Anglican Diocese of Leeds

Diocese of Leeds Dioecesis Loidensis
Coat of arms
Flag
Location
Territory	West Yorkshire, western North Yorkshire, northern Barnsley, Lancashire (West Craven), County Durham (South Teesdale), Cumbria (Sedbergh area)
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	656 [1]
Information
Denomination	Church of England
Established	20 April 2014 (2014-04-20) [2]
Cathedral	Equally: Ripon Cathedral, Wakefield Cathedral & Bradford Cathedral [3]
Secular priests	467
Current leadership
Bishop	Nick Baines, Bishop of Leeds
Suffragans	Toby Howarth, area Bishop of Bradford [4] Arun Arora, suffragan Bishop of Kirkstall (area bishop for Leeds) Smitha Prasadam, area Bishop of Huddersfield Anna Eltringham, area Bishop of Ripon area Bishop of Wakefield (vacant)
Archdeacons	Andy Jolley, Archdeacon of Bradford Paul Ayers, Archdeacon of Leeds Jonathan Gough, Archdeacon of Richmond and Craven Bill Braviner, Archdeacon of Halifax Cat Thatcher, Archdeacon of Pontefract
Website
www.leeds.anglican.org

The Anglican Diocese of Leeds ^[5] (previously also known as the Diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales) ^[6] is a diocese (administrative division) of the Church of England, in the Province of York. It is the largest diocese in England by area, comprising much of western Yorkshire: almost the whole of West Yorkshire, the western part of North Yorkshire, the town of Barnsley in South Yorkshire, and most of the parts of County Durham, Cumbria and Lancashire which lie within the historic boundaries of Yorkshire. It includes the cities of Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield and Ripon. It was created on 20 April 2014 following a review of the dioceses in Yorkshire and the dissolution of the dioceses of Bradford, Ripon and Leeds, and Wakefield.

The diocese is led by the Anglican Bishop of Leeds and has three cathedrals of equal status: Ripon, Wakefield, and Bradford. There are five episcopal areas within the diocese, each led by an area bishop: Leeds, Ripon, Wakefield, Bradford and Huddersfield.

Formation

Review and 2010 report

The Dioceses Commission (as established in a new form in 2008), began its review of the dioceses of Yorkshire (York, Ripon & Leeds, Wakefield, Sheffield and Bradford) 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 focused on the dioceses in West Yorkshire and The Dales.

In its first report, published December 2010, ^[7] 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

Following extensive consultation with the three dioceses and other interested parties, the Commission issued a second report ^[8] and Draft Reorganisation Scheme ^[9] 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 would become the pro-cathedral for the new diocese if and when the diocesan bishop decided. 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 would be discussed and voted upon at the three diocesan synods. ^[10]

2013 diocesan votes and creation

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. ^[11] The Bradford and Ripon & Leeds diocesan synods voted in favour of the proposals, while Wakefield's did not; however, the scheme could go before the General Synod of the Church of England without all three dioceses' approval according to the discretion of the archbishop of York. ^[12] On 9 May 2013, the archbishop announced that he had instructed the chair of the Dioceses Commission to set the Draft Scheme before General Synod for consideration (i.e. debate and voting.) ^[13]

The proposal was approved on 8 July 2013 by the General Synod. ^[14] The new diocese was created on Easter Day, 20 April 2014, becoming the first new diocese in the Church of England since 1929 and the largest diocese in England by area, covering 2,425 square miles (6,280 km²) and 2.3 million people, served by 656 churches. ^[15]

2017 deanery reorganisations

Effective 1 January 2017, several of the diocese's deaneries were reorganised. Among these were all the deaneries of the Bradford archdeaconry, which were entirely redrawn from five into four, ^[16] and the deaneries of Bowland and of Ewecross (in Richmond and Craven archdeaconry), both of which had lost parishes in the diocese's formation, merged into one deanery (Bowland and Ewecross). ^[17]

Organisation

The diocese (which was usually referred to, from 2014 until 14 July 2016 ^[5] as the Diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales to reflect the geographical area it covers) is led by the bishop of Leeds. There are five episcopal areas within the diocese, each led by an area bishop: Leeds, Ripon, Wakefield, Bradford and Huddersfield. ^[15]

Bishop of Leeds

Once the three dioceses were dissolved by the scheme on 20 April 2014, the diocesan see of Leeds was newly constituted a diocesan see, whose incumbent, the Bishop of Leeds is bishop over the whole diocese generally and the Leeds episcopal area specifically. He has cathedrals at Ripon Cathedral, at Wakefield Cathedral, at Bradford Cathedral, and (if and only if he designates the minster as a pro-cathedral) at Leeds Minster. ^[3]

