The first incumbent was Philip Down, who was collated Archdeacon of Ashford on 13 March 2011[1] and who retired effective 15 October 2017.
[4] The archdeaconry was created under the Pastoral Measure 1983, by Trevor Willmott, Bishop of Dover (exercising the functions of diocesan bishop delegated by the Archbishop of Canterbury) on 1 February 2011.
[5] At the same time, it was decided that Down (then Archdeacon of Maidstone) would transfer to the newly created role.
[6] The archdeaconry covers a central and eastern portion the diocese.
As of 2012[update], the archdeaconry of Ashford consists the following deaneries in the Diocese of Canterbury:[7]