Diocese of Cashel and Ossory

United Dioceses of Cashel, Waterford and Lismore with Ossory, Ferns and Leighlin

*Dioecesis Casheliensis, Vaterfordiensis et Lismoriensis cum Ossoriensis, Fernensis et Leighlinensis*

Deoise Chaisil, Phort Láirge, Leasa Móire, Osraí, Fhearna agus Leithghlinne
United Dioceses of Cashel, Waterford and Lismore with Ossory, Ferns and Leighlin; Dioecesis Casheliensis, Vaterfordiensis et Lismoriensis cum Ossoriensis, Fernensis et Leighlinensis; Deoise Chaisil, Phort Láirge, Leasa Móire, Osraí, Fhearna agus Leithghlinne
	Coat of arms
Location
Country	Ireland
Ecclesiastical province	Dublin and Cashel
Information
Denomination	Anglican
Cathedral	St. John's Cathedral, Cashel, ; Christ Church Cathedral, Waterford, ; St Carthage's Cathedral, Lismore, ; St Canice's Cathedral, ; Ferns Cathedral, ; St Laserian's Cathedral, Old Leighlin
Current leadership
Bishop	The Right Reverend Adrian Wilkinson
Archdeacons	Archdeacon of Ossory and Leighlin: The Ven Mark J. J. Hayden Archdeacon of Ferns, Cashel, Waterford and Lismore: The Ven R.J. Gray
Website
	cashel.anglican.org

The United Dioceses of Cashel and Ossory (Full title: the United Dioceses of Cashel, Waterford and Lismore with Ossory, Ferns and Leighlin, Irish: Deoise Chaisil, Phort Láirge, Leasa Móire, Osraí, Fhearna agus Leithghlinne) is a diocese of the Church of Ireland in the south-eastern part of Ireland^[1] that was formed from a merger of older dioceses in 1977. The diocese is in the ecclesiastical province of Dublin.^[2]

Overview and history

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 remained faithful to the Catholic Church, 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, especially in Ulster, to Presbyterianism. In 1833, the two provinces of Dublin and Cashel were merged. Over the centuries, numerous dioceses were merged, in view of declining membership. The same is true for this diocese where it can be seen that each of the entities listed in the title would have been a diocese in its own right. It is for this reason that the united diocese has six cathedrals.

Previous entities

The bishoprics of Ferns and Leighlin were united in 1597. Over 238 years, there were twenty-nine bishops of that united diocese.^{[citation needed]}

Under the Church Temporalities (Ireland) Act 1833 (3 & 4 Will. 4. c. 37), the united bishopric of Ferns and Leighlin merged with the bishopric of Ossory to form the United Dioceses of Ossory, Ferns and Leighlin on 12 July 1835.^[3]^[4] Over the next 142 years, there were twelve bishops of that united diocese.^{[citation needed]}

Under the same Act, the Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly merged with the United Dioceses of Waterford and Lismore from 14 August 1833. The resultant union was styled the "United Dioceses of Cashel and Waterford".^{[citation needed]}

In 1977, the see of "Ossory, Ferns and Leighlin" merged with the neighbouring see of the United Dioceses of Cashel and Waterford. The resultant union was styled the "United Dioceses of Cashel and Ossory"; it is this entity which continues in existence today.^{[citation needed]}

At a specially convened Synod of the United Diocese of Cashel and Ossory and the Diocese of Ferns held on Saturday 25 May 2013, it was decided that the Diocese of Ferns, which had operated as an autonomous entity with its own Diocesan Council and Synod, would be fully merged with the Diocese of Cashel and Ossory to constitute the United Diocese of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory. This change came into effect on the occasion of the Diocesan Synod held at Enniscorthy, County Wexford on Wednesday 23 October 2013.^{[citation needed]}

The Ossory Clerical Society/Association was an evangelical organisation founded by Church of Ireland Clergy in Ossory in 1800.^{[citation needed]}

Cathedrals of the united diocese

St. Canice's Cathedral, Kilkenny (Ossory).^[8]
St Edan's Cathedral, Ferns.^[9]
St Laserian's Cathedral, Old Leighlin.^[10]

List of Bishops of Cashel and Ossory

1977–1980: John Armstrong^[11]
1980–1997: Noel Willoughby
1997–2002: John Neill

2002–2006: Peter Barrett
2006–2022: Michael Burrows^[12]
2022 - : Adrian Wilkinson^[13]

Education and Faith Development

From 2010 the diocese ran the Certificate in Christian Studies^[14] for lay Anglicans, accredited by St. Patrick's College, Maynooth (Pontifical University),^[15] and hosted at the NUI Maynooth Campus, St. Kieran's College.

