Diocese of Hereford Dioecesis Herefordiensis | |
---|---|
![]() Coat of arms | |
![]() Flag | |
Location | |
Ecclesiastical province | Canterbury |
Archdeaconries | Hereford, Ludlow |
Statistics | |
Parishes | 338 [1] |
Churches | 402 [1] |
Information | |
Cathedral | Hereford Cathedral |
Language | English |
Current leadership | |
Bishop | Richard Jackson |
Archdeacons | Derek Chedzey, Archdeacon of Hereford Fiona Gibson, Archdeacon of Ludlow |
Website | |
hereford.anglican.org |
The Diocese of Hereford is a Church of England diocese based in Hereford, covering Herefordshire, southern Shropshire and a few parishes within Worcestershire in England, and a few parishes within Powys and Monmouthshire in Wales. The cathedral is Hereford Cathedral and the bishop is the Bishop of Hereford. The diocese is one of the oldest in England (created in 676 and based on the minor sub-kingdom of the Magonsæte) and is part of the Province of Canterbury.
The diocesan Bishop of Hereford (Richard Jackson) was, until 2020, assisted by the Bishop suffragan of Ludlow (which see was created in 1981) — it has been announced that the suffragan See is not to be filled. [2] The provincial episcopal visitor (for parishes in this diocese – among twelve others in the western part of the Province of Canterbury – who reject the ministry of priests who are women, since 1994) is the Bishop suffragan of Ebbsfleet, who is licensed as an honorary assistant bishop of the diocese in order to facilitate his work there.
Three retired bishops are licensed as assistant bishops in the diocese:
Michael Westall (Bishop of South West Tanganyika) lives in Kingstone, Herefordshire. [3]
David Thomson, (Bishop of Huntingdon), lives in Hereford.
Michael Bourke (Bishop of Wolverhampton) also lives in the diocese.
As reported in the Church of England's Statistics for Mission 2018, published in October 2019, the diocese had a population of 331,000, fewer than any other except Sodor and Man. [1] With 402 churches, the population per church was 820, the lowest of any diocese and less than 60% of the 1420 in the next lowest, St Edmundsbury and Ipswich. [1] Average weekly church attendance was 8,700, a new low, down from 9,300 in 2017. [4] The total worshipping community was estimated at 13,300, up from 11,700 in 2014, and 44% of these were aged over 70 years. [5]
The following deanery mergers have taken place:
Diocese | Archdeaconry | Deanery | Paid clergy | Churches | Population | People/clergy | People/church | Churches/clergy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Diocese of Hereford | Archdeaconry of Hereford | Deanery of Abbeydore | 5 | 35 | 12,046 | 2,409 | 344 | 7 |
Deanery of Bromyard | 5 | 23 | 10,465 | 2,093 | 455 | 4.6 | ||
Deanery of Hereford | 18* | 44* | 79,772 | 4,432 | 1,813 | 2.44 | ||
Deanery of Kington and Weobley | 5 | 30 | 14,142 | 2,828 | 471 | 6 | ||
Deanery of Ledbury | 5 | 22 | 17,884 | 3,577 | 813 | 4.4 | ||
Deanery of Leominster | 7 | 35 | 22,808 | 3,258 | 652 | 5 | ||
Deanery of Ross and Archenfield | 9 | 39 | 28,355 | 3,151 | 727 | 4.33 | ||
Archdeaconry of Ludlow | Deanery of Bridgnorth | 10 | 34 | 28,851 | 2,885 | 849 | 3.4 | |
Deanery of Clun Forest | 5 | 27 | 10,383 | 2,077 | 385 | 5.4 | ||
Deanery of Condover | 6 | 36 | 20,001 | 2,857 | 556 | 5.14 | ||
Deanery of Ludlow | 6 | 42 | 28,238 | 4,706 | 672 | 7 | ||
Deanery of Pontesbury | 5 | 24 | 15,091 | 3,018 | 629 | 4.8 | ||
Deanery of Telford Severn Gorge | 5 | 9 | 25,952 | 5,190 | 2,884 | 1.8 | ||
Total/average | 92 | 400 | 313,988 | 3,413 | 785 | 4.35 |
*including Cathedral
Last updated 25 November 2020.
Benefice | Churches | Link | Clergy | Population served | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cathedral |
| N/A | [6] |
Benefice | Churches | Link | Clergy | Population served | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Black Mountains Group, The, Comprising Craswall, Clodock, Llanveynoe, Longtown, Michaelchurch Escley, Newton, and St Margaret's |
|
| 1,348 | [7] | |
Cagebrook Parishes, Comprising Allensmore, Clehonger, Eaton Bishop, Kingstone, and Thruxton |
| 3,902 | [8] | ||
Borderlink Parishes Cusop (St Mary) with Blakemere, Bredwardine with Brobury, Clifford, Dorstone, Hardwicke, Moccas and Preston-On-Wye |
|
| 1,919 | [9] | |
| |||||
| |||||
Ewyas Harold (St Michael and All Angels) with Dulas, Kenderchurch, Abbeydore, Bacton, Kentchurch, Llangua, Rowlestone, Llancillo, Walterstone, Kilpeck, St Devereux and Wormbridge |
|
| 2,309 | [10] | |
| |||||
| |||||
| |||||
Wyedore Parishes Madley (Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary) with Tyberton, Peterchurch, Vowchurch and Turnastone |
|
| 2,568 | [11] |
Benefice | Churches | Link | Clergy | Population served | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bredenbury (St Andrew) |
|
| 1,526 | [12] | |
Bromyard (St Peter) and Stoke Lacy |
|
| 5,268 | [13] | |
Edvin Loach (St Mary) with Tedstone Delamere, Tedstone Wafer, Upper Sapey, Wolferlow and Whitbourne |
|
| 1,412 | [14] | |
Frome Valley Group of Parishes, The, Comprising Acton Beauchamp, Bishops Frome, Castle Frome and Fromes Hill, Evesbatch, Much Cowarne, Ocle Pychard, and Stanford Bishop |
|
| 2,259 | [15] |
Benefice | Churches | Link | Clergy | Population served | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bartestree Cross Group |
|
| 4,051 | [16] | |
Pipe-Cum-Lyde (St Peter) and Moreton-On-Lugg |
| [17] | |||
Stretton Sugwas (St Mary Magdalene) | [18] | ||||
Credenhill (St Mary) Brinsop and Wormsley, Mansel Lacy and Yazor, Kenchester, Bridge Sollers and Bishopstone |
|
| 2,978 | [19] | |
Fownhope Group |
|
| 2,296 | [20] | |
Hereford (St Peter with St Owen) (St James) |
|
| 5,796 | [21] | |
Hereford South Wye (St Francis) (St Martin) |
|
| 22,894 | [22] | |
Wye, South Rural Parishes, Including Ballingham, Dinedor, Holme Lacy, and Little Dewchurch |
|
| 1,449 | [23] | |
| |||||
Hereford, West Team Ministry (All Saints) (Holy Trinity) (St Michael) (St Nicholas) |
|
| 13,710 | [24] | |
Tupsley (St Paul) with Hampton Bishop |
|
| 11,308 | [25] | |
Holmer (St Bartholomew) (St Mary) with Huntington |
|
| 8,321 | [26] | |
Benefice | Churches | Link | Clergy | Population served | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eardisley (St Mary Magdalene) with Bollingham, Willersley, Brilley, Michaelchurch, Whitney, Winforton, Almeley and Kinnersley |
|
| 2,221 | [27] | |
| |||||
Kington (St Mary) with Huntington, Old Radnor, Kinnerton and Titley |
|
| 4,004 | [28] | |
Letton (St John the Baptist) with Staunton, Byford, Mansel Gamage and Monnington |
|
| 2,245 | [29] | |
Weobley (St Peter and St Paul) with Sarnesfield and Norton Canon |
| [30] | |||
Arrowvale Group |
|
| 2,868 | [31] | |
Presteigne (St Andrew) with Discoed, Kinsham, Lingen and Knill |
|
| 2,804 | [32] |
Church | Location | Founded (building) | Closed |
---|---|---|---|
St Michael, Michaelchurch-on-Arrow [33] | Brilley | Medieval Not a closed church; continues fully operational 26/07/2020 and operates in conjunction with Brilley. RDJ - Diocese of Hereford 26.07.20 | |
Ednol Church [34] | Kinnerton | Medieval? | C19th Not associated with Kinnersley parish. Part of the Parish of Old Radnor. RDJ - Diocese of Hereford 26.07.20 |
Benefice | Churches | Link | Clergy | Population served | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Colwall (St Crispin's Chapel) (St James the Great) with Upper Colwall (Good Shepherd) and Coddington |
|
| 2,455 | [35] | |
Cradley (St James) with Mathon and Storridge |
|
| 2,031 | [36] | |
| |||||
| |||||
Cider Churches Benefice, The, Comprising Aylton, Little Marcle, Much Marcle with Yatton, Pixley, Putley, and Wellington Heath |
|
| 1,789 | [37] | |
Hop Churches Benefice, The, Comprising Bosbury, Canon Frome, Munsley, Stoke Edith, Stretton Grandison with Ashperton, Tarrington, and Yarkhill |
|
| 2,083 | [38] | |
| |||||
| |||||
Ledbury (St Michael and All Angels) with Eastnor |
|
| 9,526 | [39] | |
|
Benefice | Churches | Link | Clergy | Population served | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wellington and the Pyons Group |
|
| 2,023 | [40] | |
Mortimer's Cross Group |
|
| 1,946 | [41] | |
Leominster Team Ministry |
| 16,427 | [42] | ||
Eastern Parishes
Western Parishes
| |||||
Burghill (St Mary the Virgin) |
|
| 3,234 | [43] | |
Wigmore Abbey, Comprising Adforton, Aston, Brampton Bryan, Burrington, Downton, Elton, Leinthall Starkes, Leintwardine, and Wigmore |
|
| 2,412 | [44] | |
Maund Group, Comprising Bodenham, Felton and Preston Wynne, Marden with Amberley and Wisteston, and Sutton St Nicholas and Sutton St Michael |
|
| 3,735 | [45] |
Benefice | Churches | Link | Clergy | Population served | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ariconium: Aston Ingham, Hope Mansel, Linton, the Lea, Upton Bishop and Weston-Under-Penyard |
|
| 3,431 | [46] | |
Wye Brooks Benefice, The, Comprising Goodrich, Llangarron, Llangrove, Marstow, Welsh Bicknor, and Welsh Newton with Llanrothal |
|
| 2,453 | [47] | |
| |||||
Ross (St Mary the Virgin) with Walford and Brampton Abbotts |
|
| 12,066 | [48] | |
St Weonards (St Weonard) |
|
| 2,001 | [49] | |
Stowcaple |
|
| 2,330 | [50] | |
| |||||
Wormelow Hundred, Comprising Dewsall with Callow, Little Birch, Llandinabo, Llanwarne, Much Birch, and Much Dewchurch |
|
| 2,378 | [51] | |
Wye Reaches Group, The, Comprising Bishopswood, Dixton Newton, Ganarew, and Whitchurch |
|
| 3,696 | [52] |
Benefice | Churches | Link | Clergy | Population served | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alveley (St Mary the Virgin) and Quatt |
|
| 2,242 | [53] | |
Bridgnorth (St Mary Magdalene) (St Leonard) (St James) and Morville Parishes Team Ministry, Including Acton Round, Astley Abbotts, Aston Eyre, Monkhopton with Upton Cressett, Morville, Oldbury, Quatford, and Tasley |
|
| 14,827 | [54] | |
Claverley (All Saints) with Tuckhill |
|
| 1,838 | [55] | |
Ditton Priors (St John the Baptist) with Neenton, Burwarton, Cleobury North, Aston Botterell, Wheathill and Loughton and Chetton |
|
| 1,820 | [56] | |
Highley (St Mary) with Billingsley, Glazeley and Deuxhill and Chelmarsh |
|
| 4,424 | [57] | |
| |||||
| |||||
Stottesdon (St Mary) with Farlow, Cleeton St Mary, Silvington, Sidbury and Middleton Scriven |
|
| 1,564 | [58] | |
Worfield (St Peter) |
|
| 2,136 | [59] |
