Diocese of Bristol

Diocese of Bristol
Location
Ecclesiastical province Canterbury
Archdeaconries Bristol, Malmesbury
Statistics
Parishes 167
Churches 207
Information
Cathedral Bristol Cathedral
Current leadership
Bishop Mike Hill, Bishop of Bristol
Suffragan Lee Rayfield, Bishop of Swindon
Archdeacons Tim McClure, Archdeacon of Bristol
Christine Froude, Archdeacon of Malmesbury
Website
bristol.anglican.org

The Diocese of Bristol is a Church of England diocese in the Province of Canterbury, England. It is based in the city of Bristol and covers South Gloucestershire and parts of north Wiltshire to Swindon. The diocese is headed by the Bishop of Bristol and the Episcopal seat is located at the Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, commonly known as Bristol Cathedral.

The current Bishop of Bristol is the Right Reverend Mike Hill, and is assisted by the Right Reverend Lee Rayfield, suffragan Bishop of Swindon.

Contents

History

Until the Reformation, Bristol was part of the medieval Diocese of Worcester.[1][2] Under the Suffragan Bishops Act 1534, Henry Holbeach was appointed the only suffragan bishop of Bristol in 1538 and assisted the Bishop of Worcester in overseeing the medieval diocese. Nearly two years later, Bristol became part of the then newly formed Diocese of Gloucester in 1541.[1][2] The following year, the Diocese of Bristol was established on 4 June 1542 and consisted the city of Bristol together the county of Dorset.[1][2] The Diocese of Bristol continued until 5 October 1836 when Dorset was annexed to the Diocese of Salisbury and the remaider, the city of Bristol, formed part of the Diocese of Gloucester and Bristol.[1] After sixty years, a new Diocese of Bristol was created on 7 July 1897, but with different boundaries.[3]

Diocesan structure

The diocese is divided into two archdeaconries. The Archdeaconry of Bristol is divided into the deaneries of Bristol South, Bristol West, and the City. The Archdeaconry of Malmesbury is divided into the deaneries of Chippenham, Kingswood and South Gloucestershire, North Wiltshire, and Swindon.

References

  1. ^ a b c d Horn, J. M. (1996). "Bristol: Introduction". Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1541–1857: Volume 8: Bristol, Gloucester, Oxford and Peterborough Dioceses. British History Online. pp. 3–6. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=35299. 
  2. ^ a b c Herbermann, Charles, ed (1913). "Ancient Diocese of Bristol". Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02790b.htm. 
  3. ^ London Gazette: no. 26871. p. 3787. 9 July 1897. Retrieved 5 September 2011.

External links