Diocese of Bristol

Diocese of the Church of England

51°27′06″N 2°36′03″W﻿ / ﻿51.4517°N 2.6008°W﻿ / 51.4517; -2.6008

Diocese of Bristol

Dioecesis Bristoliensis

Coat of arms

Flag

Location
Ecclesiastical province| Canterbury
Archdeaconries| Bristol, Malmesbury
Statistics
Parishes| 167
Churches| 207
Information
Denomination| Church of England
Established| 1897
Cathedral| Bristol Cathedral
Language| English
Current leadership
Bishop| Viv Faull, Bishop of Bristol
Suffragan| Neil Warwick, Bishop of Swindon
Archdeacons| Christopher Bryan, Archdeacon of Malmesbury
Becky Waring, Archdeacon of Bristol
Website
www.bristol.anglican.org

The Diocese of Bristol is an ecclesiastical jurisdiction or diocese of the Church of England 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

[edit]

Until the Reformation, Bristol was part of the medieval Diocese of Worcester.[1][2] 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.[1][2] 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.[1][2]

Coat of arms of the Diocese of Gloucester and Bristol, consisting of the diocesan arms of Bristol impaling the diocesan arms of Gloucester

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.[1][3] After sixty years, the Diocese of Bristol was "reconstituted" on 9 July 1897, but with different boundaries.[4]

## Organisation

[edit]

### Bishops

[edit]

Viv Faull has been the diocesan Bishop of Bristol since the confirmation of her election on 25 June 2018.[5] She has announced her retirement, and will step down on 1 September 2025.[6]

The diocesan bishop is assisted by a Bishop suffragan of Swindon (Neil Warwick). The provincial episcopal visitor (for parishes in the diocese who reject the ministry of priests who are women) is the Bishop suffragan of Ebbsfleet, who is licensed as an honorary assistant bishop of the diocese in order to facilitate his work there.

### Archdeaconries and deaneries

[edit]

The diocese is divided into two archdeaconries, each of which is further divided into deaneries (groups of parishes).[7]

Diocese | Archdeaconries | Rural Deaneries

|
|

Diocese of Bristol | Archdeaconry of Bristol | Deanery of Bristol South
Deanery of Bristol West
City Deanery
Archdeaconry of Malmesbury | Deanery of Chippenham
Deanery of Kingswood and South Gloucestershire
Deanery of North Wiltshire
Deanery of Swindon

## Churches

[edit]

Source:[8]

Bristol Cathedral falls outside the following deanery structure.

### Archdeaconry of Bristol

[edit]

Deanery of Bristol South: Ashton Gate (St Francis), Bedminster (St Aldhelm), Bedminster Down (St Oswald), Bishopsworth (St Peter), Brislington (St Anne), Brislington (St Christopher), Brislington (St Cuthbert), Brislington (St Luke), Hartcliffe (St Andrew), Hengrove (Christ Church), Knowle (Holy Nativity), Knowle (St Martin), Knowle West (St Barnabas), Redcliffe (St Mary the Virgin), Southville (St Paul's), Stockwood (Christ the Servant), Whitchurch (St Augustine), Whitchurch (St Nicholas), Windmill Hill (St Michael & All Angels), Withywood Church

Deanery of Bristol West: Abbots Leigh (Holy Trinity), Almondsbury (St Mary the Virgin), Alveston (St Helen), Aust (St John), Avonmouth (St Andrew), Clifton (All Saints), Clifton (Christ Church), Compton Greenfield (All Saints), Elberton (St John), Henbury (St Mary the Virgin), Henleaze (St Peter), Lawrence Weston (St Peter), Leigh Woods (St Mary the Virgin), Littleton-on-Severn (St Mary of Malmesbury), Olveston (St Mary the Virgin), Pilning (St Peter), Sea Mills (St Edyth), Shirehampton (St Mary), Southmead (St Stephen), Stoke Bishop (St Mary Magdalene), Westbury-on-Trym (Holy Trinity), Westbury Park (St Alban)

