List of Rectors

Photographs of the recent Rectors of Tilehurst are displayed in the church cloisters (see Past Rectors pictures in the Heritage Gallery). A more complete list of former Rectors is recorded on a commemorative board in the nave of the church (refer to the table below).

Of particular interest are Martin Joseph Routh, President of Magdalen College Oxford for 63 years, and his nephew John William Routh, who between them were incumbents of St Michael's from 1810 to 1905. They are commemorated in the name of one of the roads adjacent to the church, Routh Lane.

List of Vicars and Rectors of Tylehurst

The Abbot & Brethren of Reading Abbey were responsible for serving the Parish from A.D. 1189 until the Dissolution in A.D. 1539. At first the Parish was administered as part of the Diocese of Lincoln. In 1540 it passed to the Diocese of Salisbury, and finally to the Diocese of Oxford in 1836.

Between 1189 and 1574 it is unclear who was the incumbent. Some records indicate that only Curates were in charge. Many arguments ensued between the locals such as Sir Peter Van Lore and others as to who owned the Advowson and consequently who was put forward to be the Vicar or Rector. Extensive research has been undertaken through the archives at the local and national level and researchers are confident that the names below represent the true record of the Vicars and Rectors of Tylehurst.

In the notes below, in officio obit means that the person died whilst in office.
The notes include the names of Curates and their dates of appointment, where known.

Name	Title	From	Notes
Elizabeth Clare Ratcliffe	Rector	2018	Instituted 24/9/2018 (Patron: Magdalen College). The parish's first female Rector. Curate: Tracy Watkins (July 2021) - the parish's first female Curate. Curate: Amy Sykes (July 2023) - the parish's first female Ordinand (Sept 2021).
John Arthur Rogers	Rector	2007	Instituted 21/12/2007 (Patron: Magdalen College). Retired 10/12/2017.
Frederick William Dawson	Rector	1994	Served until 15/5/2007. Curate: Barry Scott (c. July 1994).
Clive Morlais Peter Jones	Rector	1985	Curate: Paul Seaman (July 1986). Curate: Geoffrey Borrowdale (July 1990). Curate: Jonathan Gordon (Sept 1991). Curate: Simon Justice (July 1992).
David Raymond Russell Seymour	Priest-in-charge	1984
John Sefton Tilston	Rector	1980	in officio obit (1984). Curate: David Seymour (c. 1982). Curate: Jeffrey Daly (c. 1983).
George Lanyon Hacker	Rector	1971	Later Bishop of Penrith.
Peter de la Poer Beresford-Peirse	Rector	1962
Oliver Dudley Harvey	Rector	1953
Francis Gordon Sherwood	Rector	1934	Curate: Dr Hopfs (June 1944).
Henry Richard Cooper-Smith	Rector	1905
John William Routh	Rector	1855	Nephew of M. J. Routh.
Martin Joseph Routh	Rector & Vicar	1810	President of Magdalen College, Oxford 1791-1854. Instituted 12/9/1810 (Patron: Dr Thomas Sheppard). In officio obit 23/12/1854. Buried in Queens College Chapel, Oxford. Curate: Richard Walker (7/10/1915) Curate: William Tahourdin (19/12/1828). In officio obit c.8/9/1833, aged 32.
Richard Chandler	Rector	1799	Traveller, author & archaeologist. Instituted 3/5/1799 (Patron: Dr Thomas Sheppard). In officio obit 9/2/1810.
Thomas Walker	Vicar	1769	Instituted 27/7/1769 (Patrons: Benjamin Walker; Edward Wise). Also Rector of Stanford Dingley from 25/11/1784. Curate: Edward Valpy (1790).
Thomas Walker (elder)	Rector & Vicar	1743	Instituted 15/12/1743 (Patron: William Best).
Thomas Walker	Vicar	1711	Instituted 12/4/1711 (Patron: Georgius Cooper). Rector from 1/6/1714. In officio obit 1743.
Samuel Norris	Rector & Vicar	1681	Instituted 15/2/1681 (Patron: King Charles II). In officio obit 1711. Buried 27/3/1711 in chancel (tomb found during restoration work in 2012). Curate: Samuel Day (4/9/1680, in the interregnum?).
Simon Lowth	Rector & Vicar	1660	Presented 4/6/1658 (Patrons: Thomas & Anna Levington; Constantinus Skynner). Instituted 25/7/1660 (Patrons: Thomas & Anne Levingston; Constantius Synner). Instituted 19/2/1661 (Patron: King Charles II). In officio obit 1679. Buried at St Michael's 21/6/1679 – possibly inside the church.
John Littleton	Rector	1638	Presented 22/10/1637 and Instituted 20/3/1638 (Patron: King Charles I).
John Bowle	Rector & Vicar	1613	Instituted 21/7/1613 (Patrons: Robertus Coppin; Thomas Wilson). Also Rector of Bradfield, Dean of Salisbury 1620-1629, and Bishop of Rochester from 4/2/1630. In officio obit 9/10/1637. Buried in St Paul's Cathedral.
John Gravett	Rector & Vicar	1593	Instituted 21/2/1593 (Patron: Queen Elizabeth I). In officio obit 1613. Also Rector of Bradfield and was buried there on 19/7/1613.
John Leaver	Vicar	1584	Curate: Thomas Spychernel (11/1/1586).
John Wharton	Vicar	1584	In officio obit 1584.
John Radley	Vicar	1574	Presented 5/3/1574 and Instituted 21/4/1574 (Patron: Queen Elizabeth I).

The Parish is indebted to the late E.W.P. Moriarty OBE, to the Archivist of the Salisbury Diocese, to the Bodleian Library of Oxford, to the administrators of the 'Clergy of the Church of England Database', and to others for their assistance in compiling this information.