Anglican Diocese of Portsmouth
Diocese of the Church of England
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Diocese of Portsmouth is an administrative division of the Church of England Province of Canterbury in England. The diocese covers south-east Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The see is based in the City of Portsmouth in Hampshire, where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of St Thomas of Canterbury.
CountryEngland
ArchdeaconriesPortsdown, the Meon, Isle of Wight
HeadquartersPeninsular House, Portsmouth
Diocese of Portsmouth Dioecesis Portus Magni | |
|---|---|
Portsmouth cathedral | |
 Coat of arms | |
 Flag | |
| Location | |
| Country | England |
| Ecclesiastical province | Canterbury |
| Archdeaconries | Portsdown, the Meon, Isle of Wight |
| Headquarters | Peninsular House, Portsmouth |
| Statistics | |
| Parishes | 133 |
| Churches | 173 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Cathedral | Cathedral Church of St Thomas of Canterbury |
| Language | English |
| Current leadership | |
| Bishop | Jonathan Frost, Bishop of Portsmouth |
| Archdeacons | Steve Daughtery, Archdeacon of the Isle of Wight Kathryn Percival, Archdeacon of the Meon Bob White, Archdeacon of Portsdown |
| Website | |
| www | |
Origin
The Diocese of Portsmouth was created on 1 May 1927[1] under George V from the Diocese of Winchester. It consists of the three archdeaconries of:
- Portsdown (comprising the deaneries of Portsmouth and Havant);
- The Meon (comprising the deaneries of Fareham, Gosport, Petersfield and Bishop's Waltham);
- The Isle of Wight (comprising the deanery of the Isle of Wight).
Bishops
The Bishop of Portsmouth leads the diocese as one of three diocesan bishops in the Church of England not assisted by a suffragan bishop, the others being the Bishop of Hereford and the Bishop of Sodor and Man
Alternative episcopal oversight (for parishes in the diocese which do not accept the ordination of women as priests) is provided by the provincial episcopal visitor, the Bishop suffragan of Richborough. On 10 December 2024, it was announced that the next Bishop suffragan of Richborough, Luke Irvine-Capel, will be "based" in the diocese.[2] There are also two former bishops living in the diocese who are licensed as honorary assistant bishops:
- 2012–present: Timothy Bavin, oblate master at Alton Abbey, is a retired Bishop of Portsmouth.[3]
- 2012–present: John Hind, retired Bishop of Chichester, lives in Emsworth, Hampshire.[4]
Safeguarding
The Anglican Diocese of Portsmouth had a number of sexual abuse convictions in the 1980s and 1990s.[5] Timothy Bavin was the Bishop between 1985 and 1995 and during this time a number of serious safeguarding issues took place. For example, Bavin did not report Fr Terry Knight to the police when parents raised their concerns to him in 1985.[5] Knight was allowed to continue in his position until he was later convicted for sexually abusing boys in 1996 and again in 2016.[6] Bavin had also allowed a convicted paedophile Fr Michael Gover to resume working for the church on his release in 1990. Gover was convicted in 1985 at around the same time as parents raising their concerns about Knight.[7] Bavin stood down in 1995 whilst Knight's police investigation and court case was taking place.[8]
Archdeaconries and deaneries
| Diocese | Archdeaconry | Deanery | Paid clergy | Churches | Population | People/clergy | People/church | Churches/clergy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diocese of Portsmouth | Archdeaconry of Portsdown | Deanery of Havant | 16 | 26 | 149,426 | 9,339 | 5,747 | 1.63 |
