Anglican Diocese of Leeds
| Diocese of Leeds | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Territory | West Yorkshire and The Dales |
| Ecclesiastical province | Province of York |
| Archdeaconries | Richmond and Craven, Halifax, Leeds, Pontefract, Bradford |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 2,425 sq mi (6,280 km2) |
| Population - Total |
2,614,000 |
| Parishes | 462 |
| Churches | c. 669 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Established | Proposed: 2013 or 2014 |
| Cathedral | Equally: Ripon Cathedral, Wakefield Cathedral & Bradford Cathedral |
| Secular priests | 467 |
| Current leadership | |
| Bishop | Bishop of Leeds |
| Suffragans | Bishop of Ripon Bishop of Wakefield Bishop of Bradford Bishop of Huddersfield |
| Archdeacons | Archdeacon of Richmond and Craven Archdeacon of Halifax Archdeacon of Leeds Archdeacon of Bradford Archdeacon of Pontefract |
| Website | |
| leeds.anglican.org | |
The Diocese of Leeds is a proposed diocese (administrative division) of the Church of England, in the Province of York. It has been proposed, in the Draft Dioceses of Bradford, Ripon and Leeds and Wakefield Reorganisation Scheme,[1] following the Dioceses Commission's 2010–2011 review of the dioceses (York, Ripon & Leeds, Wakefield, Sheffield and Bradford) in Yorkshire.
Contents |
2010 Report [edit]
The Dioceses Commission (as established in a new form in 2008), began its review of the dioceses of Yorkshire on the 2009 recommendation of the House of Bishops. The review group considered the best ways for the Church of England in Yorkshire to serve the Church's mission to those communities. The group quickly decided that the dioceses of York and of Sheffield would need little adjustment, so focussed on the dioceses in West Yorkshire and The Dales.
In its first report, published December 2010,[2] the Commission suggested one large diocese covering the area currently covered by the dioceses of Ripon & Leeds, of Wakefield and of Bradford, but divided into five episcopal areas, each with an area bishop (using the "area model" used elsewhere, e.g. the Diocese of London). Additionally, one of those five area bishops would also be the diocesan bishop over the new diocese. The five areas (and bishops) suggested were based on considerations including civic communities and established foci of local church activity. Those areas are: Ripon, Wakefield, Bradford, Leeds and Huddersfield. Creating this diocese and area system would involve completely dissolving the existing diocesan sees, renaming the two existing suffragan sees and creating a new diocesan see and two more suffragan sees.
The Archdeaconry of Richmond would expand into the current Archdeaconry of Craven (Diocese of Bradford) and be renamed the Archdeaconry of Richmond and Craven, and would form the episcopal area of Ripon, while the Archdeaconry of Halifax would form the episcopal area of Huddersfield. The Leeds episcopal area would consist the Archdeaconry of Leeds, the Bradford area the Archdeaconry of Bradford and the Wakefield area the Archdeaconry of Pontefract.
In the 2010 report, a newly-created Bishop of Wakefield would have been the diocesan bishop, and the diocese called the Diocese of Wakefield. Wakefield Cathedral would have been the "principal cathedral", while Bradford and Ripon Cathedrals would have remained as cathedrals of the diocese, with "seat[s] of honour" for their respective area bishops. The current colleges of the cathedrals would merge into one diocesan college, with the Dean of Wakefield as Dean and the Deans of Bradford and of Ripon would become Vice-Deans of that college.
Draft scheme [edit]
Following extensive consultation with the three dioceses and other interested parties, the Commission issued a second report[3] and Draft Reorganisation Scheme[4] in October 2011. The draft scheme featured a few alterations from the initial report:
- As the largest and most populous city in the area, it was generally felt that Leeds should be the diocesan see. Thus, the new diocese would be the Diocese of Leeds and its diocesan bishop the Bishop of Leeds.
