Historical development of Church of England dioceses


This article traces the historical development of the dioceses and cathedrals of the Church of England. It is customary in England to name each diocese after the city where its cathedral is located. Occasionally, when the bishop's seat has been moved from one city to another, the diocese may retain both names, for example Bath and Wells. More recently, where a cathedral is in a small or little-known city, the diocesan name has been changed to include the name of a nearby larger city: thus the cathedral in Southwell now serves the diocese of Southwell and Nottingham, and Ripon Cathedral was in Ripon and Leeds from 1999 until 2014. Cathedrals, like other churches, are dedicated to a particular saint or holy object, or Christ himself, but are commonly referred to by the name of the city where they stand. A cathedral is, simply, the church where the bishop has his chair or "cathedra".
The forty-two dioceses of the Church of England are administrative territorial units each governed by a bishop. Forty-one dioceses cover England, the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands, the Isles of Scilly, and a small part of Wales. One diocese, the Diocese in Europe, is also a part of the Church of England, and covers the whole of mainland Europe, the countries of Morocco and Turkey, and the territory of the former Soviet Union.
The structure of the dioceses within the Church of England was initially inherited from the Catholic Church as part of the English Reformation. During the Reformation, a number of new dioceses were founded. No new English or Welsh dioceses were then created until the middle of the 19th century, when dioceses were founded mainly in response to the growing population, especially in the northern industrial cities.
From 1787, the Anglican church also erected 41 dioceses outside these isles ; these were part of the Church of England until they were separated from the home Church in 1863. From 1801 until 1871, the dioceses of Ireland were also part of the United Church of England and Ireland. In 1920, the Welsh dioceses were separated to form the Church in Wales.
The last dioceses were created in 1927. The 42 dioceses are divided between two Provinces: the Province of Canterbury and the Province of York. The archbishops of Canterbury and York have pastoral oversight over the bishops within their province, along with certain other rights and responsibilities.

History

The history of the cathedrals in Great Britain differs somewhat from that of their European continental counterparts. British cathedrals have always been fewer in number than those of Italy, France, and other parts of Europe, while the buildings themselves have tended to be much larger. While France, at the time of the French Revolution, had 136 cathedrals, England had 27. Because of a ruling that no cathedral could be built in a village, any town in which a cathedral was located was elevated to city status, regardless of its size. To this day several large English cathedrals are located in small "cathedral cities", notably Wells and Ely Cathedrals, both of which rank among the greatest works of English Medieval architecture.

Early organisation

In earlier times, populations were sparsely spread and towns were few. The population of the kingdom of England in the 11th century is estimated at between one and two million, with Lincolnshire, East Anglia, and East Kent the most densely populated areas; in other parts of the country many villages had been razed by the conquest armies. Instead of exercising jurisdiction over geographical areas, many of the bishops were linked to tribes or peoples, as the bishops of the South Saxons, the West Saxons, the Somersætas, etc. The cathedra of such a bishop was often migratory.
In 1075 a council was held in London, under the presidency of Archbishop Lanfranc, which, reciting the decrees of the council of Sardica held in 347 and that of Laodicea held in 360 on this matter, ordered the bishop of the South Saxons to remove his see from Selsey to Chichester; the Wiltshire and Dorset bishop to remove his cathedra from Sherborne to Old Sarum, and the Mercian bishop, whose cathedral was then at Lichfield, to transfer it to Chester. Traces of the tribal and migratory system may still be noted in the designations of the Irish see of Meath and Ossory, the cathedral church of which is at Kilkenny. Some of the Scottish sees were also migratory.

Late Middle Ages

Between 1075 and the 15th century, the cathedrals of England were almost evenly divided between those ruled by secular canons headed by a dean and those ruled by monastic orders headed by a prior, all of which were Benedictine, except Carlisle, which was Augustinian. Two cathedrals, Bath and Coventry, shared their sees with Wells and Lichfield, respectively.

Reformation

The entire structure of the monastic and cathedral system was overthrown and reconstituted during the Reformation. Cathedrals which were once Roman Catholic came under the governance of the Church of England.
All the English monastic cathedral chapters were dissolved by Henry VIII and, with the exceptions of Bath and Coventry, were re-founded by him as churches of secular chapters, with a dean as the head, and a certain number of canons ranging from twelve at Canterbury and Durham to four at Carlisle, and with certain subordinate officers as minor canons, gospellers, epistolers, etc. The precentorship in these churches of the "New Foundation", as they are called, is not, as in the secular churches of the "Old Foundation", a dignity, but is merely an office held by one of the minor canons.
Henry VIII also created six new cathedrals from old monastic establishments, in each case governed by secular canons. Of these, Westminster did not retain its cathedral status. Four more of England's large historic churches were later to become cathedrals: Southwell, Southwark, Ripon, and St Albans Abbey.