| Deanery of Portsmouth | 23* | 26* | 202,016 | 8,783 | 7,770 | 1.13 | ||
| Archdeaconry of the Isle of Wight | Deanery of the Isle of Wight | 21 | 60 | 138,259 | 6,584 | 2,304 | 2.86 | |
| Archdeaconry of the Meon | Deanery of Bishop's Waltham | 7 | 17 | 28,844 | 4,121 | 1,697 | 2.43 | |
| Deanery of Fareham | 14 | 13 | 117,854 | 8,418 | 9,066 | 0.93 | ||
| Deanery of Gosport | 8 | 10 | 82,625 | 10,328 | 8,263 | 1.25 | ||
| Deanery of Petersfield | 12 | 20 | 40,808 | 3,401 | 2,040 | 1.67 | ||
| Total/average | 104 | 170 | 759,832 | 7,306 | 4,470 | 1.63 | ||
*including Cathedral
List of churches
Not in a deanery
| Benefice | Church | Link | Founded (building) | Clergy | Pop. served[9] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cathedral[10] | Cathedral of St Thomas of Canterbury, Portsmouth | Medieval | 4 | 4,396 |
Deanery of Havant
| Benefice | Church | Link | Founded (building) | Clergy | Pop. served[9] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedhampton (St Nicholas's Mission Church) (St Thomas)[11] | St Thomas, Bedhampton | Ancient (Medieval) | 1 | 9,874 | |
| St Nicholas, Bedhampton | 1959 | ||||
| Blendworth (Holy Trinity) with Chalton with Idsworth[12] | Holy Trinity, Blendworth | 1851 | 0 | 1,055 | |
| St Michael & All Angels, Chalton | Medieval | 77 | |||
| St Hubert, Idsworth | Ancient | 150 | |||
| Catherington (All Saints) and Clanfield[13] | All Saints, Catherington | Medieval | 0 | 9,086 | |
| St James, Clanfield | Medieval (1875) | 3,745 | |||
| Cowplain (St Wilfrid)[14] | St Wilfrid, Cowplain | 1923 | 2 | 13,421 | |
| Westbrook Church | |||||
| Crookhorn (Good Shepherd)[15] | Good Shepherd, Crookhorn | 1978 | 1 | 2,989 | |
| Portsdown (Christ Church)[16] | Christ Church, Portsdown | 1872 | 1 | 6,285 | |
| Purbrook (St John the Baptist)[17] | St John the Baptist, Purbrook | 1858 | 8,426 | ||
| Denmead (All Saints)[18] | All Saints, Denmead | 1880 | 1 | 6,758 | |
| Hartplain (Not Known)[19] | Hart Plain Church (CoE/Methodist) | 1 | 8,974 | ||
| Havant (St Faith)[20] | St Faith, Havant | Medieval | 3 | 8,487 | |
| St Nicholas' Chapel, Langstone | 1869 | ||||
| Hayling Island (St Andrew) Eastoke[21] | St Andrew, Eastoke | c. 1940 (1964) | 1 | 4,687 | |
| Hayling, North (St Peter)[22] | St Peter, North Hayling | Medieval | 1,798 | ||
| Hayling, South (St Mary)[23] | St Mary, South Hayling | Medieval | 10,894 | ||
| Leigh Park (St Francis)[24] | St Francis, Leigh Park | 1963 | 1 | 13,099 | |
| Warren Park (St Clare)[25] | St Clare, Warren Park | 1970 | 3,278 | ||
| Leigh, West (St Alban)[26] | St Alban, West Leigh | 1957 (1966) | 1 | 9,830 | |
| Rowlands Castle (St John the Baptist)[27] | St John the Baptist, Rowlands Castle | 1838 | 0 | 2,357 | |
| Warblington (St Thomas À Becket) with Emsworth[28] | St Thomas à Becket, Warblington | Ancient (Medieval) | 2 | 10,709 | |
| St James, Emsworth | 1840 | ||||
| Waterlooville (St George the Martyr)[29] | St George, Waterlooville | 1831 (1970) | 1 | 13,447 |
Deanery of Portsmouth
| Benefice | Church | Link | Founded (building) | Clergy | Pop. served[9] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cosham (St Philip)[30] | St Philip, Cosham | 1938 | 1 | 4,266 | |
| Wymering (St Peter and St Paul)[31] | SS Peter & Paul, Wymering | Medieval | 6,608 | ||
| Farlington (St Andrew) (Church of the Resurrection)[32] | St Andrew, Farlington | Medieval (1875) | 2 | 15,146 | |
| The Resurrection, Farlington | 1930 | ||||
| Milton (St James) (St Andrew's Church Centre) (St Patrick)[33] | St James, Milton | 1841 (1913) | 1 | 23,326 | |
| Paulsgrove (St Michael and All Angels)[34] | St Michael & All Angels, Paulsgrove | 1957 | 1 | 11,834 | |