It was announced on 8 November 2013 that retired Bishop of Southwark Tom Butler would serve as "mentor bishop" for the diocese prior to the first diocesan bishop taking post. ^[18] During that period, Butler was also the interim area bishop in the Bradford area while the bishop of Knaresborough was also interim area bishop in the Leeds area. ^[19] It was further announced on 4 February 2014 that Nick Baines would be the first diocesan and area Bishop of Leeds; ^[20] it was further announced on 15 April that Baines would be acting diocesan bishop and acting area bishop for Leeds from 22 April. ^[2]

Bishop of Ripon

After the dissolution of the diocesan see of Ripon and Leeds, the suffragan see of Knaresborough was transferred by Order in Council to Ripon on 19 March 2015. ^[21] The incumbent is the area bishop over the Ripon episcopal area; James Bell, then suffragan Bishop of Knaresborough, continued in post as the area bishop in the Ripon area and, until the diocesan bishop started acting as area bishop on 22 April, was additionally interim area bishop in the Leeds area. ^[19] The area bishopric vacant since Helen-Ann Hartley's translation to Newcastle on 3 February 2023.

Bishop of Wakefield

Following the dissolution of Wakefield diocese, the suffragan see of Pontefract was transferred by Order in Council to Wakefield on 19 March 2015. ^[21] The incumbent is the area bishop over the Wakefield episcopal area; Tony Robinson, then suffragan Bishop of Pontefract, continued in post as the area bishop in the Wakefield area and, until a Bishop of Huddersfield was appointed, was also acting as interim area bishop in the Huddersfield area. ^[19]

Bishop of Bradford

Once the diocesan see of the same name was dissolved, a new suffragan see of Bradford was created by the Scheme. ^[3] The incumbent is the area bishop over the Bradford episcopal area; since the appointment of a new area bishop had to wait until the diocesan bishop was in post, the diocesan 'mentor bishop', Tom Butler, initially served as interim area bishop in the Bradford area. ^[19] On 26 August 2014, it was announced that Toby Howarth was to become the first area bishop of Bradford; his consecration was held on 17 October. ^[4]

Bishop of Huddersfield

The Scheme also created a new suffragan see of Huddersfield, ^[3] whose incumbent is the area bishop over the Huddersfield episcopal area. Significant churches in the area include Huddersfield Parish Church, Halifax Minster and Dewsbury Minster. Since no new area bishop could be appointed until the diocesan bishop was in post, the bishop of Pontefract also served as interim area bishop in the Huddersfield area. ^[19] On 26 August 2014, it was announced that Jonathan Gibbs was to become the first area bishop of Huddersfield; his consecration was held on 17 October. ^[4] He was translated to Rochester on 24 May 2022. ^[22] On 8 March 2023, it was announced that Smitha Prasadam is to become the next area bishop; ^[23] she was duly consecrated a bishop by Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York, at York Minster on 22 June 2023. ^[24]

Bishop of Kirkstall (formerly Bishop of Richmond)

On 29 April 2015, the diocese announced that the See of Richmond would be revived for a suffragan bishop to assist the bishop of Leeds in his area bishop duties. ^[25] On 19 July 2015, Paul Slater was consecrated to that see. ^[26]

On 14 March 2018, the see was translated from Richmond to Kirkstall (in Leeds) by Order in Council. ^[27]

Other bishops

Alternative episcopal oversight (for petitioning parishes in the diocese who reject the ministry of priests or bishops who are women) in the diocese was provided by Tony Robinson, area Bishop of Wakefield, ^[28] until he retired in 2024.

At the first diocesan synod, three retired honorary assistant bishops were welcomed:

• Clive Handford, former Presiding Bishop in Jerusalem and the Middle East and diocesan Bishop of Cyprus and the Gulf, was licensed in the Diocese of Ripon and Leeds from 2007. He lives in Kirby-on-the-Moor. ^[29]
• David Hawkins, area Bishop of Barking, retired to Skipton. ^[30]
• Chris Edmondson, retired suffragan Bishop of Bolton

At the second diocesan synod, John Pritchard, retired Bishop of Oxford, was licensed as an honorary assistant bishop. ^[31]

Immediately prior to the formation of the new diocese, there were four other retired honorary assistant bishops licensed in the three predecessor dioceses:

• the late David Jenkins, (d. 2016) former Bishop of Durham lived in Barnard Castle, County Durham and was licensed in Ripon & Leeds diocese from 1993. ^[32]
• Colin Buchanan, former area Bishop of Woolwich and suffragan Bishop of Aston lives in Alwoodley, Leeds and was licensed as an honorary assistant bishop in Bradford diocese from 2004 and in Ripon & Leeds from 2005. ^[33]
• A former Archbishop of York, David Hope, lives in Hellifield, Craven. He was licensed as an honorary assistant bishop in Bradford diocese in 2005 and in the Diocese of Blackburn in 2008; ^[34] it was reported on 31 October 2014 that Hope had resigned his licence in Leeds diocese. ^[35]
• Tom Butler, retired Bishop of Southwark and former interim area bishop in Bradford was licensed in Wakefield from 2010 and in Bradford from 2013. He lives in Walton, Wakefield. ^[36]

• 
  Ripon Cathedral
• 
  Wakefield Cathedral
• 
  Bradford Cathedral
• 
  Leeds Minster

Archdeaconries and deaneries

See also: List of churches in the Anglican Diocese of Leeds

Episcopal area	Archdeaconries	Rural Deaneries	Paid clergy	Churches	Population	People per clergy	People per church	Churches per clergy
Bradford Episcopal Area (area Bishop of Bradford)	Archdeaconry of Bradford [37]	Deanery of Aire & Worth	18.5	29	143,866	7,777	4,961	1.57
		Deanery of Inner Bradford	16.5*	18*	175,979*	10,665	9,777	1.09
		Deanery of Outer Bradford	19	22	177,757	9,356	8,080	1.16
		Deanery of South Craven & Wharfedale	12	13	53,328	4,444	4,102	1.08
Huddersfield Episcopal Area (area Bishop of Huddersfield)	Archdeaconry of Halifax [38]	Deanery of Almondbury	6	16	73,391	12,232	4,587	2.67
		Deanery of Birstall	7	13	72,466	10,352	5,574	1.86
		Deanery of Brighouse & Elland	9	17	67,559	7,507	3,974	1.89
		Deanery of Calder Valley	3	11	40,260	13,420	3,660	3.67
		Deanery of Dewsbury	8	17	111,583	13,948	6,564	2.13
		Deanery of Halifax	14	16	91,155	6,511	5,697	1.14
		Deanery of Huddersfield	10	19	108,820	10,882	5,727	1.9
		Deanery of Kirkburton	10	20	55,470	5,547	2,774	2
Leeds Episcopal Area (area Bishop of Kirkstall)	Archdeaconry of Leeds [39]	Deanery of Allerton	15	19	146,872	9,791	7,730	1.27
		Deanery of Armley	19	29	239,414	12,601	8,256	1.53
		Deanery of Headingley	19	21	180,799	9,516	8,609	1.11
		Deanery of Whitkirk	15	18	147,203	9,814	8,178	1.2
Wakefield Episcopal Area (area Bishop of Wakefield)	Archdeaconry of Pontefract [40]	Deanery of Barnsley	12	21	123,937	10,328	5,902	1.75
		Deanery of Pontefract	16	30	151,482	9,468	5,049	1.88
		Deanery of Wakefield	26*	31*	177,831*	6,840	5,736	1.19
Ripon Episcopal Area (area Bishop of Ripon)	Archdeaconry of Richmond & Craven [41]	Deanery of Bowland & Ewecross	9	25	19,007	2,112	760	2.78
		Deanery of Harrogate	21	41	122,920	5,853	2,998	1.95
		Deanery of Richmond	11	44	47,485	4,317	1,079	4
		Deanery of Ripon	12*	53*	46,939*	3,912	886	4.42
		Deanery of Skipton	10	23	41,123	4,112	1,788	2.3
		Deanery of Wensley	8.5	36	25,765	5,153	716	4.24
Total/average			323	602	2,642,411	8,181	4,389	1.86

*including a cathedral

Archdeacon of Mission Resources

Between his resignation as Archdeacon of Bradford (31 July 2015) and his retirement (31 January 2016), David Lee was given the unique role of "Archdeacon of Mission Resources". ^[42] He was given an archidiaconal title and status, but no territorial archdeaconry. The role has not been re-filled since.