Roles within the Cathedral

Details of cathedrals and their foundation

Ancient cathedrals

The medieval Church of England was organized into 17 dioceses. About half of the diocesan cathedrals were also monasteries, with the prior serving double duty as dean of the cathedral. The rest were served by a college of "secular" canons – non-monastic priests living under no fixed rule of life. Both types often had Saxon foundations. Dioceses which exist in the Church of England today are indicated in bold type.

Pre-Conquest

DioceseFoundedMonastic or secular?Notes
Canterbury597MonasticAlso called archbishop of Kent in Anglo-Saxon times.
Rochester604MonasticAlso called bishop of the West Kentish in Anglo-Saxon times.
London604SecularArchbishops of London had existed previously; also called bishop of the East Saxons or of Essex in Anglo-Saxon times.
York626SecularIn Anglo-Saxon times also called bishop of Northumbria or of the Northumbrians, or of Deira.
East Anglia/Dunwich631 MonasticLapsed to Elmham in 950; also called bishop of the East Angles.
Dorchester/Winchester634
660
MonasticAlso called bishop of Wessex in Anglo-Saxon times.
Lindisfarne/Durham635
995
MonasticTransferred to Durham in 995 from Chester-le-Street, itself a transfer from Lindisfarne; earlier called bishop of Bernicia or of the Bernicians.
Mercia/Lichfield656
669
Monastic/SecularAfter 1075, the see was occasionally Coventry or Chester; in Anglo-Saxon times called bishop of Mercia or of the Mercians.
Elmham/Thetford/Norwich672
1072
1091
Secular?/Monastic
Hereford676SecularAlso called bishop of the Magonsæte in Anglo-Saxon times.
Lindsey 678SecularMerged with Dorchester, ; also called bishop of the Lindisfaras.
Ripon678SecularOne bishop only; merged to York before 700.
Worcester680MonasticIn Anglo-Saxon times also called bishop of the Hwicce.
Leicester/Dorchester/Lincoln681
878
1072
Unknown
Selsey/Chichester681 & 706
1075
Originally Monastic,
from 1075 Secular
Selsey Abbey was founded in 681 and was the cathedra for the Kingdom of Sussex. That see lasted until 685, and from 686 to 705 was merged in the Diocese of Winchester, but was reasserted in 706. The bishopric was moved to Chichester by order of the Council of London in 1075; the bishops had previously also been known as bishop of Sussex or of the South Saxons.
Hexham685MonasticAbsorbed into Lindisfarne by 854.
Sherborne/Salisbury705
1078
Originally Monastic, from 1078 Secular
Cornish see Mid-9th centuryMonasticUnited into Exeter, 1050.
Tawton/Crediton/Exeter905
909
1050
Secular
Bath and Wells909Monastic/SecularBath was monastical and Wells a college of secular canons; from 909 to 1090 the seat was Wells, then from 1090 to 1245 Bath was usually the seat, and from 1245 the two places became joint seats albeit with Wells gaining pre-eminence; also called bishop of Somerset or bishop of the Somersaetas in Anglo-Saxon times.
Ramsbury909?Reabsorbed into Sherborne, 1058.
Teilo/LlandaffUnder English jurisdiction from
1115
MonasticNow a Church in Wales diocese.

