[3] On its creation it consisted of the deaneries of Bosmere, Claydon, Hadleigh, Ipswich, North Hartismere, Samford, South Hartismere, and Stow.
On Terry Gibson's retirement in 2005 the post was deliberately left vacant pending a pastoral scheme to dissolve the archdeaconry and divide its territory between Sudbury and Suffolk archdeaconries.
The scheme could not go forward until the next diocesan bishop (Martin Seeley) was in post, but the area was subsequently under the care of the remaining two archdeacons.
[4] In autumn 2018, the archdeaconry was advertised, with a much smaller territory — only the Ipswich deanery — and a brief overseeing church plants and fresh expressions.
[5] The archdeaconry is vacant following Rhiannon King's consecration as Bishop of Southampton.