The Archdeacon of Pontefract is a senior ecclesiastical officer within the Diocese of Leeds.
As Archdeacon she or he is responsible for the disciplinary supervision of the clergy "ABCD: a basic church dictionary" Meakin, T: Norwich, Canterbury Press, 2001 within the five area deaneries of Dewsbury, Wakefield, Pontefract, Barnsley and Birstall.
History The Archdeaconry was founded (from the Archdeaconry of Craven in the Diocese of Ripon) with the erection of the Diocese of Wakefield on 20 November 1888. From then until its reorganisation in 1927, the archdeaconry of Halifax comprised the northwestern corner of that diocese. In 1927, the archdeaconry was renamed to that of Pontefract and its borders moved to cover the eastern half of the diocese (the Huddersfield archdeaconry became the new archdeaconry of Halifax).
For many years the post of Archdeacon of Pontefract was combined with that of Bishop suffragan of Pontefract. The current incumbent is Peter Townley. Since the creation of the Diocese of LeedsThe Church of England – Synod approves new Diocese of Leeds for West Yorkshire and The Dales on 20 April 2014, the archdeaconry has formed the Wakefield episcopal area.Moving towards a new diocese for West Yorkshire and the Dales (Accessed 9 July 2013)
List of archdeacons Archdeacons of Halifax 1888–1906 (d.): Ingham Brooke 1906–1917 (res.): William Foxley NorrisHalifax Courier – Dean who helped to crown King George 1917–29 November 1923 (d.): Henry Walsham How 1923–1927: Richard Phipps (became Archdeacon of Pontefract) In the diocesan reorganisation of 1927, the archdeaconry was renamed to Pontefract. (For Archdeacons of Halifax after 1927, see Archdeacon of Halifax.) Archdeacons of Pontefract 1927–1930 (ret.): Richard Phipps (previously Archdeacon of Halifax) 1931–1938 (res.): Campbell Hone, Bishop suffragan of Pontefract 1938–1949 (res.): Tom Longworth, Bishop suffragan of Pontefract 1946–1954 (res.): Arthur Morris, Bishop suffragan of Pontefract 1954–1961 (res.): George Clarkson, Bishop suffragan of Pontefract 1961–1968 (res.): Eric Treacy, Bishop suffragan of Pontefract 1968–1981 (ret.): Edward Henderson (afterwards archdeacon emeritus) 1981–1992 (ret.): Ken Unwin (afterwards archdeacon emeritus) 1992–1997 (res.): John Flack 1997–2003 (res.): Tony Robinson 2003–2007 (res.): Jonathan Greener 2007–2023: Peter Townley (resigned effective 25 September 2023 to resume parish ministry) 5 May 2024present: Cat Thatcher
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