TheArchdeacon of Wilts (orWiltshire) is a senior cleric in theDiocese of Salisbury, England. The archdeacon is responsible for the disciplinary supervision of the clergy[1] in fivedeaneries:Marlborough,Pewsey,Calne,Bradford andDevizes.[2]
Louise Ellis has been the Archdeacon of Wilts since 24 May 2025.[3]
The first recorded archdeacons in Salisbury diocese occur soon after theNorman Conquest (as they do across England) and there were apparently four archdeacons from the outset. However, no territorial titles are recorded until afterc. 1139. The archdeacons at that time were (in order of seniority) the Archdeacons of Dorset, Berkshire, Sarum and Wiltshire. The role is now generally called Archdeacon of Wilts, but both names have been used commonly throughout history.
Many changes were made to the allocation of parishes to deaneries in 1951.[4] The parishes ofCharlton,Wilsford andNorth Newnton were transferred to Wilts from thearchdeaconry of Sarum in 1955.[5]
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