Diocese of Oxford
The Diocese of Oxford is a Church of England diocese that forms part of the Province of Canterbury. The diocese is led by the Bishop of Oxford, and the bishop's seat is at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford. It contains more church buildings than any other diocese and has more paid clergy than any other except London.
History
The Diocese of Oxford was created by letters patent from Henry VIII on 1 September 1542, out of part of the Diocese of Lincoln. Osney Abbey was designated the original cathedral, but in 1545 this was changed to St. Frideswide's which became Christ Church Cathedral.In 1836 the Archdeaconry of Berkshire was transferred from the Diocese of Salisbury to Oxford. This comprises the county of Berkshire and parts of Wiltshire.
In 1837 Buckinghamshire was similarly transferred from the then Diocese of Lincoln, to become the Archdeaconry of Buckingham, although this annexation did not take effect until 1845.
In 2013 and 2014, the Diocese of Oxford discussed and resolved to undertake some pastoral alterations; the new archdeaconry of Dorchester was created on 1 March 2014. On 3 March 2014, it was announced that Judy French would become the first Archdeacon of Dorchester from June 2014.
Bishops
The diocesan Bishop of Oxford is assisted by the area bishops of Dorchester, Buckingham, and Reading. The suffragan See of Buckingham was created in 1914, and was the suffragan bishop for the whole diocese until 1939 when the See of Dorchester was created; the See of Reading was re-created in 1942, after having been 'in abeyance' since 1909.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 ministry in the diocese.
Several retired bishops resident in or near the diocese are licensed to serve as honorary assistant bishops.:
- Since 1996: Keith Arnold, retired Bishop suffragan of Warwick, lives in Olney.
- Since 1999: Peter Nott, retired Bishop of Norwich and Bishop suffragan of Taunton, lives in Westcot.
- Since 1999: Henry Richmond, retired Bishop suffragan of Repton, lives in Oxford itself.
- Since 2001: Bill Down, retired Assistant Bishop of Leicester and Bishop of Bermuda, lives in Witney.
- Since 2004: James Johnson returned to parish ministry in Northants and Essex before retiring to Bodicote.
- Since 2010: Anthony Russell, former Bishop of Ely and area Bishop of Dorchester, lives in Holton.
- Since 2010: Henry Scriven, Mission Director for Latin America and former Assistant Bishop in Pittsburgh and Suffragan Bishop in Europe, lives in Abingdon-on-Thames and is also licensed in Chichester and Winchester dioceses.
- Since 2013: David Jennings, retired former Bishop suffragan of Warrington, lives in Northleach, Gloucestershire and is also licensed in Gloucester diocese.
- Since 2013: John Went, former Bishop suffragan of Tewkesbury, lives in Latimer.
Current extent
Counties
The diocese now covers the counties of- Berkshire
- Buckinghamshire
- Oxfordshire
- three churches in the county of Bedfordshire
- one church in the traditional county of Middlesex
- one church in the county of Hampshire
Episcopal areas
- City of Oxford & surrounding area
- *current Bishop of Oxford: Steven Croft
- *includes Deaneries of Oxford and Cowley
- Dorchester Episcopal Area
- *current area Bishop of Dorchester: Colin Fletcher
- *includes Deaneries of Aston & Cuddesdon, Bicester & Islip, Chipping Norton, Deddington, Henley, Witney and Woodstock
- Buckingham Episcopal Area
- *current area Bishop of Buckingham: Alan Wilson
- *includes Deaneries of Amersham, Aylesbury, Buckingham, Burnham & Slough, Claydon, Milton Keynes, Mursley, Newport, Wendover and Wycombe
- Reading Episcopal Area
- *current area Bishop of Reading: Olivia Graham
- *includes Deaneries of Abingdon, Bracknell, Bradfield, Maidenhead & Windsor, Newbury, Reading, Sonning, Vale of White Horse, Wallingford and Wantage
Archdeaconries and deaneries
Churches
Outside deanery structures
Deanery of Oxford
1situated within the area covered by the Cowley deaneryDeanery of Cowley
Deanery of Abingdon
| Benefice | Churches | Link | Clergy | Population served |
| Abingdon, North |
| 16,103 | ||
| Abingdon, North | 16,103 | |||
| Peachcroft Christian Centre | 16,103 | |||
| Abingdon-On-Thames | 16,457 | |||
| Abingdon-On-Thames | 16,457 | |||
| Abingdon-On-Thames | 16,457 | |||
| Appleton | 1,026 | |||
| Besselsleigh | 1,026 | |||
| Cumnor | 5,878 | |||
| Damascus, Comprising Appleford, Drayton, Milton, Steventon, and Sutton Courtenay | 7,902 | |||