References

1. "Welcome to your new diocese of West Yorkshire & the Dales" (PDF). 20 April 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 April 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
2. The Transformation Programme – First new diocese for more than 85 years created on April 20 Archived 20 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine (Accessed 19 April 2014).
3. The Dioceses of Bradford, Ripon and Leeds and Wakefield Reorganisation Scheme 2013 (Archived 20 February 2014, which accessed 30 September 2019).
4. "New Bishops announced for West Yorkshire and Dales" (Press release). Diocese of Leeds. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
5. Diocese of Leeds — Diocese to be known only as Diocese of Leeds Archived 12 April 2020 at the Wayback Machine (Accessed 15 July 2016).
6. "Synod Approves new Diocese of Leeds". Church of England. Church of England. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
7. The Dioceses Commission – Review Report No. 2: Dioceses of Bradford, Ripon & Leeds, Sheffield and Wakefield
8. A New Diocese for West Yorkshire and the Dales – The Draft Dioceses of Bradford, Ripon and Leeds and Wakefield Reorganisation Scheme (Report)
9. The Dioceses of Bradford, Ripon and Leeds and Wakefield Reorganisation Scheme 201?
10. Thinking Anglicans – Dioceses Commission announces draft scheme
11. Yorkshire Post – Baines: Fear of change shouldn't obscure mission (Accessed 22 February 2013).
12. Thinking Anglicans – proposed new diocese for West Yorkshire (Accessed 4 March 2013).
13. Archbishop of York – Reorganisation Referred to General Synod (Accessed 9 May 2013).
14. The Church of England – Synod approves new Diocese of Leeds for West Yorkshire and The Dales
15. "First New Diocese For More Than 85 years Will Be Created on Easter Day". Website of the Archbishop of York. 15 April 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
16. Diocesan News — January 2017 p. III (Accessed 8 February 2017).
17. Diocesan News — February 2017 p. IV (Accessed 8 February 2017).
18. The Transformation Programme – Former Bishop of Southwark to be 'mentor bishop' (Accessed 10 January 2014).
19. The Transformation Programme – Archbishop appoints interim area bishops Archived 10 November 2017 at the Wayback Machine (Accessed 10 January 2014).
20. Number 10 – Diocese of Leeds: the Right Reverend Nicholas Baines approved (Accessed 4 February 2014).
21. Orders in Council, 19 March 2015 (Accessed 25 March 2015).
22. "(Section: Forthcoming Events)". St Mary-le-Bow. Archived from the original on 4 June 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
23. "New Bishop of Huddersfield announced". Diocese of Leeds. 8 March 2023. Archived from the original on 10 March 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
24. "Two new bishops for our diocese consecrated at York Minster". Diocese of Leeds. 22 June 2023. Archived from the original on 24 June 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
25. Diocese of Leeds — New Suffragan Bishop for the Diocese (Accessed 13 July 2016).
26. Diocese of Leeds — Archdeacon Paul Slater to be new Bishop of Richmond (Accessed 13 July 2016).
27. Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council (14 March 2018). "Orders approved and business transacted at the Privy Council held by The Queen at Buckingham Palace on 14th March 2018" (PDF). Retrieved 10 March 2021.
28. The Society under the patronage of St Wilfred and St Hilda (2020). "Diocese of Leeds" . Retrieved 10 March 2021.
29. "Handford, (George) Clive" . Who's Who . Vol. 2014 (December 2013 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 26 April 2014.(Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
30. "Historic first Synod strikes a positive note as key decisions made". 22 November 2014. Archived from the original on 4 December 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
31. "Diocesan Synod accepts 'innovative' governance proposals" . Retrieved 25 March 2015.
32. "Jenkins, David Edward" . Who's Who . Vol. 2014 (December 2013 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 26 April 2014.(Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
33. "Buchanan, Colin Ogilvie" . Who's Who . Vol. 2014 (December 2013 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 26 April 2014.(Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
34. "Hope, David Michael" . Who's Who . Vol. 2014 (December 2013 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 26 April 2014.(Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
35. Davies, Madeleine (31 October 2014). "Lord Hope ends formal ministry after Cahill Inquiry findings". Church Times. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
36. "Butler, Thomas Frederick" . Who's Who . Vol. 2014 (December 2013 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 26 April 2014.(Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
37. "Archdeaconry of Bradford". Crockford's Clerical Directory. 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
38. "Archdeaconry of Halifax". Crockford's Clerical Directory. 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
39. "Archdeaconry of Leeds". Crockford's Clerical Directory. 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
40. "Archdeaconry of Pontefract". Crockford's Clerical Directory. 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
41. "Archdeaconry of Richmond and Craven". Crockford's Clerical Directory. 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
42. Bogle, Alison (8 May 2015). "Archdeacon of Bradford to retire". Diocese of Leeds. Retrieved 10 March 2021.

External links

• Official website

53°47′59″N1°31′50″W / 53.799789°N 1.530499°W / 53.799789; -1.530499