The Archdeacon of Rochdale is a senior ecclesiastical officer within the Diocese of Manchester.
As Archdeacon, they are responsible for the disciplinary supervision of the clergy"ABCD: a basic church dictionary" Meakin, T: Norwich, Canterbury Press, 2001 within the five area deaneries: Ashton-under-Lyne, Heywood and Middleton, Rochdale, Oldham East and Oldham West.
Created on 3 June 1910 from the Manchester archdeaconry, the post is currently vacant.
List of archdeacons 1910–1919 (ret.): Arthur Clarke 1919–1935 (ret.): Thomas Sale (afterwards archdeacon emeritus) 1935–20 December 1950 (d.): Albert Gaskell 1951–1962 (ret.): Edgar Stephenson (afterwards archdeacon emeritus) 1962–1966 (res.): Len Tyler 1966–1972 (res.): Arthur Ballard (became Archdeacon of Manchester) 1972–1982 (ret.): Harold Fielding (afterwards archdeacon emeritus) 1982–1991 (res.): David Bonser (became Bishop suffragan of Bolton) 1991–2000 (res.): Mark Dalby (afterwards archdeacon emeritus) 2000–2005 (res.): Andrew Ballard (became Archdeacon of Manchester) 2006–2008 (res.): Mark Davies (became Bishop suffragan of Middleton) 20085 January 2020 (res.): Cherry Vann (became Bishop of Monmouth) 1 July 202031 March 2024 (retired): David Sharples (previously Archdeacon of Salford) & 15 September 2024present: Karen Smeeton
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