Diocese of Bristol
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, as far east as 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.
History
Until the Reformation, Bristol was part of the medieval Diocese of Worcester. 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 newly formed Diocese of Gloucester in 1541. The following year, the Diocese of Bristol was established on 4 June 1542 and consisted of the city of Bristol together with the county of Dorset. The Diocese of Bristol continued until 5 October 1836 when Dorset was annexed to the Diocese of Salisbury and the remainder, the city of Bristol, formed part of the Diocese of Gloucester and Bristol. After sixty years, the Diocese of Bristol was "reconstituted" on 7 July 1897, but with different boundaries.Organisation
Bishops
has been the diocesan Bishop of Bristol since the confirmation of her election on 25 June 2018; the bishop is assisted by Lee Rayfield, Bishop suffragan of Swindon. The provincial episcopal visitor is Jonathan Goodall, Bishop suffragan of Ebbsfleet, who is licensed as an honorary assistant bishop of the diocese in order to facilitate his work there.There are four retired bishops licensed as honorary assistant bishops in the diocese:
- 1991–present: John Neale, former Secretary of the Partnership for World Mission and former area Bishop of Ramsbury lives in Corsham, Wiltshire.
- 2003–present: former Bishop suffragan of Swindon Peter Firth also lives in Gloucester diocese, in Winchcombe.
- 2009–present: Retired Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, George Cassidy, lives in Stogursey in the Diocese of Bath & Wells.
Archdeaconries and deaneries
| Diocese | Archdeaconries | Rural Deaneries |
| Diocese of Bristol | Archdeaconry of Bristol | Deanery of Bristol South |
| Diocese of Bristol | Archdeaconry of Bristol | Deanery of Bristol West |
| Diocese of Bristol | Archdeaconry of Bristol | City Deanery |
| Diocese of Bristol | Archdeaconry of Malmesbury | Deanery of Chippenham |
| Diocese of Bristol | Archdeaconry of Malmesbury | Deanery of Kingswood and South Gloucestershire |
| Diocese of Bristol | Archdeaconry of Malmesbury | Deanery of North Wiltshire |
| Diocese of Bristol | Archdeaconry of Malmesbury | Deanery of Swindon |