The Dean and Chapter of Westminster are the ecclesiastical governing body of Westminster Abbey, a collegiate church of the Church of England and royal peculiar in Westminster, Greater London. They consist of the dean and several canons meeting in chapter and are also (less frequently) known as the Dean and Canons of Westminster.
Foundation The first college of canons was established by letters patent on 17 December 1540 by Henry VIII. Under the Bishop of Westminster of the newly created Diocese of Westminster, there was a dean and 12 canons, six of whom were former monks of the abbey. They survived the dissolution of the diocese in 1550, becoming a second cathedral of the Diocese of London until 1556 when the college was dissolved by Mary I. The second college of canons was established on 21 May 1560 by Elizabeth I, this time as a royal peculiar.Knighton, C. S. & Mortimer, Richard. Westminster Abbey reformed: 1540–1640 From 16 November 1645 the dean and canons were dispersed, and a committee of the Lords and Commons from the Long Parliament governed. The dean and canons were restored on the Restoration in 1660.
Current chapter As of 29 September 2022:
Dean of Westminster David Hoyle Dean of Westminster (since 16 November 2019) Canons Residentiary of Westminster David Stanton Anthony Ball Jamie Hawkey Tricia Hillas Minor CanonsThe Minor Canons do not form part of the Chapter, but are nonetheless full-time clergy of the abbey. Mark Birch Robert Latham Minor Canon and Sacrist (since 19 September 2021) Helena Bickley-Percival Minor Canon and Chaplain (from 23 April 2024) Receiver GeneralThe Receiver General is a lay member of the abbey, and the clerk to the Dean and Chapter. Paul Baumann Receiver General and Chapter Clerk(since 24 November 2018 installation)
Roles within the chapter
Today, the roles divided between the canons residentiary generally include: the sub-dean, who is second to the dean; the canon treasurer; the canon steward, who is responsible for the welcoming of visitors; canon theologian; the canon almoner; the Archdeacon of Westminster; and the rector of St Margaret's. Between and among the chapter of canons, roles can be and are reshuffled as desired. The minor canons are the precentor, the sacrist and, since 2016, the Abbey chaplain (not to be confused with the Speaker's Chaplain). Historically, other roles have included the Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons ("Speaker's Chaplain" or "Chaplain to the Commons"), the Headmaster of Westminster School and the rector of St John's, Smith Square (also called St John the Evangelist, Westminster.)
List of canons First foundation (cathedral, 1540–1556) The first a canon of each stall was appointed by Henry VIII in the foundation charter dated 17 December 1540.Letters and Paper, Foreign and Domestic, King Henry VIII XVI no. 379 (30) Eight canons were deprived of their prebends by Mary I on 30 March 1554 and one resigned shortly after; only three remained in post. (See also: Marian exiles.)
Canons of the 1st Prebend 17 December 1540 – 1552 (d.): Simon Haynes, Dean of Exeter 8 November 1552 – 26 September 1556: Andrew Perne
Canons of the 2nd Prebend 17 December 1540 – 4 November 1551 (d.): John Redman, Archdeacon of Taunton (also Archdeacon of Stafford until 1547) 5 December 1551 – 30 March 1554 (deprived): Alexander Nowell, Headmaster 12 May 1554 – 26 September 1556: John Richards
Canons of the 3rd Prebend 17 December 1540 – bef. 1547 (res.): Edward Layton 15 June 1547 – 30 March 1554 (deprived): Edward Keble 12 April 1554 – 26 September 1556: John Baker
Canons of the 4th Prebend 17 December 1540 – August 1552 (d.): Anthony Belasyse (also Archdeacon of Colchester from 1543) August–December 1552 (res.): James Haddon (became Dean of Exeter) 16 December 1552 – 30 March 1554 (deprived): Richard Alvey 12 May 1554 – 26 September 1556: John Ramridge