References

^ The United Dioceses of Cashel and Ossory. Official Diocesan website. Retrieved on 8 January 2009.
^ Cashel & Ossory. Church of Ireland website. Retrieved on 8 January 2009.
^ Fryde, ibid., p. 404.
^ Cotton, Henry (1848). The Succession of the Prelates and Members of the Cathedral Bodies of Ireland. Fasti ecclesiae Hiberniae. Vol. 2, The Province of Leinster. Dublin: Hodges and Smith. pp. 383–387.
^ St John the Baptist and St Patrick's Rock Cathedral, Cashel Archived 20 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 8 January 2008.
^ Christ Church Cathedral, Waterford Archived 2011-09-11 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 8 January 2008.
^ St Carthage's Cathedral, Lismore Archived 2011-04-16 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 8 January 2008.
^ St. Canice's Cathedral, Kilkenny (Ossory) Archived 2010-10-01 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 8 January 2008.
^ St Edan's Cathedral, Ferns Archived 2010-01-31 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 8 January 2008.
^ St Laserian's Cathedral, Old Leighlin, Carlow (Leighlin) Archived 2011-09-11 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 8 January 2008.
^ Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I. (1986). Handbook of British Chronology (Third ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 382–383. ISBN 0-521-56350-X.
^ "BISHOP'S FINAL LETTER IN CFO – WITH GREAT GRATITUDE AND AFFECTION". Diocese of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory. 29 March 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
^ "Bishop of Cashel, Ferns & Ossory". The Anglican Communion. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
^ Education – Diocese of Cashel and Ossory Archived 3 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine
^ SPCM Certificate in Christian Studies Archived 7 August 2020 at the Wayback Machine NUIM Kilkenny Campus.

External links

[cashelanglican-1] The United Dioceses of Cashel and Ossory. Official Diocesan website. Retrieved on 8 January 2009.

[coficashel-2] Cashel & Ossory. Church of Ireland website. Retrieved on 8 January 2009.

[3] Fryde, ibid., p. 404.

[fastihibvol2-4] Cotton, Henry (1848). The Succession of the Prelates and Members of the Cathedral Bodies of Ireland. Fasti ecclesiae Hiberniae. Vol. 2, The Province of Leinster. Dublin: Hodges and Smith. pp. 383–387.

[5] St John the Baptist and St Patrick's Rock Cathedral, Cashel Archived 20 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 8 January 2008.

[6] Christ Church Cathedral, Waterford Archived 2011-09-11 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 8 January 2008.

[7] St Carthage's Cathedral, Lismore Archived 2011-04-16 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 8 January 2008.

[8] St. Canice's Cathedral, Kilkenny (Ossory) Archived 2010-10-01 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 8 January 2008.

[9] St Edan's Cathedral, Ferns Archived 2010-01-31 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 8 January 2008.

[10] St Laserian's Cathedral, Old Leighlin, Carlow (Leighlin) Archived 2011-09-11 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 8 January 2008.

[HBOBC-11] Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I. (1986). Handbook of British Chronology (Third ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 382–383. ISBN 0-521-56350-X.

[12] "BISHOP'S FINAL LETTER IN CFO – WITH GREAT GRATITUDE AND AFFECTION". Diocese of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory. 29 March 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2022.

[13] "Bishop of Cashel, Ferns & Ossory". The Anglican Communion. Retrieved 28 August 2023.

[14] Education – Diocese of Cashel and Ossory Archived 3 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine

[15] SPCM Certificate in Christian Studies Archived 7 August 2020 at the Wayback Machine NUIM Kilkenny Campus.

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v t e Church of Ireland dioceses
Province of Armagh	Armagh Clogher Connor Derry and Raphoe Down and Dromore Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh
Province of Dublin	Cashel and Ossory Cork, Cloyne and Ross Dublin and Glendalough Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe Meath and Kildare

v t e Office holders in the Diocese of Cashel and Ossory
present	Bishop of Cashel and Ossory Dean of Cashel Dean of Waterford Dean of Lismore Dean of Ossory Dean of Leighlin Dean of Ferns Archdeacon of Cashel, Waterford and Lismore Archdeacon of Ossory and Leighlin Archdeacon of Ferns
former	Archdeacon of Cashel Archdeacon of Waterford Archdeacon of Lismore Archdeacon of Ossory Archdeacon of Leighlin