12 OCTOBER 1996, Page 34

The beards of yesteryear

Sir: In his review of the Runcie biography (Books, 28 September), John Grigg, com- menting on the possible translation of the present Bishop of London to Canterbury, asks, 'If so, will he be the first bearded holder of the office since Laud?'

Not quite: both of Laud's immediate suc- cessors, Juxon and Sheldon, sported beards. Only thereafter did it become the norm for archbishops of Canterbury to be clean-shaven.

J.R. Porter

36 Theberton Street, London N1