Diocese of Bath and Wells
Diocese of Bath and Wells Dioecesis Bathoniensis et Wellensis | ||
---|---|---|
Archdeaconries Bath, Wells, Taunton | | |
Statistics | ||
Parishes | 477 | |
Churches | 569 | |
Information | ||
Denomination | Church of England | |
Established | 909 | |
Cathedral | Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew | |
Language | English | |
Current leadership | ||
Bishop | Michael Beasley, Bishop of Bath and Wells | |
Suffragan | Ruth Worsley, Bishop of Taunton[1] and Acting Bishop of Coventry | |
Archdeacons | Simon Hill, Archdeacon of Taunton Charlie Peer, Acting Archdeacon of Wells Adrian Youings, Archdeacon of Bath | |
Website | ||
bathandwells.org.uk |
The Diocese of Bath and Wells is a diocese in the Church of England Province of Canterbury in England.
The diocese covers the county of Somerset and a small area of Dorset. The Episcopal seat of the Bishop of Bath and Wells is located in the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew in the city of Wells in Somerset.
History
Early name variation
Before 909, Somerset lay within the
Gisa's successor,
Following his death in 1242 however, the monks at Bath unilaterally elected one of their number, Roger, as successor, in disregard for the chapter of Wells. His appointment received confirmation from King Henry III and the new pope Innocent IV. The chapter at Wells appealed the decision, with the result that the Pope declared, on 3 January 1245, that whilst Roger should remain, he would be bishop of a see thenceforth styled the Diocese of Bath and Wells.
Medieval diocese of Bath and Wells
The diocese of Bath and Wells proper (Badoniensis et Wellensis) dates therefore from 1245. The diocese contained the three archdeaconries of Bath, Wells, and Taunton.
Oliver King (1495–1503) rebuilt Bath Abbey in the late Perpendicular style. The work was begun in 1499 and completed in 1530 under John Clerk. The abbey was the last complete monastic edifice to be completed before the impending Reformation. He was succeeded by Adriano Castellesi (1504–18) who was an absentee bishop, under whom the see was administered by Polydore Vergil the noted historian. Castellesi's successor Thomas Wolsey (1518–23) was also an absentee bishop, held the see concurrently with that of York.
Reformation
The abbey at Bath was dissolved by
Nineteenth century
The Report of the Commissioners appointed by his Majesty to inquire into the Ecclesiastical Revenues of England and Wales (1835) found the see had an annual net income of £5,946.[2] This made it one of the wealthiest dioceses in England.
Contemporary diocese
The diocesan offices, the bishops' offices and residences and the cathedral are all located in Wells. The diocese is not referred to as Bath diocese or Wells diocese, but as The Diocese of Bath and Wells.[3]
Bishops
The ordinary of the diocese is the diocesan
There are four retired honorary assistant bishops licensed in the diocese:
- 2003–present: Barry Rogerson, retired Bishop of Bristol, lives in Clevedon.[5]
- 2003–present: Roger Sainsbury, retired area Bishop of Barking, lives in Portishead.[6]
- 2009–present: George Cassidy, retired Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham lives in Stogursey.[7]
- 2011–present: John Perry, retired Bishop of Chelmsford lives in Combe Down.[8]
Additionally, Michael Ball (retired Bishop of Truro), a founder of the Community of the Glorious Ascension, lives in the diocese (in Aller, Somerset.)[9]
Diocesan structure
The diocese is divided into three archdeaconries: Bath, Taunton and Wells. These in turn are divided into 18 deaneries. The deanery of Crewkerne and Ilminster was split in 2012. Sedgemoor was known as Bridgwater until 2000.
Diocese | Archdeaconries | Rural Deaneries
|
---|---|---|
Diocese of Bath & Wells | Archdeaconry of Bath | Deanery of Bath |
Deanery of Chew Magna | ||
Deanery of Locking | ||
Deanery of Midsomer Norton | ||
Deanery of Portishead | ||
Archdeaconry of Wells | Deanery of Axbridge | |
Deanery of Bruton and Cary | ||
Deanery of Frome | ||
Glastonbury Jurisdiction | ||
Deanery of Ivelchester | ||
Deanery of Shepton Mallet | ||
Deanery of Yeovil | ||
Archdeaconry of Taunton | Deanery of Crewkerne | |
Deanery of Exmoor | ||
Deanery of Ilminster | ||
Deanery of Quantock | ||
Deanery of Sedgemoor | ||
Deanery of Taunton | ||
Deanery of Tone
|
See also
References
- ^ Diocese of Bath & Wells — Ruth Worsley announced as next Bishop of Taunton Archived 2 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine (Accessed 2 July 2015)
- ^ The National Cyclopaedia of Useful Knowledge Vol.III, (1847) London, Charles Knight, p.362
- ^ Diocese of Bath and Wells – The Bishops' Office Archived 2012-05-10 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Beddowes, Brian. "Welcome". The See of Oswestry. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
- ^ "Rogerson, Barry". Who's Who. Vol. 2014 (December 2013 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 25 April 2014. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ "Sainsbury, Roger Frederick". Who's Who. Vol. 2014 (December 2013 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 25 April 2014. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ "Cassidy, George Henry". Who's Who. Vol. 2014 (December 2013 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 25 April 2014. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ "Perry, John Freeman". Who's Who. Vol. 2014 (December 2013 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 25 April 2014. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ "Ball, Michael Thomas". Who's Who. Vol. 2014 (December 2013 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 25 April 2014. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
Sources
- L. S. Colchester. (1982). Wells Cathedral: A History. Open Books
- The Catholic Encyclopedia
- Church of England Statistics 2002 Archived 3 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine