Archdeacon of Pontefract
The Archdeacon of Pontefract is a senior ecclesiastical officer within the Diocese of Leeds.
As Archdeacon he or she is responsible for the disciplinary supervision of the clergy within the five area deaneries of Dewsbury, Wakefield, Pontefract, Barnsley and Birstall.History
The Archdeaconry was founded with the erection of the Diocese of Wakefield on 20 November 1888. From then until its reorganisation in 1927, the archdeaconry of Halifax comprised the northwestern corner of that diocese. In 1927, the archdeaconry was renamed to that of Pontefract and its borders moved to cover the eastern half of the diocese.
For many years the post of Archdeacon of Pontefract was combined with that of Bishop suffragan of Pontefract. The current incumbent is Peter Townley. Since the creation of the Diocese of Leeds on 20 April 2014, the archdeaconry has formed the Wakefield episcopal area.
