In the year 1244 the See of Chichester fell vacant by the death of Bishop Ralph Neville, and at the King's suggestion the canons elected their archdeacon, a keen supporter of his.

Back at his hotel in St. Paul's Churchyard Mr. Harding had to face the archdeacon.

When some years later the holy Hugh of Lincoln forbade his archdeacons and their officers to receive fines instead of inflicting penance for crimes, he was met by the objection that the blessed archbishop and martyr Thomas himself had taken fines.

In 1599 the wardens of this parish inform the archdeacon that both church and churchyard need repairs "which we mean shortly to do."