Previous ambassadors
Formal diplomatic links between England and the Holy See were first established in 1479 when John Shirwood was appointed as the first resident Ambassador. Shirwood was also the first English Ambassador to serve abroad, making the position of HM Ambassador to the Holy See the oldest ambassadorial position in the UK diplomatic service.
Among others, Cardinal Bainbridge, De Gigiis and Knight succeeded Shirwood over the years up until 1536, when formal diplomatic relations between England and the Holy See were disrupted.
They were restored under the reign of Queen Mary I when Sir Edward Carne was again appointed as Ambassador to the Holy See. Sir Edward was also ambassador to the Holy See for King Henry VIII. He was initially Queen Elizabeth I 's ambassador too, but when relations with the Holy See deteriorated he was recalled. He remained in Rome and died in 1561. He is buried in the Church of San Gregorio Magno on the Caelian Hill . Sir Edward was the last resident envoy until diplomatic relations were restored in 1914.
The United Kingdom re-established relations with the Holy See in 1914. In 1982, to coincide with Pope John Paul II’s visit to the United Kingdom, full diplomatic relations were restored when representation was again raised to ambassadorial level after a break of some 423 years.
Chronology since 1914
1914-16 | Sir Henry Howard, Envoy Extraordinary & Minister Plenipotentiary |
1916 | Count de Salis, Envoy Extraordinary & Minister Plenipotentiary |
1922-28 | The Hon. Theo (later Sir Odo) Russell, Envoy Extraordinary & Minister Plenipotentiary |
1928-30 | Sir Henry Chilton, Envoy Extraordinary & Minister Plenipotentiary |
1930-32 | George Ogilvie Forbes, Chargé d’Affaires |
1932-33 | Sir Ivonne Kirkpatrick, Chargé d’Affaires |
1933-34 | Sir Robert Henry Clive, Envoy Extraordinary & Minister Plenipotentiary |
1934-36 | Sir Charles John Fitzroy Rhys Wingfield, EnvoyExtraordinary & Minister Plenipotentiary |
1936-47 | Sir F. D’Arcy G. Osborne (later Duke of Leeds), Envoy Extraordinary & Minister Plenipotentiary |
1947-51 | SirJohn Perowne, Envoy Extraordinary & Minister Plenipotentiary |
1951-54 | Sir Walter St.Clair H. Roberts, Envoy Extraordinary & MinisterPlenipotentiary |
1954-57 | Sir Douglas Frederick Howard, Envoy Extraordinary & Minister Plenipotentiary |
1957-60 | Sir Marcus Cheke, Envoy Extraordinary & Minister Plenipotentiary |
1960-65 | Sir Peter Scarlett, Envoy Extraordinary & Minister Plenipotentiary |
1965-70 | Sir Michael Williams, Envoy Extraordinary & Minister Plenipotentiary |
1970-75 | Desmond J. C. Crawley, Envoy Extraordinary & Minister Plenipotentiary |
1975-77 | Dugald Malcolm, Envoy Extraordinary & Minister Plenipotentiary |
1977-80 | Geoffrey A. Crossley, Envoy Extraordinary & Minister Plenipotentiary |
1980-85 | Sir Mark Heath |
1985-88 | David N. Lane, Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary |
1988-91 | John K. E. Broadley, Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary |
1991-95 | Andrew E. Palmer, Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary |
1995-98 | Maureen E. MacGlashan, Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary |
1998-2002 | Mark E. Pellew, Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary |
2002-05 | Kathryn F. Colvin, Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary |
2005 | John Culver, Chargé d’Affaires |
2005- | Francis Campbell, Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary |
