Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney

Last updated

Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney

Sgìre-easbaig Obar Dheathain agus Arcaibh
Crest-aberdeen.png
Location
Country Scotland
Ecclesiastical province Scotland
Subdivisions Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Chaplaincies, The Isles
Headquarters Marischal College, Aberdeen
Statistics
Congregations37
Information
Denomination Scottish Episcopal Church
Cathedral St Andrew's Cathedral, Aberdeen
Current leadership
Bishop Anne Dyer, Bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney
DeanVacant
Map
Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney.png
Map showing Aberdeen & Orkney within Scotland
Website
aberdeen.anglican.org

The Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney is one of the seven dioceses of the Scottish Episcopal Church. Created in 1865, the diocese covers the historic county of Aberdeenshire, and the Orkney and Shetland island groups. It shares with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Aberdeen a Christian heritage that can be traced back to Norman times, and incorporates the ancient Diocese of Orkney, founded in 1035.

Contents

The diocese is considered the most conservative of the dioceses of the Scottish Episcopal Church, and was the only diocese to reject a change in the church's teaching to allow same-sex marriage in 2017. [1]

The first female bishop of the SEC, Anne Dyer, was appointed to the diocese in November 2017 and consecrated and enthroned on 3 March 2018. Her gender, support of same-sex marriage, and the fact that she was not elected by the diocese itself (she was appointed by the College of Bishops in accordance with the SEC canonical process when a diocese fails to meet the requirements to elect its own bishop), caused some controversy, [1] [2] [3] and two senior clergy, the Dean (Emsley Nimmo) and another member of the Cathedral Chapter, resigned their diocesan roles in protest. [4] After further resignations by other clergy, the Westhill Community Church voted to leave the SEC in January 2019. [5] Dorsey McConnell, former Bishop of Pittsburgh, took on the role of acting bishop on 1 November 2023, while Dyer remains suspended. [6]

The diocese has a strong companion link with the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut and the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. Samuel Seabury, the first Episcopal bishop outside the British Isles, was consecrated in 1784 by Robert Kilgour, Bishop of Aberdeen, and John Skinner, coadjutor bishop. Clarence Coleridge, suffragan bishop of Connecticut, was consecrated by a Bishop of Aberdeen in 1981; he was elected 13th diocesan bishop of Connecticut in 1993.

Area and population

The diocese covers the historic counties of Orkney (population 21,500), Zetland (population 23,000), Aberdeenshire except the Huntly area (population 393,000), the Banff, Buckie and Cullen areas of Banffshire (population 29,500), and the Banchory and Lower Deeside areas of Kincardineshire (population 26,000).

List of bishops

Bishops of Aberdeen and Orkney
FromUntilIncumbentNotes
18651883 Thomas Suther Died in office.
18831905 Arthur Douglas Died in office.
19061911 Rowland Ellis Died in office.
19121917 Anthony Mitchell Died in office.
19171943 Frederic Deane
19431955 Herbert Hall Died in office.
19561972 Frederick Easson
19731976 Ian Begg
19761991 Frederick Darwent
19912006 Bruce Cameron Installed 1992, Primus 2000–2006.
20062016 [7] Robert (Bob) Gillies
2018Incumbent [8] Anne Dyer First female bishop in the SEC

List of provosts

List of deans

The following served as Dean of Aberdeen diocese:

The following have served as Dean of Aberdeen and Orkney:

Churches and clergy

The diocese currently has 23 stipendiary clergy and 37 churches.

