Diocese of Derry and Raphoe

St Columb's Cathedral in Derry

The Diocese of Derry and Raphoe is a diocese of the Church of Ireland in Ulster located in the north of Ireland. It is in the ecclesiastical province of Armagh. Its geographical remit straddles two civil jurisdictions: in Northern Ireland, it covers all of County Londonderry and large parts of County Tyrone while in the Republic of Ireland it covers County Donegal.

Overview and history

Diocese Highlighted

When the Church in England broke communion with the Catholic Church, the Church of England was established by the state as the established church. Later, by decree of the Irish Parliament, a similar new body became the State Church in the Kingdom of Ireland. It assumed possession of most Church property (and so retained a great repository of religious architecture and other items, though some were later destroyed). The substantial majority of the population continued to adhere to the Latin Rite of Catholicism, despite the political and economic advantages of membership in the state church. They were obliged to find alternative premises and to conduct their services in secret. The English-speaking minority mostly adhered to the Church of Ireland or to Presbyterianism.

On the death of Archbishop Trench of Tuam in 1839, the Province of Tuam was united to that of Armagh. Over the centuries, numerous dioceses were merged, in view of declining membership. The historic sees of Derry and Raphoe were united in 1834.[1] It is for this reason that the united diocese has two cathedrals.

Cathedrals

List of Bishops

The current Ordinary is the Right Reverend Kenneth (Ken) Good, Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, who was elected on 13 March and consecrated on 11 June 2002.

The following is a basic list the bishops.[1]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I. (1986). Handbook of British Chronology (Third Edition, revised ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 387–388. ISBN 0-521-56350-X.

External links