Rectors of Headley | Headley Hampshire UK

As recorded by Canon Tudor Jones (to 1966)

before 1314 Geoffrey de Hoville
1314 Walter de Brolnesbourne - presented by Priory of Merton
Robert (surname unknown)
1368 John Podisdone 'was instituted priest of the Church of Hethleghe in succession to Robert on the presentation of the Prior and canons of Merton'
1377 Thomas Drapere 'a sub-dean and penitentiary of Exeter Cathedral exchanged livings with John Podisdone'
1380 Thomas Aumenet 'rector of Beaumond exchanged with Thomas Drapere'
c. 1414 Sir John Massey
1443 James Blakedon of the Order of Friars Preachers, "subpenitentiary of the English nation in the Roman court: on his petition showing that by Apostolic Dispensation he is beneficed a parson of the Church of Headley in the Diocese of Winton, and that the Pope provided him to the Cathedral Church of Achonry in Ireland of which Bishopric a great part is of no value because it is inhabited by rebels; and that he may occupy the premises any papal grace, statute etc. notwithstanding" (Patent Rolls 21 Henry VI). This seems to mean that Blakedon enjoyed the emoluments of Headley though living in Rome.
Robert Thornetone
1460 John Hamond
1472 Robert Gest
1474 William Cole
1479 John Macy
1494 John Fyshe
1524 John Unthanke (He was probably the last pre-Reformation Rector)
1538 Dissolution of Monastries - On the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1538 the patronage passed into the hands of the King who granted it to Sir John Gate in 1551. Gate however does not seem to have made any appointments and in 1558 Queen Mary restored the patronage to Winchester. Subsequently the advowson again passed to the Crown and Queen Elizabeth appointed ...
1575 Thomas Drake - described as 'Minister'
1586 William Daniell, parson of Hedley, was buried 4 November 1586
1586 Francis Coxe [list in church]
1597 William Coxe [list in church; a note in the burial register says "1597 Oct 2(?) Mr William Cox, 'parson of the parish of Hedlye', read the …" - son Francis buried 1602, Leonard 1604, wife Agnice 1606]
1631 Averie Thompson - King Charles I presented in 1631 Averie Thompson to the living but that Cromwell's ministers dispossessed him in 1644. However, at the Restoration he was reinstated, but soon afterwards Charles II presented six livings, of which Headley was one, to the Queen's College, Oxford, "in consideration of their help to him in his troubles" by a gift of all their plate. Records show that Averie Thompson was (re) appointed by the Provost and Scholars in 1660
1644 Dispossessed by Cromwell; Restored at the Restoration; Living given by Charles II to Queen's College, Oxford
1660 Reappointed by Queen's College - Like all his successors at Hedleigh, up to and including Mr. Laverty, Thompson was a Fellow of the College
1670 (Dec 4) John Beeby - He was a Londoner, irregularly elected a Fellow in 1654 during the Commonwealth. He died 'of a malignant fever' and was buried in Queen's College Chapel. Previously Vicar of Culham, Oxon
1673 (Feb 7) William Sympson - He married Mary Bayley at Headley in 1675 and she died in 1686. There is a stone let into the wall over the Rectory stable door marked 'S. 1680 W. M.' which may stand for Sympson 1680 William Mary. William Sympson was buried in 1695 "in Woolen only"
1695 (Aug 17) William Rook B.D. - "A Fellow of Queen's College with a mathematical reputation". He was, like many other Queensmen, a Cumbrian, having been born at Workington
1717 (Jul 3) Robert Railton - He died the following year, his widow surviving him by 14 years. He gave £300 for the marble work at the east end of the Queen's College Chapel. He was a native of Carlisle, and previously Vicar of Marston, Oxon
1718 (Dec 24) George Holme - Dr. Holme appears to have been inducted in the same month as that in which Robert Railton died. He built and endowed the original Holme School. Died 3 July 1765 age 90
1765 (Oct 19) William Sewell - The monument to him in the Church describes him as 'a man of extensive learning and undoubted charity'. In contrast to some of his predecessors and certainly his immediate successor, Wm. Sewell for 35 years "spent the whole of this time in the bosom of his parishioners"
1801 (Jan) Henry Smith D.D. - Dr. Smith was for the greater part of his incumbency non-resident, and held the curacy of Bromley in Kent. He was also from the north having been born at St. Bees. He was described as a square, very burly man of great physical strength. He and his Clerk, it is said, could consume more alcohol without showing any effect than any two men in the parish. He kept a pack of harriers and was famed as a rider to hounds. Stricter views of clerical decorum came in about that time, and a hint from the Bishop caused him to give up sport and sober down
1818 (Oct 2) Robert Dickinson - He too was a great deal non-resident, but suffered from ill-health, though he was described as "a jolly big old farmer". Though he lived till 1847 his name appears for the last time in the registers in 1834
1830 (Nov) Mobbed by rioters
1834 Last entry under his name in registers
1836 (May 12) There is an entry in the Baptism Register of 1813-1852 to this effect: 'On Ascension Day, May 12 1836, the Porch of the Church was injured, the spire and interior of the Tower destroyed by fire. Divine Providence was pleased to arrest the further progress of the flames. Praise ye the Lord.'
1848 (April) Joseph Ballantine Dykes - He too was a Cumbrian from near Cockermouth, and a chair made for him by the village carpenter there was given by his daughter to the Church and is now the Rector's chair in the Vestry. Mr. Dykes largely altered the Church after the fire of 1836, which had damaged part of the building. He built a new Porch, rebuilt the walls, and raised the floor nearly 3 feet (as can be seen in the Tower) and added the Chancel and a Vestry. Previously there was a gallery which would hold 100 persons, the music being provided by bassoon, clarinet and bass viol, and a story is told that no one was allowed to sing except those invited into the gallery
1872 (July) Wallis Hay Laverty
1901 (January) Grayshott ecclesiastical parish created
1929 (Sept) Michael Ridley - In his short ministry he reorganised the Church finances, made the parish conscious of its place in the family of the diocese, and the Churchwardens and Church Council of their responsibilities in the government of the affairs of the church. He left after four and a quarter years to become Vicar of St Gabriel's, Warwick Square, and later Rector of Finchley and Deputy Priest-in-Ordinary to the King
1934 (June) James Spencer Tudor Jones - Yet another Cumbrian!
1966 (April) David Edward Bentley - He was appointed by the Queen's College but was the first Rector since 1660 who was not a member of the College
1974 (Nov) Derek Leonard Hamilton Head
1981 A team ministry was created
1984 William Michael Powell
1990 Richard (Dick) William Woodger - first to live in the new Rectory
1999 (March) Dr Michael Semple
2002 (March) Bordon parish created
2010 (Nov) Interregnum
2011 (Sept) Donna Mistlin
2013 (June) Interregnum
2014 (Nov) Andrew Barton
2021 (Apr) Interregnum
2022 (Apr) Yann Dubreuil