Letters written by Archdeacon John Kewley and Bishop Denton Thompson to Bernard Osborne, Bournemouth

Date(s): 1921, 1933

Creator(s): Kewley, John

Scope & Content: Comprise two letters from Kewley, Andreas Rectory to Bernard Osborne, Bournemouth dated 25 October 1921 and 26 August 1933. In the first Kewley writes explaining there is no extant information respecting the date of the constitution of the Archdeaconry of Man. He notes that the earliest reference appears in King Reginald's charter of 1188 and encloses a copy. 'This confirms your impression that it dates back beyond 1240. The next notice is of Laurence in 1247, then of Dompnalds in 1257. Kewley continues, 'Curiously, the Archdeacon was always appointed by the King or Lord of the Isle, and not by the Bishop. I was appointed by the Crown, under the great Seal, in 1912. I have taken no oath of canonical obedience, and I was admitted to office by the Clerk of the Rolls, taking the oaths of allegiance to the king, and of a member of the governor's council. In the year 1919 under our Constitutional Reform Act, the Archdeacon ceased to be a member of the Insular Legislature, but no change was made as regards patronage. The endowment of the office appears to be the Rectory of Andreas. This has sometimes been disputed, but we have no record of an Archdeacon who did not hold the Rectory. In old times it was known s the Archdeaconry.'

In his 1933 letter to Osborne Kewley writes about the history of the Diocese of Sodor and Man, responding to Osborne's letter to the Bishop.

A 30 December 1921 letter from Bishop James Denton Thompson, Bishopscourt is likely to have been directed also to Osborne. Bishop James writes about aspects of the history of his diocese.

Language: English

Extent: 3 items

Item name: Letters

Collection: Manuscript Archive

Level: FILE

ID number: MS 06142

Retrieval number: MD 150

Record class: Ecclesiastical: Manx Church Diocesan

Access conditions: No regulations or restrictions are implemented on this material. Advance notification of a research visit is advisable by emailing library@mnh.gov.im

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