- Accordingly, none of the three cathedrals would be a "principal cathedral". Rather, they would have equal status, with a merged college led by a presiding dean (initially the senior one by tenure – i.e. Jonathan Greener, Dean of Wakefield – but later the one appointed by the diocesan bishop), while each cathedral's dean would remain in charge of his or her own cathedral.
- Additionally, the Leeds Minster will become the pro-cathedral for the new diocese. The governance of that church would not change, but the rector would become a canon of the diocesan college.
It was announced on 28 September 2012 that the Commission had resolved, having considered all responses to its public consultation, to go ahead with the draft scheme, which will be discussed and voted upon at the three diocesan synods.[5]
2013 Diocesan votes [edit]
The existing diocesan synods of the dioceses of Bradford, of Ripon and Leeds and of Wakefield voted on the proposed scheme on 2 March 2013.[6] Bradford and Ripon & Leeds dioceses' synods voted in favour of the proposals, while Wakefield's did not; the scheme may go before the General Synod of the Church of England without all three dioceses' approval according to the discretion of the Archbishop of York.[7] On 9 May 2013, the Archbishop announced that he had instructed the chair of the Diocese Commission to set the Draft Scheme before General Synod for consideration (i.e. debate and voting.)[8]
Bishops [edit]
Bishop of Leeds [edit]
Once the three dioceses were dissolved, the diocesan see of Leeds would be a newly-constituted diocesan see, whose incumbent, the Bishop of Leeds would be bishop over the whole new diocese generally and the Leeds episcopal area specifically. He would have cathedrae at Ripon Cathedral, at Wakefield Cathedral and at Bradford Cathedral, and would retain the option to designate Leeds Minster as a pro-cathedral.
Bishop of Ripon [edit]
After the dissolution of the diocesan see of Ripon and Leeds, the suffragan see of Knaresborough would be translated by Order in Council to Ripon. The incumbent would be the area bishop over the Ripon episcopal area, and would presumably relate closely to Ripon Cathedral.
It has been indicated that John Packer (presently the diocesan Bishop of Ripon and Leeds) would be appointed area Bishop of Ripon.[9]
Bishop of Wakefield [edit]
Following the dissolution of Wakefield diocese, the suffragan see of Pontefract would be translated by Order in Council to Wakefield. The incumbent would be the area bishop over the Wakefield episcopal area, and would presumably enjoy a seat of honour at Wakefield Cathedral.
Bishop of Bradford [edit]
Once the diocesan see of the same name was dissolved, a new suffragan see of Bradford would be created by the Reorganisation Scheme. The incumbent would be the area bishop over the Bradford episcopal area, and would presumably have a close relationship with Bradford Cathedral.
Bishop of Huddersfield [edit]
The Reorganisation Scheme would also create a new suffragan see of Huddersfield, who incumbent would be the area bishop over the Huddersfield episcopal area. Significant churches in the area include Huddersfield Parish Church, Halifax Minster and Dewsbury Minster.
References [edit]
- ^ Church of England – Dioceses Commission – Yorkshire Dioceses Review
- ^ The Dioceses Commission – Review Report No. 2: Dioceses of Bradford, Ripon & Leeds, Sheffield and Wakefield
- ^ A New Diocese for West Yorkshire and the Dales – The Draft Dioceses of Bradford, Ripon and Leeds and Wakefield Reorganisation Scheme (Report)
- ^ The Dioceses of Bradford, Ripon and Leeds and Wakefield Reorganisation Scheme 201?
- ^ Thinking Anglicans – Dioceses Commission announces draft scheme
- ^ Yorkshire Post – Baines: Fear of change shouldn't obscure mission (Accessed 22 February 2013)
- ^ Thinking Anglicans – proposed new diocese for West Yorkshire (Accessed 4 March 2013)
- ^ Archbishop of York – Reorganisation Referred to General Synod (Accessed 9 May 2013)
- ^ [1] (Accessed 4 March 2013)
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