Canons of the 5th Prebend 17 December 1540 – 18 July 1552 (d.): William Bretten 30 July 1552 – 10 May 1554 (res.): Edmund Grindal, Precentor of St Paul's 28 May 1554 – 1554 (d.): John Moreman 11 September 1554 – 26 September 1556: John Smith
Canons of the 6th Prebend 17 December 1540 – bef. 1543 (d.): Denis Dalyon (former prior) 18 May 1543 – 30 March 1554 (deprived): John Pekyns 5 April 1554 – 26 September 1556: Francis Mallet (also Dean of Lincoln from 1554)
Canons of the 7th Prebend 17 December 1540 – 30 March 1554 (deprived): Humphrey Parkyns/Charite (former monk) 18 May 1554 – 26 September 1556: Alphonso de Salinas
Canons of the 8th Prebend 17 December 1540 – 1542 (d.): Thomas Essex/Baxter (former monk) 8 December 1542 – bef. 1545 (d.): Francis Turpin 15 November 1545 – bef. 1553 (res.): Nicholas Ridley (also Bishop of Rochester from 1547; Bishop of London and Westminster from 1550) 4 July 1553 – 26 September 1556: Hugh Griffith
Canons of the 9th Prebend 17 December 1540 – bef. 1546 (res.): Thomas Elfryde (former monk) 23 July 1546 – 30 March 1554 (deprived): Bernard Sandiforth 21 April 1554 – 26 September 1556: Henry Cole (also Provost of Eton; became Dean of St Paul's)
Canons of the 10th Prebend 17 December 1540 – 1541 (d.): John Rumney/Malvern (former monk) 26 November 1541 – 30 March 1554 (deprived): Edmund Weston 12 May 1554 – 26 September 1556: Thomas Wood
Canons of the 11th Prebend 17 December 1540 – 1544 (d.): William Harvye/Faythe (former monk) 28 November 1544 – 26 September 1556: Thomas Reynold
Canons of the 12th Prebend 17 December 1540 – 1549 (d.): Gerard Carleton (also Dean of Peterborough from 1543) 7 September 1549 – bef. 1551 (d.): Giles Eyer 20 October 1551 – 30 March 1554 (deprived): Thomas Birkhed 3 May 1554 – 26 September 1556: William Pye
The first secular chapter was abolished on 26 September 1556.
Second Foundation (Royal Peculiar, 1560–1660) Twelve canons were appointed (or re-appointed) by Elizabeth I at the refoundation of the secular chapter, 21 May 1560.Calendar of Papal Registers relating to Great Britain and Ireland 1558–60
Canons of the 1st Prebend 30 June 1560 – bef. 1566 (res.): William Barlow, Bishop of Chichester 20 April 1566 – 2 May 1585 (d.): Thomas Browne (sometime Sub-Dean; also Headmaster until 1570) 26 May 1585 – 27 February 1633 (d.): Thomas Montford 8 March 1633 – bef. 1652 (d.): Gabriel More
Canons of the 2nd Prebend 30 June 1560 – 16 November 1577 (d.): Humphrey Parkyns/Charite (former 7th canon) 23 April 1578 – 25 April 1587 (d.): John Reade 9 May 1587 – bef. 1609 (d.): Richard Wood 27 September 1609 – bef. 1626 (res.): Henry Caesar or Adelmare (also Dean of Ely from 1614) 10 January 1626 – bef. 1653 (d.): Thomas Wilson
Canons of the 3rd Prebend 30 June 1560 – bef. 1561 (res.): John Hardyman 16 November 1561 – 1606 (d.): Perceval Wiburn 6 May 1606 – September 1623 (d.): John Fox October 1623 – bef. 1635 (res.): John Wilson (previously Headmaster; also Dean of Ripon 1624 – 1634) 21 February 1635 – 1638 (res.): Matthew Wren (also Bishop of Hereford until 1635; Bishop of Norwich from 1635) 24 April 1638 – 1645 (res.): Richard Steward (became Dean)
Canons of the 4th Prebend 30 June 1560 – 1562 (res.): Richard Cheyney (became Bishop of Gloucester and of Bristol) 12 September 1563 – July 1570 (d.): Thomas Norley 10 August 1570 – bef. 1571 (res.): William Wickham (became a canon of Windsor) 19 June 1571 – bef. 1575 (exch.): Robert Ramsden bef. 1575 – 1579 (res.): William Chaderton (became Bishop of Chester) 26 November 1579 – 1586 (d.): Thomas Wagstaff 31 December 1586 – bef. 1602 (d.): Richard Webster (also Archdeacon of Middlesex from 1595) bef. 1602 – 23 November 1616 (d.): Richard Hakluyt 29 November 1616 – 10 January 1631 (d.): John Holt 5 February 1631 – ?: Lewis Wemys
