Ralph Neville

Ralph Neville
Bishop of Chichester
ProvinceCanterbury
Electedbefore 1 November 1222
Term ended1–4 February 1244
PredecessorRanulf of Wareham
SuccessorRobert Passelewe
Other post(s)Lord Chancellor
Archbishop-elect of Canterbury
Bishop-elect of Winchester
Orders
Consecration21 April 1224
Personal details
Died1–4 February 1244
London, England
BuriedChichester Cathedral
Lord Chancellor (Keeper of the Great Seal)
In office
1226–1238
MonarchHenry III
Preceded byRichard Marsh
Succeeded byRichard le Gras
Lord Chancellor
In office
1242–1244
MonarchHenry III
Preceded byRichard le Gras
Succeeded bySilvester de Everdon

Ralph Neville (or Ralf Nevill[1] or Ralph de Neville;[2] died 1244) was a medieval clergyman and politician who served as Bishop of Chichester and Lord Chancellor of England. Neville first appears in the historical record in 1207 in the service of King John, and remained in royal service throughout the rest of his life. By 1213 Neville had custody of the Great Seal of England, although he was not named chancellor, the office responsible for the seal, until 1226. He was rewarded with the bishopric of Chichester in 1222. Although he was also briefly Archbishop-elect of Canterbury and Bishop-elect of Winchester, both elections were set aside, or quashed, and he held neither office.

As keeper of the seal, and subsequently as chancellor, Neville was noted for his impartiality, and he oversaw a number of changes in the way the chancery operated. Neville was deprived of the Great Seal in 1238 after quarrelling with King Henry III, but continued to hold the title of chancellor until his death. He died in his London palace, built on a street later renamed Chancery Lane owing to his connection with the chancery.

  1. ^ Clanchy From Memory to Written Record p. 90
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference DNB was invoked but never defined (see the help page).