TheArchdeacon of Bedford is an ecclesiastical post in theChurch of EnglandDiocese of St Albans in theProvince of Canterbury. Historically the post was in theDiocese of Lincoln, then from 1837 in theDiocese of Ely, England. On 13 April 1914, the archdeaconry became a part of theDiocese of St Albans.[1] The present holder of the office isDave Middlebrook, collated Archdeacon on 30 March 2019.
The 12/13th c. brass seal-matrix of the Archdeacon of Bedford was found in South Lincolnshire in 2003 by a metal detectorist, in almost perfect condition. It displays a legend in Latin: SIGILLUM ARCHIDIACONI BEDEFORDI(A)E ("Seal of the Archdeacon of Bedford"). Of two heraldic shields, that shown atdexter displays the arms of Cantilupe (modern):Gules, three leopard's faces jessant-de-lys or, as used by SaintThomas de Cantilupe (d.1282),Bishop of Hereford, and later adopted as the arms of theSee of Hereford. The reason for the use of the Cantilupe arms on the seal is unclear, the surviving (but incomplete) list of Archdeacons of Bedford does not include a member of the Cantilupe family.[2] The office of Archdeacon of Bedford had no connection with the See of Hereford and is known to have been under the control of theSee of Lincoln, hence a possible reason for the location the object was found in. The Cantilupe family werefeudal barons of Eaton (Bray) in Bedfordshire and were seated (amongst many other places) at Eaton Castle, near Dunstable, not too far from the town of Bedford. A junior branch (seeBaron Cantilupe) was seated atGreasley Castle in Nottingham and atWithcall in Lincolnshire, in which county they were prominent.Nicholas de Cantilupe, 3rd Baron Cantilupe (c.1301–1355) of Greasley founded theCantilupe Chantry in Lincoln Cathedral and was buried in the Cathedral where survives his mutilated recumbent effigy. However the armorials of the Greasley branch include afess vair, not shown on the seal.[3] The style of the seal with the gothic architectural elements date it to the 13/14th. centuries. Measurements: 32 mm x 51 mm; weight 2.5 g.[2]
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