| Dry Sandford | 897 | |||
| Fyfield with Tubney and Kingston Bagpuize | 2,759 | |||
| Fyfield with Tubney and Kingston Bagpuize | 2,759 | |||
| Marcham with Garford and Shippon | 3,912 | |||
| Marcham with Garford and Shippon | 3,912 | |||
| Radley, Sunningwell and Kennington | 8,596 | |||
| Radley, Sunningwell and Kennington | 8,596 | |||
| Radley, Sunningwell and Kennington | 8,596 | |||
| Wootton | 3,157 |
Deanery of Aston and Cuddesdon
Deanery of Bicester and Islip
Deanery of Chipping Norton
Deanery of Deddington
Deanery of Henley
Deanery of Vale of White Horse
Deanery of Wallingford
Deanery of Wantage
| Benefice | Churches | Link | Clergy | Population served |
| Ridgeway, Comprising Childrey with West Challow, Letcombe Bassett, Letcombe Regis, and Sparsholt with Kingston Lisle |
| 2,001 | ||
| Vale, Comprising Challow, Denchworth, Grove, and Hanney | 9,343 | |||
| Vale, Comprising Challow, Denchworth, Grove, and Hanney | 9,343 | |||
| Wantage | 11,396 | |||
| Wantage Downs, Comprising Ardington with Lockinge, East Hendred, and West Hendred | 1,945 |
Deanery of Witney
Deanery of Woodstock
Deanery of Amersham
| Benefice | Churches | Link | Clergy | Population served |
| Amersham | 7,898 | |||
| Amersham | 7,898 | |||
| Amersham On the Hill | 7,086 | |||
| Beaconsfield | 11,862 | |||
| Beaconsfield | 11,862 | |||
| Beaconsfield | 11,862 | |||
| Chalfont St Giles, Seer Green and Jordans | 9,290 | |||
| Chalfont St Giles, Seer Green and Jordans | 9,290 | |||
| Chalfont St Peter | 12,889 | |||
| Chenies and Little Chalfont, Latimer and Flaunden | 6,506 | |||
| Chesham Bois | 4,094 | |||
| Chesham, Great | 23,817 | |||
| Denham | 7,394 | |||
| Gerrards Cross and Fulmer | 8,312 | |||
| Penn and Tylers Green | 8,592 | |||
| Penn Street | 3,962 | |||
| Latimer Minster | N/A |
Deanery of Aylesbury
Deanery of Buckingham
| Benefice | Churches | Link | Clergy | Population served |
| Buckingham |
| 13,229 | ||
| Buckingham | 13,229 | |||
| Buckingham, North, Comprising Akeley, Leckhampstead, Lillingstone Dayrell, Lillingstone Lovell, and Maids Moreton | 2,824 | |||
| Buckingham, West, Comprising Biddlesden, Shalstone, Tingewick, Turweston, Water Stratford, and Westbury | 2,071 | |||
| Lenborough, Comprising Adstock, Gawcott, Hillesden, and Padbury | 2,161 | |||
| Lenborough, Comprising Adstock, Gawcott, Hillesden, and Padbury | 2,161 | |||
| Stowe | 929 |
Deanery of Burnham and Slough
Deanery of Claydon">Claydon (deanery)">Deanery of Claydon
Deanery of Milton Keynes
Deanery of Mursley
Deanery of Newport
Deanery of Wendover
Deanery of Wycombe
| Benefice | Churches | Link | Clergy | Population served |
| Flackwell Heath |
| 5,984 | ||
| Hambleden Valley, Comprising Fawley, Fingest, Hambleden with Frieth, Medmenham, and Turville | 3,152 | |||
| Hazlemere | 11,196 | |||
| Hedsor and Bourne End | 5,399 | |||
| Hughenden | 6,115 | |||
| Lane End with Cadmore End | 3,671 | |||
| Lane End with Cadmore End | 3,671 | |||
| Loudwater | 4,442 | |||
| Marlow, Great with Marlow Bottom, Little Marlow and Bisham | 20,783 | |||
| Stokenchurch and Ibstone | 5,071 | |||
| Stokenchurch and Ibstone | 5,071 | |||
| Terriers | 7,512 | |||
| Wooburn | 5,601 | |||
| Wycombe, High | 67,383 | |||
| Wycombe, High | 67,383 | |||
| Wycombe, High | 67,383 | |||
| Wycombe, High | 67,383 | |||
| Wycombe, High | 67,383 | |||
| Wycombe, High | 67,383 | |||
| Wycombe, West with Bledlow Ridge, Bradenham and Radnage | 4,301 | |||
| Wycombe, West with Bledlow Ridge, Bradenham and Radnage | 4,301 |
Deanery of Bracknell
Deanery of Bradfield
Deanery of Maidenhead and Windsor
Deanery of Newbury
Deanery of Reading
| Benefice | Churches | Link | Clergy | Population served |
| Caversham |
| 4,714 | ||
| Caversham Thameside and Mapledurham | 17,627 | |||
| Earley | 11,712 | |||
| Earley | 16,374 | |||
| Earley | 9,263 | |||
| Emmer Green with Caversham Park | 9,643 | |||
| Emmer Green with Caversham Park | 9,643 | |||
| Loddon Reach, Comprising Beech Hill, Shinfield, Spencers Wood and Grazeley, and Swallowfield | 10,137 | |||
| Reading | 14,318 | |||
| Reading | 7,150 | |||
| Reading | 18,109 | |||
| Reading | 7,992 | |||
| Reading | 8,216 | |||
| Reading | 0 | |||
| Reading | 8,486 | |||
| Reading | 14,973 | |||
| Reading | 738 | |||
| Reading | 13,584 | |||
| Reading Greyfriars | 3,693 | |||
| Southlake | 15,211 | |||
| Tilehurst and Calcot | 10,040 | |||
| Tilehurst | 18,101 | |||
| Tilehurst | 18,101 | |||
| Tilehurst | 15,381 | |||
| Woodley | 10,430 | |||
| Woodley | 10,430 |