Post-conquest

The Henrican Reorganization

After Henry VIII's break with the Pope and the dissolution of the monasteries, the formerly monastic cathedrals were "re-founded" with secular canons. Furthermore, a number of new dioceses were formed, using some of the largest and finest of the other dissolved monasteries as cathedrals. Together, these two groups — the old monastic cathedrals and the new sees — were known as cathedrals of the New Foundation; the old cathedrals which had always been served by secular canons were known as those of the Old Foundation. Dioceses which exist in the Church of England today are indicated in bold type.
DioceseFoundedNotes
Westminster17 December 1540Its cathedral was Westminster Abbey; but the diocese only existed 1540–50. From 1550–56, Westminster Abbey was a second cathedral, along with St Paul's, for the diocese of London. Since then the Abbey has not been a cathedral, but a Royal Peculiar, in which capacity the Archbishop of Canterbury still uses it for consecrations of bishops.
Chester4 August 1541St Werburgh's Abbey, an 11th-century Benedictine abbey was dissolved and made the new diocese's cathedral.
Gloucester3 September 1541St Peter's Abbey became the new diocese's cathedral. It had been in Benedictine hands since the 11th century.
Peterborough4 September 1541The new cathedral had been a Benedictine abbey since the 10th century.
Bristol4 June 1542The 12th century Augustinian abbey was dissolved and became the new diocese's cathedral.
Oxford1 September 1542The cathedral was initially at Osney Abbey, a 12th-century Augustinian abbey. In 1545, the see was transferred to the chapel of Christ Church, Oxford University

Colonial dioceses

During the British colonial era, the Anglican religion was exported to the colonies. From 1787 onwards, Church of England dioceses were founded in the colonies. A structure of provinces and metropolitans developed until, in 1863, the imperial Privy Council ruled that the English church hierarchy had no legal status in the colonies. Immediately prior to that point, the United Church of England and Ireland had a total of 82 dioceses worldwide.
From 1863 onwards, Anglican colonial dioceses have been separate from and independent of the English church. Exceptionally, the Archbishop of Canterbury has retained some metropolitan jurisdictions outside England. Dioceses are listed by their name at creation and their present country, with only their cathedral between creation and independence.
DioceseYearNotesCathedral
Nova Scotia, Canada1787First colonial diocese – originally covered all British North America. Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island since 1999.St Luke's Pro-Cathedral, Halifax
Quebec, Canada1793Created from Nova Scotia diocese.Holy Trinity, Quebec City
Calcutta, India1814Jurisdiction originally included all of the Indian subcontinent and Australasia.St. Paul's, Kolkata
Barbados1824Originally one of two Caribbean dioceses.St Michael and All Angels, Bridgetown
Jamaica1824Originally one of two Caribbean dioceses. Now the West Indies Diocese of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.St. Jago de la Vega, Spanish Town
Madras, India1835Created from Calcutta diocese. At its creation, Calcutta gained metropolitan authority over all its former jurisdiction.St. George's, Chennai
Australia1836Created from Calcutta diocese. Originally covered all of Australia and New Zealand, etc. Now the metropolitan Diocese of Sydney.St Andrew's, Sydney
Bombay, India1837Created from Calcutta diocese. Now the CNI Diocese of Mumbai.St. Thomas, Mumbai
Newfoundland, Canada1839Created from Nova Scotia diocese from its creation to the present day.
Colombo, Ceylon1845Created from Madras diocese and originally subject to the metropolitan bishop of Calcutta. Now extraprovincial to the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Fredericton, Canada1845Created from Nova Scotia diocese.Christ Church, Fredericton
Adelaide, Australia1847Created from the first split of the Diocese of Australia. Adelaide and Melbourne are now metropolitan archiepiscopal sees.Holy Trinity Pro-Cathedral, Adelaide
Melbourne, Australia1847Created from the first split of the Diocese of Australia. Adelaide and Melbourne are now metropolitan archiepiscopal sees.St James Old Cathedral, Melbourne
Newcastle, Australia1847Created from the first split of the Diocese of Australia. Adelaide and Melbourne are now metropolitan archiepiscopal sees.old Christ Church, Newcastle
Cape Town, South Africa1847Now primate, metropolitan and sole archbishop of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa.old St. George's, Cape Town
Rupert's Land, Canada1849Originally covered the area of the current Ecclesiastical Province of Rupert's Land.St. John, Winnipeg
Victoria, Hong Kong1849Originally covered all South China and Hong Kong. First in Canterbury province, then in China, split in 1998 into the three dioceses of Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui.St. John's, Hong Kong
Montreal, Canada1850Created from Quebec diocese.old Christ Church, Montreal
Grahamstown, South Africa1853Split from Cape Town diocese. Cape Town became the metropolitan see.SS Michael & George, Grahamstown
Natal, South Africa1853Split from Cape Town diocese. Cape Town became the metropolitan see.St Peter's, Pietermaritzburg
Mauritius1854Created from Colombo diocese.St James's, Port Louis
Labuan, Malaysia1855Created from Calcutta diocese.old St. Thomas, Kuching
Christchurch, New Zealand1856Created from the first split of the New Zealand diocese. That diocese became Auckland diocese and its bishop metropolitan over all New Zealand.
Perth, Australia1856Created from Adelaide diocese. Metropolitan archbishop over North West Australia since 1914.old St George's, Perth
Huron, Canada1857Created from Toronto diocese.St Paul's, London
Brisbane, Australia1858Created from the Australian Newcastle diocese. Metropolitan archbishop over Queensland since 1905.old St John's Pro-Cathedral, Brisbane
Nelson, New Zealand1858Created from the New Zealand diocese.old Christ Church, Nelson
Waiapu, New Zealand1858Created from the New Zealand diocese.
Wellington, New Zealand1858Created from the New Zealand diocese.
British Columbia, Canada1859Created from Rupert's Land diocese.
St Helena1859Created from Cape Town diocese. Now in the Anglican Church of Southern Africa.St Paul's, Saint Helena
Nassau, Bahamas1861Created from the Diocese of Jamaica.Christ Church, Nassau
Ontario, Canada1862Created from Toronto diocese.St. George's, Kingston
Goulburn, Australia1863Created by letters patent from Queen Victoria on 14 March 1863, from Sydney diocese. Now the Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn.
Grafton & Armidale, Australia1863Created by letters patent from Queen Victoria in March 1863, from the Australian Newcastle diocese. Now the two dioceses of Armidale and of Grafton.

