Prior of Christ Church

Canterbury Cathedral began life as cathedral for its city, diocese and archdiocese, headed by the Archbishop of Canterbury and run by a dean. However, when the cathedral was re-formed as a monastic institution (known as Christ Church Priory) as well as a cathedral, a Prior was put in charge of the monastery (with the Archbishop effectively acting as abbot). When in 1539 the monastery was dissolved and reverted to being solely a cathedral, the prior's duties reverted to a dean, the first of whom was Nicholas Wotton. ==List==

• Henry 1080–1096 • Ernulf 1096–1107 • Conrad 1108–1126 • Gosford 1126–1128 • Elmer 1128–1137 • Jeremy / Jeremiah 1137–1143 • Walter Durdens 1143–1149 • Walter Parvus 1149–1153 • Wybert 1153–1167 • Odo 1167–1175 • Benedict 1175–1177 • Harlewine 1177–1179 • Alan 1179–1186 • Honorius 1186–1189 • Roger Norreis 1189–1190 • Osbern/Osbert de Bristow 1190–1191 • Geoffry (sic) 1191–1205 • John de Chatham 1205-c.1218 • Walter III c.1218–1222 • John of Sittingbourne 1222–1244 • Roger de Lee 1234–1244 • Nicholas de Sandwich 1244-1258 • Roger de St Elphege 1258–1263 • William (or Adam) Chillenden 1264–1274 • Thomas Ringmer(e) 1274–1284 • Henry de Eastry 1285–1331 • Richard Oxinden/Oxenden 1331–1338 • Robert Hathbrand 1338–1370 • Richard Gillingham 1370–1376 • Stephen Mongeham 1376–1377 • John Fynch 1377–1391 • Thomas Chillenden 1391–1411 • John Woodnesborough 1411–1428 • William Molash 1428–1438 • John Salisbury –1446 • John Elham 1446–1449 • Thomas Goldstone 1449–1468 • John Oxney 1468–1471 • William Petham 1471–1472 • William Sellynge 1472–1495 • Thomas Goldstone II 1495–1517 • Thomas Goldwell 1517–1539 ==Sources==