City Deanery: Barton Hill (St Luke), Bishopston (Good Shepherd), Bishopston St Michael & All Angels, Bristol St Aidan, Bristol St Bartholomew with St Andrew, Bristol Christ Church, Bristol St Matthew, Bristol St Nicholas, Bristol SS Philip & Jacob, Bristol St Stephen, Clifton St Paul, Cotham (St Saviour with St Mary), Easton All Hallows, Easton Holy Trinity, Eastville (St Anne), Fishponds All Saints, Fishponds St John, Fishponds St Mary, Horfield Holy Trinity, Horfield St Gregory the Great, Hotwells (Holy Trinity), Lockleaze (St Mary Magdalene), Redland Parish Church, St Paul's (St Agnes), Two Mile Hill (St Michael the Archangel), Whitehall (St Ambrose)

### Archdeaconry of Malmesbury

[edit]

Deanery of Chippenham: Biddestone (St Nicholas), Bowden Hill (St Anne), Box (St Thomas a Becket), Castle Combe (St Andrew), Chapel Plaister (Pilgrims' Chapel), Chippenham St Andrew, Chippenham St Paul, Chippenham St Peter, Cold Ashton (Holy Trinity), Colerne (St John the Baptist), Corsham (St Bartholomew), Ditteridge (St Christopher), Gastard (St John the Baptist), Grittleton (St Mary the Virgin), Hardenhuish (St Nicholas), Kington St Michael (St Michael), Lacock (St Cyriac), Langley Burrell (St Peter), Littleton Drew (All Saints), Marshfield (St Mary the Virgin), Neston (SS Phillip & James), Nettleton (St Mary the Virgin), North Wraxall (St James), Slaughterford (St Nicholas), Tormarton (St Mary Magdalene), Tytherton Lucas (St Nicholas), West Kington (St Mary the Virgin), West Littleton (St James), Yatton Keynell (St Margaret)

Deanery of Kingswood and South Gloucestershire: Abson (St James the Great), Bitton (St Mary), Bradley Stoke Christ the King, Bradley Stoke Holy Trinity, Coalpit Heath (St Saviour), Downend (Christ Church), Doynton (Holy Trinity), Dyrham (St Peter), Filton (St Peter), Frampton Cotterell (St Peter), Frenchay (St John the Baptist), Hanham (Christ Church), Hanham Abbots (St George), Iron Acton (St James the Less), Kingswood All Souls, Kingswood Ascension, Kingswood Holy Trinity, Longwell Green (All Saints), Mangotsfield (St James), Oldland (St Anne), Patchway (St Chad), Pucklechurch (St Thomas a Becket), Soundwell (St Stephen), Stapleton (Holy Trinity), Stoke Gifford (St Michael), Syston (St Anne), Wapley (St Peter), Warmley (St Barnabas), Westerleigh (St James the Great), Wick (St Bartholomew), Winterbourne (St Michael the Archangel), Winterbourne Down (All Saints), Yate St Mary, Yate St Nicholas

Deanery of North Wiltshire: Alderton (St Giles), Ashley (St James), Ashton Keynes (Holy Cross), Brokenborough (St John the Baptist), Brinkworth (St Michael & All Angels), Charlton (St John the Baptist), Christian Malford (All Saints), Corston (All Saints), Cricklade (St Sampson), Crudwell (All Saints), Dauntsey (St James the Great), Easton Grey Parish Church, Foxley Parish Church, Garsdon (All Saints), Great Somerford (SS Peter & Paul), Hankerton (Holy Cross), Hullavington (St Mary Magdalene), Kington Langley (St Peter), Latton (St John the Baptist), Lea (St Giles), Leigh (All Saints), Little Somerford (St John the Baptist), Luckington (SS Mary & Ethelbert), Malmesbury (SS Peter & Paul), Minety (St Leonard), Norton (All Saints), Oaksey (All Saints), Rodbourne (Holy Rood), Seagry (St Mary the Virgin), Sherston Magna (Holy Cross), Stanton St Quintin (St Giles), Sutton Benger (All Saints), Tytherton Kellaways (St Giles)

