From the 12th century Havant was an Episcopal Peculiar, the Archdeacon having no rights of visitation or induction. The bishop would appoint to the living, and issue a mandate to one of the neighbouring incumbents to induct. Peculiars, other than certain Royal Peculiars, were abolished in the early 19th century. In medieval times Havant was one of the best endowed rectories in the gift of the Bishop of Winchester. Such benefices were usually filled by those in diocesan administration, the pastoral work in the parish being largely left to assistant curates.
The Rectors of Havant include many distinguished names. Diocesan Registers prior to 1282 have been lost and the first recorded name is OTTO DE CHAUVENT.
A list of the Rectors displayed on the plaque and brief details where known are shown below:
1289 OTTO DE CHAUVENT – a Frenchman appointed by Henry III and became Bishop of Lausanne
1321 NICHOLAS DE FIGHINO
1326 JOHN DE FLETE
1327 BINDUS DE BANDINELUS
1345 WILLIAM DE BURES
ROBERT DE KYLLUM
1346 GALFOID DE KYLLUM
1355 JOHN DE BURTON
1356 JOHN NOYON
1390 THOMAS CRANLEIGH – first Warden of Winchester. Later Archbishop of Dublin
1396 THOMAS AYLWARD – secretary and executor to Bishop William of Wykeham. There is a brass to his memory in the Chancel
1413 THOMAS MARCHAL
1457 JOHN PLENTY
1459 ROGER BRODE
1463 ROBERT PEVESEY CANYNGE
1475 JOHN DOGER (DOGGET) – was among the first boys educated at Eton, and became Provost of King’s College, Cambridge. He left a small legacy to Havant
WILLIAM DAVEY
1522 OLIVER CORRY
1527 NICHOLAS HARPESFELD
1548 LEONARD BYLSEY
1567 HENRY COTTON – son of Sir Richard Cotton, of Warblington Castle, later became Bishop of Salisbury
1599 ARTHUR LAKE – one of the most distinguished theologians of his time, who became Bishop of Bath and Wells
1601 ROBERT PISTER
1627 FRANCIS RINGSTEED
1649 JOHN BELCHAMBER
1661 JOHN BELCHAMBER
1670 JOHN READE
1668 WILLIAM BROWNE
1671 GEORGE HOOPER – became Bishop of Bath and Wells
1672 JOHN LARDNER
1699 PETER EDGE
1702 ALEXANDER FORBES
1712 JOSEPH BINGHAM
1723 RALPH BADDELEY
1727 RICHARD BINGHAM
1765 JOHN MICHELL – became Rector of Thornhill, near Dewsbury
1767 EDWARD MORRIS
1776 DAVID RENAUD
1807 WILLIAM HAMISON
1809 CHARLES AUGUSTUS NORTH
1825 GEORGE ROBERT MOUNTAIN – helped in the foundation of the Church Schools. The plaque at the base of the font refers to the Reverend George Mountain and says:
The Font placed in this church in the year of our Lord MDCCCXLVII and dedicated to the service of Almighty God was erected by a contribution of the inhabitants of this parish as a memorial of their affection, esteem and veneration for the Reverend George Robert Mountain Rector of Havant who having for a period of XX years with zeal and with kindness and untiring diligence ministered to the temporal and spiritual necessities of those committed to his pastoral charge died on the XXV day of June AD MDCCCXLVI in the fifty-seventh year of his age.
1846 THOMAS GOODWIN HATCHARD – became Bishop of Mauritius
1857 FRANCIS PAYNE SEYMOUR
1870 HENRY ARNOLD OLIVIER – arranged for the restoration of the church
1874 WILLIAM RENAUD
1892 SAMUEL GILBERT SCOTT
1916 ARTHUR GEORGE MUSGRAVE – just one year as Rector. Died, aged 48, from contracting a fatal illness while carrying out his military hospital visiting duties
1917 HAROLD NICKINSON RODGERS – became Archdeacon of Portsmouth and was responsible for much of the administration in the early years of the Portsmouth Diocese – became Bishop of Sherborne
1937 BASIL ASTON DSO – awarded for conspicuous gallantry during operations in World War One – became Prebendary of Salisbury
1943 PHILIP HOWARD DUKE-BAKER – became Rector of Botley
1963 RALPH HARRY BASSETT – became Vicar of Hambledon
Researched by Mr AR Hawkins & Mr LR Wi
Additional researching by Ann Griffiths
1969 DEREK FREDERICK BROWN
2001 DAVID AUSTEN GIBBONS – became Rector of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church,, Barrington Hills, Illinois, USA
2009 PETER ANTHONY WATSON JONES – became a House for Duty Priest at All Saints, Pavement, York on 10 April 2014.
2015 THOMAS PHILIP KENNAR