BeneficeChurchesLinkFounded (building)Clergy
Banff [14] St Andrew, Banff 1722 (1833)J. Paisey
Buckie [15] All Saints, Buckie c. 1689 (1876)
Turriff [16] St Congan, Turriff 1738 (1862)-
Cuminestown [17] St Luke, Cuminestown C18th (1844)-
New Pitsligo [18] St John the Evangelist, New Pitsligo 1835 (1870s)-
Strichen [19] All Saints, Strichen 1861-
Fraserburgh [20] St Peter, Fraserburgh 1721 (1892)-
Longside [21] St John the Evangelist, Longside 1716 (1854)R. O'Sullivan
Old Deer [22] St Drostan, Old Deer 1851
Peterhead [23] St Peter, Peterhead 1699 (1814)
Cruden Bay [24] St James the Less, Cruden Bay C18th (1843)-
Ellon [25] St Mary-on-the-Rock, EllonC18th (1871)
Insch [26] St Drostan, Insch 1894A. MacDonald
Fyvie [27] All Saints, Woodhead of Fyvie 1849
Oldmeldrum [28] St Matthew & St George, Oldmeldrum 1863-
Alford [29] St Andrew, Alford 1869M. Blake
Auchindoir [30] St Mary, Auchindoir -
Inverurie [31] St Mary, Inverurie 1841
Kemnay [32] St Anne, Kemnay 1938
Whiterashes [33] All Saints, Whiterashes 1858
Aberdeen (Cathedral of St Andrew) [34] [35] St Andrew's Cathedral, Aberdeen 1817 I. Poobalan
Bieldside [36]
St Devenick, Bieldside 1894 (1903)G. Bowyer
Aberdeen (St Clement) [37] St Clement, Aberdeen 1960sJ. Lyon
Aberdeen (St Ninian) [38] St Ninian, Aberdeen 1936
Aberdeen (St James) [39] St James the Less, Aberdeen 1804R. Green
J. Souter
Aberdeen (St John the Evangelist) [40] St John, Aberdeen 1720 (1851)J. Holden
Aberdeen (St Margaret of Scotland) [41] St Margaret of Scotland, Gallowgate 1867 (1870) A. Nimmo
Aberdeen (St Mary) [42] St Mary, Carden Place 1863 (1864)T. Taggart
J. Hobbs
Bucksburn [43] St Machar, Bucksburn 1874 (1880)D. Heddle
Aboyne [44] St Thomas, Aboyne 1909V. Hancock
Ballater [45] St Kentigern, Ballater C19th (1907)
St Ninian's Chapel, Braemar 1895
Kincardine O'Neil [46] Christ Church, Kincardine O'Neil 1866-
Banchory [47] St Ternan, Banchory 1851L. Downs
Burravoe [48] St Colman, Burravoe 1898N. Brice
Lerwick [49] St Magnus, Lerwick1861 (1864)
Kirkwall [50] St Olaf, Kirkwall 1876D. Dawson
Stromness [51] St Mary, Stromness 1885 (1888)T. Miller

Former congregation

BeneficeChurchLinkFounded (building)Seceded from SEC
Westhill Community Church [52] Westhill Community Church 1972 (2014)2019

Closed churches in the diocese area

NameFounded (building)Closed
St Peter, Torry [53] 2013
St Mary the Virgin, Cove Bay 18642020
St John the Baptist, Portsoy [54] 2016
Chapel of Christ the Encompasser, Fetlar [55] 2015
St Margaret, Braemar [56] 2001
St Paul, Aberdeen [57] 18671986

