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.