Irish dioceses

Between the 1801 Union and 1871 disestablishment, the Anglican dioceses of England and Ireland were united in one United Church of England and Ireland. As such, the Irish dioceses were, for a time, Church of England dioceses. Each diocese is listed with only her cathedral during the United Church period.
DioceseProvinceNotesCathedral
ArmaghArmaghMetropolitan archbishop and Primate of All Ireland.St Patrick's, Armagh
MeathArmaghSenior bishop after the archbishops.St Patrick, Trim
DerryArmaghDerry and Raphoe since 1834.St Columb's, Derry
St. Eunan, Raphoe
Down & ConnorArmaghDown, Connor & Dromore 1842–1945, then split into Down & Dromore and Connor in 1945.Holy and Undivided Trinity, Downpatrick
St Saviour, Connor & Christ Church, Lisburn
Christ the Redeemer, Dromore
RaphoeArmaghUnited to Derry since 1834.St. Eunan, Raphoe
KilmoreArmaghKilmore & Ardagh, 1839–1841; Kilmore, Elphin & Ardagh since 1841.St Fethlimidh, Kilmore
St Mary's, Elphin
DromoreArmaghUnited to Down & Connor then Down.Christ the Redeemer, Dromore
Dublin and GlendaloughDublinMetropolitan archbishop and Primate of Ireland; united with Kildare as Dublin, Kildare and Glendalough.Christ Church & St Patrick's, Dublin
St Brigid, Kildare
KildareDublinSecond most senior bishop after the archbishops. United with Dublin and with Meath since.St Brigid, Kildare
Ferns & LeighlinDublinUnited since 1597; united to Ossory since 1835.St Edan's, Ferns
St Laserian's, Old Leighlin
OssoryDublinOssory, Ferns & Leighlin ; united to Cashel since.St Canice's, Kilkenny
St Edan's, Ferns
St Laserian's, Old Leighlin
Tuam and ArdaghTuam
Armagh
Metropolitan archbishop over Tuam province until its union to Armagh province in 1939. Diocese included Ardagh 1742–1839 and Killala & Achonry 1834–1839; Diocese of Tuam, Killala & Achonry since 1839.St Mary's, Tuam
St Patrick's, Killala
St Crumnathy's, Achonry
ClogherTuam
Armagh
United to the metropolitan diocese of Armagh.St Macartan's, Clogher
ElphinTuam
Armagh
United to Kilmore since 1841.St Mary's, Elphin
Killala & AchonryTuam
Armagh
United since 1622; united to Tuam since 1834.St Patrick's, Killala
St Crumnathy's, Achonry
Clonfert & KilmacduaghTuam
Cashel
Dublin
United since 1627; united to Killaloe and to Limerick.St Brendan's, Clonfert
St Colman's, Kilmacduagh
Cashel and EmlyCashel
Dublin
Metropolitan archbishop of the province until its union to Dublin province in 1838. United with Waterford and with Ossory.St. John's, Cashel
St. Alibeus, Emly
Christ Church, Waterford
St Carthage's, Lismore
CloyneCashel
Dublin
United to Cork since 1835.St Coleman's, Cloyne
Cork & RossCashel
Dublin
United since 1583; Cork, Cloyne & Ross since 1835.old St Fin Barre's, Cork
St Coleman's, Cloyne
St. Fachtna, Rosscarbery
Killaloe & KilfenoraCashel
Dublin
United since 1752; Killaloe & Clonfert ; united to Limerick since 1976.St Flannan's, Killaloe
St Brendan, Clonfert
Limerick, Ardfert & AghadoeCashel
Dublin
United since 1661; Limerick & Killaloe since 1976.St Mary's, Limerick
Waterford & LismoreCashel
Dublin
United since 1363; united to Cashel since 1838.Christ Church Cathedral, Waterford
St Carthage's Cathedral, Lismore