Deanery of Swindon: Bishopstone (St Mary the Virgin), Blunsdon (St Andrew), Broad Blunsdon (St Leonard), Hannington (St John the Baptist), Haydon Wick (St John), Highworth (St Michael), Hinton Parva (St Swithun), Lyddington (All Saints), Lydiard Millicent (All Saints), Lydiard Tregoze (St Mary), Purton (St Mary), Rodbourne Cheney (St Mary), Sevenhampton (St James), Shaw (Holy Trinity), South Marston (St Mary Magdalene), Stanton Fitzwarren (St Leonard), Stratton (St Margaret), Swindon All Saints, Swindon St Aldhelm, Swindon St Andrew, Swindon St Augustine of Canterbury, Swindon St Barnabas, Swindon Christ Church, Swindon St John the Baptist, Swindon St Luke, Swindon St Mark, Swindon St Mary, Swindon St Paul, Swindon St Peter, Swindon St Saviour, Swindon St Timothy, Toothill Church, Upper Stratton (St Philip the Deacon), Wanborough (St Andrew), Westlea Church, Wroughton (SS John the Baptist & Helen)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d Horn, J. M. (1996). "Bristol: Introduction". Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1541–1857: Volume 8: Bristol, Gloucester, Oxford and Peterborough Dioceses. British History Online. pp. 3–6.
2. ^ a b c Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Ancient Diocese of Bristol". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
3. ^ "No. 19426". The London Gazette. 7 October 1836. pp. 1734–1738.
4. ^ "No. 26871". The London Gazette. 9 July 1897. p. 3787.
5. ^ "The Acting Dean of York – The Reverend Canon Peter Moger". York Minster. 25 June 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
6. ^ "Bishop of Bristol announces retirement after 'beautiful coda'". BBC News. 7 February 2025. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
7. ^ "Our Deaneries". Diocese of Bristol. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
8. ^ "Bristol". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 11 January 2021.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

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Anglican dioceses in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Isle of Man and Channel Islands

Church of England
(list of dioceses)|

| Province
of Canterbury|

* Bath and Wells
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|

Province
of York|

* Blackburn
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* Sodor and Man
* Southwell and Nottingham
* York

Church in Wales|

* Bangor
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Scottish Episcopal Church|

* Aberdeen and Orkney
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* Moray, Ross and Caithness
* St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane

Church of Ireland|

| Province of Armagh|

* Armagh
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* Derry and Raphoe
* Down and Dromore
* Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh

|

Province of Dublin|

* Cashel and Ossory
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* Dublin and Glendalough
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* Meath and Kildare

* v
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Diocese of Bristol

* Bristol Cathedral
* bishop's house, Winterbourne
* Bishop's Office, Bristol
* Hillside House, Bristol

Office holders|

* Vivienne Faull, Bishop of Bristol
* Neil Warwick, Bishop suffragan of Swindon
* AEO: Paul Thomas, Bishop suffragan of Oswestry & Rob Munro, Bishop suffragan of Ebbsfleet
* Mandy Ford, Dean of Bristol
* Christopher Bryan, Archdeacon of Malmesbury
* Becky Waring, Archdeacon of Bristol

Historic offices|

* Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol (1836–1897; see Diocese of Gloucester and Bristol)
* Bishop suffragan of Malmesbury (1927–1994; renamed to Swindon)
* Archdeacon of Dorset (1542–1836; returned to Salisbury)
* Archdeacon of North Wilts (1904–1919; renamed to Swindon)
* Archdeacon of Swindon (1919–1999; renamed to Malmesbury)

Portals:

* Christianity
* England

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* United States

Other|

* Yale LUX

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