Benefice | Churches | Link | Clergy | Population served | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bishop's Castle (St John the Baptist) with Mainstone, Lydbury North and Edgton |
|
| 4,827 | [60] | |
Churchstoke (St Nicholas) with Hyssington and Sarn | [61] | ||||
| |||||
Clun Valley Benefice, The, Comprising Bettwys-Y-Crwyn, Clun, Clunbury with Clunton, Hopesay, and Newcastle |
|
| 2,676 | [62] | |
Middle Marches Benefice, The, Comprising Bedstone, Bucknell, Chapel Lawn, Clungunford, Hopton Castle, Llanfair Waterdine, and Stowe |
| Archived 27 January 2018 at the Wayback Machine |
| 1,870 | [63] |
Wentnor (St Michael and All Angels) with Ratlinghope, Myndtown, Norbury, More, Lydham and Snead |
|
| 1,010 | [64] | |
|
Benefice | Churches | Link | Clergy | Population served | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apedale Group, The, Comprising Cardington, Eaton Under Heywood, Hope Bowdler, and Rushbury |
|
| 1,617 | [65] | |
Church Stretton (St Laurence) |
|
| 4,833 | [66] | |
Condover (St Andrew and St Mary) with Frodesley, Acton Burnell and Pitchford |
|
| 2,222 | [67] | |
Craven Arms |
|
| |||
Dorrington (St Edward) with Leebotwood, Longnor, Stapleton, Smethcote and Woolstaston |
|
| 1,616 | [68] | |
Wenlock, Comprising Berrington with Betton Strange, Church Preen, Cound, Cressage, Easthope, Harley, Hughley, Kenley, Much Wenlock with Bourton, Sheinton, Shipton, and Stanton Long |
|
| 6,151 | [69] |
Benefice | Churches | Link | Clergy | Population served | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ashfords, The, Including Ashford Bowdler, Ashford Carbonel, Caynham, Knowbury, Ludford, and Richards Castle |
|
| 2,086 | [70] | |
Bromfield (St Mary the Virgin), Including Bitterley with Middleton, Bromfield, Clee St Margaret and Cold Weston, Onibury, Stanton Lacy, and Stoke St Milborough with the Heath and Hopton Cangeford |
|
| 2,201 | [71] | |
| |||||
Cleobury Mortimer (St Mary the Virgin) with Hopton Wafers, Neen Sollars and Milson, Neen Savage with Kinlet and Doddington |
|
| 4,850 | [72] | |
Corvedale Benefice, The, Comprising Culmington, Diddlebury, Holdgate, Munslow, and Tugford |
|
| 1,606 | [73] | |
Ludlow (St John) (St Laurence) |
|
| 10,511 | [74] | |
Tenbury Team Ministry, the (St Mary) (St Michael and All Angels), Including Burford, Clee Hill, Coreley, Greete, Hope Bagot, Little Hereford, and Whitton |
|
| 6,984 | [75] |
Benefice | Churches | Link | Clergy | Population served | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chirbury (St Michael), Marton, Middleton and Trelystan with Leighton |
|
| 1,307 | [76] | |
Ford (St Michael), Gt Wollaston and Alberbury with Cardeston |
|
| 3,079 | [77] | |
Hanwood, Great (St Thomas) and Longden and Annscroft with Pulverbatch |
|
| 2,633 | [78] | |
| |||||
Minsterley (Holy Trinity), Habberley and Hope with Shelve |
|
| 2,846 | [79] | |
Pontesbury First and Second Portions (St George) |
|
| 2,816 | [80] | |
Westbury (St Mary), Worthen and Yockleton |
|
| 2,410 | [81] | |
|
Benefice | Churches | Link | Clergy | Population served | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Broseley (All Saints) with Benthall, Jackfield, Linley, Willey and Barrow |
|
| 5,715 | [82] | |
Coalbrookdale (Holy Trinity), Iron-Bridge and Little Wenlock |
|
| 3,725 | [83] | |
Madeley (St Michael) |
|
| 16,512 | [84] |