Eston 1406–1422 8. Peter de Alcobasse 1422–1427 9. Thomas Southwell 1428–1431 10. William Bonetemps 1431–1442 11. Nicholas Sturgeon 1442–1454 12. William Sharpe 1454–1455 13. John Kirkeby or Kerby 1455–1457 14. John Wygryme 1457–1468 15. Robert Wodmanston 1468–1469 16. Baldwin Hyde 1469–1472 17. David Hopton 1472–1492 18. Christopher Urswick 1492–1496 19. Richard Nix (Nykke) 1497–1501