Arthur Purey-Cust

Who was Arthur Purey-Cust?

Arthur Percival Purey-Cust was a Church of England priest who served as Dean of York for over 30 years in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Purey-Cust was born into a distinguished family as the son of the Honourable William Cust, younger son of Brownlow Cust, 1st Baron Brownlow. His mother was Sophia, daughter of Thomas Newnham. He was educated at Brasenose College, and later became a fellow of All Souls' College, Oxford. He was ordained deacon 1851 and priest 1852. His first ecclesiastical post was a curacy at Northchurch, Hertfordshire; followed by Rector of Cheddington, Buckinghamshire from 1853 to 1861; then became the Incumbent of St. Mary's, Reading, which led to him being appointed an honorary Canon of Christ Church, Oxford. He was appointed Rural Dean of Oxford in 1858. He became the Archdeacon of Buckingham in June 1875, and installed Vicar of Aylesbury in the same year. His final appointed was as Dean of York from 1880 to 1916. For the next 36 years he meticulously catalogued York Minster's heritage and died in harness in his 88th year. His portrait hangs in the National Portrait Gallery.