Canterbury Cathedral Librarians since the Reformation

1634

Canon Meric Casaubon supervised the inventory of the Library made for Archbishop Laud's visitation.

1640

The Dean and Chapter plan to appoint a full-time librarian, in spite of the growing political difficulties.
[Collinson, 194]

1641–1646

John Bayly, minor canon, was library keeper with a fee of £7 a year.
[Ramsay 382]

1666–1670

Elisha Robinson, minor canon, Bibliothecarius, with a salary of £7 a year.
[ DCc/TB-5 p.52 ]

1672

Dr Arthur Keyes (or Kaye), (d. 1701), a Six Preacher (1670), appointed library keeper.
John Sargenson, minor canon, appointed assistant library keeper.
[Ramsay 385; Ingram Hill 67]

1688–89

Elias Robinson, a minor canon, appointed library keeper.
[Ramsay 383; Gregory 253]

1720s

David Wilkins (1685–1745), the Archbishop’s librarian at Lambeth, 1715–18, a prebendary of Canterbury 1720–1745 (Stall XII). During his tenure at Canterbury, he prepared and maintained a handwritten catalogue of the printed books (Ramsay 388; CCA-DCc-LA/2/5).

1797

H.J. Todd, a minor canon, referred to as the 'Librarian'.
[Ramsay 389]

1801

Dr Houstonne Radcliffe (prebendary, 1795–1822) named 'Librarian', assisted by a salaried Sub-Librarian. (By 1812, he had been appointed Vice-Dean of Wells: Clergy of the Church of England Database)
[Ramsay 390]

1804–1806

Cyprian Rondeau Bunce (1752–1807), a Canterbury solicitor and alderman, arranged and indexed the archives. [Ramsay 391

1828–1854

Dr J.H. Spry (canon, 1828–1854) served as Librarian until his death in 1854. [Ramsay 392–3]

1841

The Rev. Joshua Stratton, Sub-Librarian

1854–1858

Canon Librarian: Arthur Penrhyn Stanley (canon 1851–1858). [Ramsay 395]

1858–1859

Archdeacon Benjamin Harrison and Dean Henry Alford acted as Canon Librarians. [Ramsay 395]

1859–1882

Canon Librarian: James Craigie Robertson (canon 1859–1882). [Ramsay 395]

1877

Joseph Brigstocke Sheppard (1828–1895) invited by the Chapter to re-arrange the muniments. He later had the titles of Assistant Librarian, Librarian of the Howley-Harrison Library, and Keeper of the Cathedral Records. [Ramsay 396, 399]

1890–1897

Canon Librarian: George Rodney Eden, canon and Bishop of Dover. Eden had two Honorary Librarians appointed to supervise the reading room: M. Beazeley and F. W. Cross. Robert Rhodes, a lay clerk, was paid as Library Keeper. [Ramsay 399–401]

1903–1916

Canon Librarian: Edward Moore, canon 1903–1916. [Ramsay 401]

1907–1948

Charles Eveleigh Woodruff (1855–1948) appointed as Honorary Librarian (Deputy Librarian 1909–1918). [Ramsay 401]

1918–1939

Dr Charles Cotton appointed (honorary) Deputy Librarian. [Ramsay 402]

1924–1936

Canon Librarian: Samuel Bickersteth, canon 1916–1936. [Ramsay 402]

1936–1948

Cathedral Librarian: William Parry Blore (1875–1948), a retired school teacher. [Ramsay 403–4]
Chapter Library letterheads of 1937-1938 list the following Library staff:

• W.P.Blore M.A. (Librarian), 20 St Stephen's Road
• F.W.Tyler F.S.A. (Sub-Librarian), 129 Whitstable Road
• Charles Cotton O.B.E. F.R.C.P. (Deputy Librarian), 11d The Precincts
• The Rev. C.E. Woodruff M.A. (Honorary Librarian), 62 Old Dover Road
• Miss E. Barbara Leaver (Assistant in the Howley Library), Arlesdene, Canterbury Road, Herne Bay

1946–1948

William Urry appointed Assistant Librarian. [Ramsay 404]

1948–1969

Dr William Urry, Cathedral Archivist and Librarian.

1968–1973

Canon Librarian: Canon Joseph Robinson

1970–1989

Anne Oakley, Cathedral Archivist.

1973–1987

Canon Librarian: Canon Donald Allchin

1979–1988

Mrs Naomi Pearman (later Linnell) appointed Keeper of Printed Books jointly with the University of Kent. [Ramsay 406]

1987–1994

Canon Librarian: Canon Christopher Lewis

1989–?

Cathedral Archivist: Charlotte Hodgson

1988

Resignation of Mrs Naomi Linnell.
Miss Karen James seconded temporarily from University of Kent.

1989–2002

Cathedral Librarian: Mrs Sheila Hingley

1994–2002

Canon Librarian: Roger Symon

?–2000

Cathedral Archivist: Michael Stansfield

2001–2005

Cathedral Archivist: Heather Forbes

2002–200?

Canon Librarian: Canon Edward Condry

200?–2005

Canon Librarian: Canon Richard Marsh

2002–2008

Cathedral Librarian: Keith O'Sullivan

2004–

Assistant Librarian: Karen Brayshaw; Librarian from 2008

2006–

Cathedral and City Archivist: Cressida Williams

2007–

Canon Librarian: Canon Christopher Irvine

Bibliography

Collinson: Patrick Collinson, 'The Protestant Cathedral, 1541–1660'. In: A History of Canterbury Cathedral, ed. P. Collinson, N. Ramsay, M. Sparks. (OUP 1995, revised edition 2002) 154–203.

Gregory: Jeremy Gregory, 'Canterbury and the Ancien Régime: The Dean and Chapter, 1660–1828'. In: A History of Canterbury Cathedral, ed. P. Collinson, N. Ramsay, M. Sparks. (OUP 1995, revised edition 2002) 204–55.

Ingram Hill: Derek Ingram Hill, The Six Preachers of Canterbury Cathedral, (Canterbury1982).

Ramsay: Nigel Ramsay, 'The Cathedral Archives and Library'. In: A History of Canterbury Cathedral, ed. P. Collinson, N. Ramsay, M. Sparks. (OUP 1995, revised edition 2002) 341–407.