Membership

Between 2013 and 2023 church membership in the Diocese decreased from 4,214 [58] to 2,419 [59] a fall of 42.6%. According to the Scottish Episcopal Church 41st Annual Report (2023), there are 1,755 communicants in the Diocese. [60]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 Farley, Harry (5 January 2018). "Scottish Episcopal Church clergy rebel after 'divisive' appointment of bishop to conservative diocese". Christian Today . Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  2. ↑ Farley, Harry (27 November 2017). "Splits emerge among Scottish Anglicans after gay marriage vote". Christian Today . Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  3. ↑ Davies, Madeleine (5 January 2018). "Aberdeen & Orkney letter questions new Bishop". Church Times. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  4. ↑ "Resignations Follow Aberdeen & Orkney Appointment". Scottish Anglican. 25 November 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  5. ↑ "Aberdeen congregation votes to secede from the Scottish Episcopal Church". Anglican News. 18 January 2019.
  6. ↑ "The College of Bishops appoints Bishop Dorsey McConnell as new Acting Bishop in Aberdeen and Orkney". Scottish Episcopal Church. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  7. ↑ Bishop of Aberdeen & Orkney announces his retirement.
  8. ↑ The Rt Rev Anne Dyer, Bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney.
  9. 1 2 The Clergy List, 1846 p. 262 & 1850 p. 288
  10. ↑ 'ADAMSON, Very Rev. Alexander Campbell', Who Was Who , A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2016; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2014; online edn, April 2014 accessed 8 Sept 2017
  11. ↑ "Denis Philip Bovey" . Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing . Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  12. ↑ 'STRANRAER-MULL, Very Rev. Gerald', Who's Who 2017 , A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 2017; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2016; online edn, Nov 2016 accessed 7 Sept 2017
  13. ↑ "New Dean for Aberdeen & Orkney". The Scottish Episcopal Church. 17 February 2020. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  14. ↑ "The Benefice of Banff (St Andrew)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  15. ↑ "The Benefice of Buckie (All Saints)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  16. ↑ "The Benefice of Turriff (St Congan)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  17. ↑ "The Benefice of Cuminestown (St Luke)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  18. ↑ "The Benefice of New Pitsligo (St John the Evangelist)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  19. ↑ "The Benefice of Strichen (All Saints)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  20. ↑ "The Benefice of Fraserburgh (St Peter)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  21. ↑ "The Benefice of Longside (St John)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  22. ↑ "The Benefice of Old Deer (St Drostan)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  23. ↑ "The Benefice of Peterhead (St Peter)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  24. ↑ "The Benefice of Cruden Bay (St James the Less)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  25. ↑ "The Benefice of Ellon (St Mary On the Rock)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  26. ↑ "The Benefice of Insch (St Drostan)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  27. ↑ "The Benefice of Fyvie (All Saints)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  28. ↑ "The Benefice of Oldmeldrum (St Matthew)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  29. ↑ "The Benefice of Alford (St Andrew)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  30. ↑ "The Benefice of Auchindoir (St Mary)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  31. ↑ "The Benefice of Inverurie (St Mary)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  32. ↑ "The Benefice of Kemnay (St Anne)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  33. ↑ "The Benefice of Whiterashes (All Saints)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  34. ↑ Installation of Isaac Poobalan as Provost and Rector St Andrew's Cathedral Website.
  35. ↑ "The Benefice of Aberdeen (Cathedral of St Andrew)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  36. ↑ "The Benefice of Bieldside (St Devenick)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  37. ↑ "The Benefice of Aberdeen (St Clement)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  38. ↑ "The Benefice of Aberdeen (St Ninian)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  39. ↑ "The Benefice of Aberdeen (St James)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  40. ↑ "The Benefice of Aberdeen (St John the Evangelist)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  41. ↑ "The Benefice of Aberdeen (St Margaret of Scotland)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  42. ↑ "The Benefice of Aberdeen (St Mary)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  43. ↑ "The Benefice of Bucksburn (St Machar)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  44. ↑ "The Benefice of Aboyne (St Peter)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  45. ↑ "The Benefice of Ballater (St Kentigern)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  46. ↑ "The Benefice of Kincardine O'neil (Christ Church)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  47. ↑ "The Benefice of Banchory (St Ternan)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  48. ↑ "The Benefice of Burravoe (St Colman)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  49. ↑ "The Benefice of Lerwick (St Magnus)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  50. ↑ "The Benefice of Kirkwall (St Olaf)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  51. ↑ "The Benefice of Stromness (St Mary)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  52. ↑ "The Benefice of Westhill Community Church". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  53. ↑ "Geograph:: Aberdeen churches past and present". www.geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  54. ↑ "DIOCESE OF ABERDEEN AND ORKNEY, ST JOHN THE BAPTIST, PORTSOY - ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30th SEPTEMBER 2016" (PDF).
  55. ↑ "Society of Our Lady of the Isles". sites.google.com. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  56. ↑ "Project History". www.stmargaretsbraemar.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  57. ↑ "Aberdeen, Loch Street, St Paul's Episcopal Church | Canmore". canmore.org.uk. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  58. ↑ "Scottish Episcopal Church 31st Annual Report" (PDF). scotland.anglican.org. The General Synod of the Scottish Episcopal Church. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  59. ↑ "Scottish Episcopal Church 41st Annual Report" (PDF). scotland.anglican.org. The General Synod of the Scottish Episcopal Church. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  60. ↑ "Scottish Episcopal Church 41st Annual Report" (PDF). scotland.anglican.org. The General Synod of the Scottish Episcopal Church. Retrieved 19 October 2024.

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