Late modern foundations

No further cathedrals were founded until, in the mid 19th century, the huge population growth of north-central England meant that redistricting could no longer be ignored. Since then twenty new dioceses have been founded, each with a cathedral — some are great medieval monasteries or collegiate churches which were not elevated by Henry VIII but might well have been; others are glorified parish churches; and others are totally new constructions. In the following table, bold type indicates the creation of a new diocese, whilst plain type is used to indicate changes to existing dioceses.
DioceseDateFromCathedral History
Ripon5 October 1836Created from part of York and Chester; dissolved in creation of Leeds dioceseGreat medieval collegiate church
Oxford5 October 1836took in Berkshire, from SalisburyCollege chapel of Christ Church, Oxford
Bristol5 October 1836suppressed: Bristol went to Gloucester, Dorset went to Salisbury
Lichfield24 January 1837Lichfield and Coventry became Lichfield; Coventry went to Worcester; Lichfield left with Derbyshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire
ElyMay 1837took in Bedfordshire and Huntingdonshire from Lincoln; part of Suffolk from Norwich
Peterborough1 May 1839took in Leicestershire from Lincoln
Lincoln1 May 1839 &
8 June 1841
took in Nottinghamshire from York
Oxford12 November 1845took in Buckinghamshire from Lincoln
Rochester1 January 1846took in part of Hertfordshire from Lincoln and London
Rochester1 January 1846took in Essex from London
Manchester1 November 1847created from part of ChesterGreat medieval collegiate church
Carlisle1856took in rest of Westmorland, Cumberland, Furness and Cartmel from Chester
Truro15 December 1876created from part of ExeterNew cathedral
St Albans4 May 1877created from part of RochesterGreat medieval monastery
Liverpool9 April 1880created from part of ChesterParish church, initially; later a huge wholly new cathedral was built
Newcastle23 May 1882created from part of DurhamParish church
Southwell5 February 1884created from part of Lincoln and Lichfield Southwell Minster: a great medieval collegiate church
Wakefield18 May 1888created from part of Ripon; dissolved in creation of Leeds dioceseParish church
Bristol9 July 1897reconstitutedprevious cathedral
Birmingham13 January 1905created from part of Worcester18th century parish church
Southwark1 May 1905created from parts of Rochester Southwark Priory: Great medieval monastery
Chelmsford23 January 1914created from part of St AlbansParish church
St Edmundsbury and Ipswich23 January 1914created from part of Ely and NorwichParish church, with remnants of medieval monastery visible
Sheffield23 January 1914created from part of York, small part of SouthwellParish church
Coventry6 September 1918created from part of WorcesterVery large parish church ; after destruction in the second world war, a wholly new cathedral was built, adjoining and overlooking the ruins.
Bradford25 November 1919created from part of Ripon; dissolved in creation of Leeds dioceseParish church
Blackburn12 November 1926created from part of ManchesterParish church
Leicester12 November 1926created from part of PeterboroughParish church
Guildford1 May 1927created from part of WinchesterNew cathedral
Portsmouth1 May 1927created from part of WinchesterParish church
Derby7 July 1927created from part of Southwell Parish church
Leeds20 April 2014created following dissolution of Bradford, Ripon and Leeds and WakefieldThree existing cathedrals

Line of descent since St Augustine

There were archbishops in London, York and Caerleon and bishops in Lincoln before the 4th century. The following is a simplified breakdown of the creation of dioceses since St Augustine's 6th/7th century dioceses. It is simplified in that not every new diocese is formed from only one predecessor – they have often taken territory from two or more neighbouring dioceses. Today's dioceses are highlighted in bold type.