The archdeacons in the Diocese of Portsmouth are senior ecclesiastical officers in the Church of England in south-east Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. They currently include: the Archdeacon of the Meon, the Archdeacon of the Isle of Wight and the Archdeacon of Portsdown. Each one has responsibility over a geographical area within the diocese, providing organisational leadership and pastoral support to clergy within their area.
History
The Anglican Diocese of Portsmouth was created on 1 May 1927 from the Diocese of Winchester's archdeaconries of the Isle of Wight and of Portsmouth, which had been created in that diocese on 22 December 1871 and 6 February 1925 respectively.
In November 1999, the Portsmouth archdeaconry was split in two: Lowson remained as Archdeacon of Portsdown and a new Archdeacon of the Meon was appointed.