Canons of the 5th Prebend 30 June 1560 – bef. 1574 (res.): Richard Alvey (former 4th canon) 13 February 1574 – bef. 1576 (d.): Thomas Aldriche, Archdeacon of Sudbury (previously 7th canon) 1576 – bef. 1582 (d.): John Rugge, Archdeacon of Wells 1582 – 8 February 1608 (d.): Nicholas Bond, Rector of St Giles in the Fields 5 March 1608 – bef. 1642 (d.): William Robinson (also Archdeacon of Nottingham from 1635) 17 June 1642 – August 1661 (d.): Matthew Nicholas (also Dean of Bristol until 1660; Dean of St Paul's from 1660)
Canons of the 6th Prebend 30 June 1560 – 1561 (res.): Edmund Scambler, Bishop of Peterborough 1562: Robert Rolles, Headmaster (ineffective) 1562 – June 1565 (d.): John Beaumont 1565 – bef. 1567 (res.): Matthew Hutton (also a canon of St Paul's; became Dean of York) 1567 – bef. 1577 (d.): Walter Jones 1577 – bef. 1607 (d.): Griffith Lewis (also Dean of Gloucester from 1594) 8 June 1607 – 31 October 1631 (d.): George Darrell 9 November 1631 – 8 May 1662 (d.): Peter Heylin (Sub-Dean from 1660)
Canons of the 7th Prebend 21 May 1560 – bef. 1564 (res.): Alexander Nowell (former 2nd canon; also Archdeacon of Middlesex until November 1560; Dean of St Paul's from November 1560) 1564 – bef. 1567 (res.): John Hill 1567 – bef. 1570 (res.): John Pory (Master of Corpus) 1570 – bef. 1573 (res.): Thomas Aldriche, Archdeacon of Sudbury and Master of Corpus (later 5th canon) 1573–1593 (res.): John Still (also Archdeacon of Sudbury from 1577; became Bishop of Bath and Wells) 20 February 1593 – 1607 (res.): Thomas Ravis (also Bishop of Gloucester from 1605) 10 May 1607 – bef. 1623 (res.): Hugh Goodman (also Dean of Rochester from 1621) July 1623 – 15 December 1631 (d.): Theodore Price 12 January 1632 – 15 March 1634 (d.): Roger Bates 3 April 1634 – 1639 (res.): John Towers, Dean of Peterborough January 1639 – 19 December 1643 (d.): Jonathan Browne, Dean of Hereford
Canons of the 8th Prebend 21 May 1560 – bef. 1583 (d.): William Latymer, Dean of Peterborough 15 October 1583 – bef. 1621 (d.): Edward Buckley 22 January 1621 – 1628 (res.): William Laud (also Bishop of St Davids November 1621 – 1626; Bishop of Bath and Wells 1626–1628) 1628–1641 (res.): Griffith Williams (also Dean of Bangor from 1634) January 1641 – 1663: Benjamin Lany (former 10th canon; also Bishop of Peterborough from 1660)
Canons of the 9th Prebend 21 May 1560 – 23 April 1594 (d.): Richard Ryve (also a canon of Windsor) 20 April 1594 – bef. 1620 (d.): Cuthbert Bellott (also Archdeacon of Chester from 1595) bef. 1620 – 21 June 1642 (d.): Robert Newell
Canons of the 10th Prebend 21 May 1560 – bef. 1564 (res.): William Downham (also Bishop of Chester from 1561) 1564–1572 (res.): Edmund Freke, Archdeacon of Canterbury (also a canon of Windsor 1565–1571; Dean of Rochester 1570–1571; Dean of Salisbury 1571–1571; Bishop of Rochester from 1571) 1572 – 10 April 1605 (d.): John Young (also Bishop of Rochester from 1578) 30 April 1605 – 1629 (d.): Christopher Sutton 1629 – February 1639 (deprived): Lambert Osbaldeston, Headmaster June 1639 – 1641 (moved): Benjamin Lany (moved to 8th prebend) 1641–1659 (d.): Lambert Osbaldeston (again)
Canons of the 11th Prebend 21 May 1560 – bef. 1579 (d.): William Young 1579 – 26 February 1592 (d.): John Wickham 13 March 1592 – 1597 (res.): Richard Bancroft (also a canon of St Paul's; became Bishop of London) 1597–1601 (res.): Lancelot Andrewes (became Dean) 5 July 1601 – 15 January 1613 (d.): Adrian Saravia 20 January 1613 – bef. 1638 (d.): Gabriel Grant 28 September 1638 – bef. 1663 (d.): William Haywood
Canons of the 12th Prebend 21 May 1560 – 1561 (res.): Gabriel Goodman (also a canon of St Paul's; afterwards Dean) 1561–1577 (d.): Thomas Watts, Archdeacon of Middlesex 27 May 1577 – 4 August 1601 (d.): Edward Grant (also Headmaster 1572–1592; sometime Sub-Dean) 1601 – 7 September 1613 (d.): William Barlow (also Dean of Chester 1602–1605; Bishop of Rochester 1605–1608; Bishop of Lincoln from 1608) 15 September 1613 – 7 August 1638 (d.): John King (also a canon of Windsor from 1625) 28 September 1638 – bef. 1643 (d.): George Aglionby (nominated Dean of Chichester 1642; nominated Dean of Canterbury 1643)