Bishop of Winchester facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Coat of arms
Location
Ecclesiastical province	Canterbury
Information
Established	634 (at Dorchester) 660 (translated to Winchester)
Cathedral	Winchester Cathedral (since 660) Dorchester (634–660)

The Bishop of Winchester is a very important leader in the Church of England. They are the main bishop for the Diocese of Winchester, which is a large church area. The bishop's main church, called a cathedra, is Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire, England.

Since 1348, the Bishop of Winchester has also held a special role as the Prelate of the Order of the Garter. This is a very old and respected group of knights and ladies in Britain. In the past, Bishops of Winchester often held other powerful jobs too, like Lord Treasurer (in charge of money) and Lord Chancellor (a top legal and government official).

During the Middle Ages, the Diocese of Winchester was one of the richest church areas in England. Many of its bishops were famous and powerful people. These included the 9th-century Saint Swithun and important leaders like William of Wykeham and Henry of Blois.

The King or Queen of England chooses the Bishop of Winchester. This bishop is one of five Church of England bishops who automatically get a seat in the House of Lords. This means they help make laws for the country. Philip Mounstephen became the Bishop of Winchester on October 10, 2023.

History of the Diocese

The Diocese of Winchester is one of the oldest and most important church areas in England. It started in AD 634 as the main church area for the kingdom of Wessex. Its first main church was Dorchester Cathedral near Oxford. Two early saints, Birinus and Agilbert, were its first bishops. In AD 660, the main church moved to Winchester.

Over time, the Winchester diocese was divided. In AD 909, parts of it became the new See of Ramsbury. Even after this, the Bishop of Winchester's area was huge. It stretched from the south coast of England all the way to the River Thames in Southwark. The bishop even had a palace there! This made it one of the largest and wealthiest church areas.

In more recent times, the diocese became smaller. New dioceses were created for Southwark (in London), Guildford (in Surrey), and Portsmouth (in Hampshire). The latest change happened in 2022. The Channel Islands were moved from Winchester to the Diocese of Salisbury. This happened after some disagreements with the previous bishop.

Traditionally, the Bishop of Winchester was ranked very highly. Before 1533, they were considered the most important English bishop after the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishop of York. But in 1533, King Henry VIII of England changed this. He raised the rank of the Bishop of London and the Bishop of Durham. This made Winchester the third-highest ranked bishop.

In 1835, a report found that Winchester was the third wealthiest church area in England. Only Canterbury and London were richer.

The official home of the Bishop of Winchester is Wolvesey Palace in Winchester. In the past, bishops also lived in places like Wolvesey Castle, Farnham Castle, Bishop's Waltham Palace, and Winchester Palace in Southwark. The bishop also has a special role as a "visitor" to five colleges at Oxford University.

Recent Changes to the Bishop's Role

The previous Bishop of Winchester, Tim Dakin, started his role on April 21, 2012. He was chosen on October 14, 2011. On May 20, 2021, it was announced that Bishop Dakin would take a break from his duties. Debbie Sellin, who is the Bishop of Southampton, took over as the acting bishop during this time. Bishop Dakin officially retired on February 6, 2022.

Debbie Sellin continued as the acting bishop while a new bishop was being chosen. In July 2023, it was announced that Philip Mounstephen would be the next Bishop of Winchester. He officially became the new bishop on October 10, 2023.

Important Bishops of Winchester

There have been many bishops of Winchester throughout history. Here are a few notable ones:

Early Bishops (Saxon to Norman Times)

Later Bishops (Norman Times to Today)

From	Until	Name	Notes
1129	1171	Henry of Blois	A very powerful and influential bishop.
1366	1404	William of Wykeham William of Wykeham	Was also the Chancellor of England. He founded Winchester College and New College, Oxford.
1404	1447	Cardinal Henry Beaufort Cardinal Henry Beaufort	A very important Cardinal appointed by the Pope. He appears in Shakespeare's plays.
1529	1530	Cardinal Thomas Wolsey Cardinal Thomas Wolsey	Was also the Archbishop of York. He held Winchester for a short time.
1618	1626	Lancelot Andrewes Lancelot Andrewes	A famous scholar and preacher.
1646	1660	The bishop's role was stopped during the Commonwealth period.
2012	2022	Tim Dakin Tim Dakin	The previous bishop.
2023	present	Philip Mounstephen Philip Mounstephen	The current Bishop of Winchester.

Other Important Roles

Some bishops have also served as assistant bishops in the diocese. This means they helped the main bishop with their duties.

See also

• Deans of Winchester
• The Bishop of Winchester Academy

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