| Portsea (All Saints)[35] | All Saints, Portsea | 1828 | 0 | 5,236 | |
| Portsea (St Mary) (St Faith and St Barnabas) (St Wilfrid)[36] | St Mary, Portsea | Ancient (1889) | 2 | 21,635 | |
| St Faith, Portsea | |||||
| St Wilfrid, Portsea | |||||
| Southsea (St Luke) (St Peter)[37] | St Luke, Southsea | 1861 | 1 | 13,431 | |
| Portsea (St Alban)[38] | St Alban, Copnor | 1914 | 2 | 5,542 | |
| Harbour Church Portsmouth | 2016 | ||||
| Portsea (St George)[39] | St George, Portsea | 1753 | 4,567 | ||
| Portsea (St Cuthbert)[40] | St Cuthbert, Copnor | 1908 (1915) | 0 | 12,167 | |
| St Aidan, Anchorage Park | |||||
| Portsea (St Saviour)[41] | St Saviour, Portsea | 1901 (1913) | 3 | 6,261 | |
| Portsea (The Ascension)[42] | Ascension, North End | 1908 (1913) | 7,882 | ||
| Portsea North End (St Mark)[43] | St Mark, North End | 1868 (1970) | 20,608 | ||
| St Nicholas, North End | 1930 | ||||
| St Francis, Hilsea | 1930 (1936) | ||||
| Southsea (Holy Spirit)[44] | Holy Spirit, Southsea | 1858 (1958) | 2 | 13,462 | |
| Southsea (St Jude)[45] | St Jude, Southsea | 1851 | 2 | 8,783 | |
| Southsea (St Margaret of Scotland)[46] | St Margaret's Community Church, Southsea | 2017 (1903) | 0 | 7,554 | |
| Southsea (St Simon)[47] | St Simon, Southsea | 1858 | 0 | 9,312 |
Deanery of the Isle of Wight
| Benefice | Churches | Link | Clergy | Population served | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chale (St Andrew) |
|
3,331 | [62] | ||
| St Lawrence (Old Church) (St Lawrence) | [63] | ||||
| Whitwell (St Mary and St Rhadegunde) | [64] | ||||
| Niton (St John the Baptist) | [65] | ||||
| Cowes (Holy Trinity) (St Mary the Virgin) |
|
5,835 | [66] | ||
| Gatten (St Paul) |
|
9,487 | [67] | ||
| Sandown (Christ Church) | [68] | ||||
| Godshill (All Saints) |
|
|
3,631 | [69] | |
| Gurnard (All Saints) with Cowes St Faith |
|
9,405 | [70] | ||
| Northwood (St John the Baptist) | [71] | ||||
| Lake (Good Shepherd) |
|
5,271 | [72] | ||
| Shanklin (St Saviour On the Cliff) | [73] | ||||
| Newport (St John the Baptist) |
|
5,790 | [74] | ||
| Newport (St Thomas) |
|
5,666 | [75] | ||
| Ryde (All Saints) |
|
10,226 | [76] | ||
| Swanmore (St Michael and All Angels) | [77] | ||||
| Ryde (St James) Proprietary Chapel |
|
N/A | [78] | ||
| Ryde (St John the Baptist) Oakfield and Holy Trinity |
|
10,501 | [79] | ||
| Sandown, Lower (St John the Evangelist) |
|
6,189 | [80] | ||
| Shanklin (St Blasius) | [81] | ||||
| Seaview (St Peter), St Helens, Brading and Yaverland |
|
|
6,148 | [82] | |
| Whippingham (St Mildred) with East Cowes |
|
8,439 | [83] | ||
| Wroxall (St John the Evangelist) |
|
1,724 | [84] |
Deanery of Bishop's Waltham
| Benefice | Churches | Link | Clergy | Population served | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bishop's Waltham (St Peter) |
|
|
7,324 | [85] | |
| Upham (All Saints) (Blessed Mary of Upham) |
|
[86] | |||
| Botley (All Saints) |
|
|
6,371 | [87] | |
| Curdridge (St Peter) |
|
[88] | |||
| Durley (Holy Cross) |
|
[89] | |||
| Meon Bridge, Comprising Droxford, Exton, and Meonstoke with Corhampton |
|
|
1,739 | [90] | |
| Shedfield (St John the Baptist) and Wickham |
|
|
6,308 | [91] | |
|
|||||
| Soberton (St Peter), Newtown and Hambledon |
|
|
2,715 | [92] | |
|
|||||
| Southwick (St James) with Boarhunt |
|
|
1,456 | [93] | |
| Swanmore (St Barnabas) |
|
2,931 | [94] |
Deanery of Fareham
| Benefice | Churches | Link | Clergy | Population served | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crofton (Holy Rood) (St Edmund) |
|
|
14,947 | [95] | |
| Fareham (Holy Trinity) (St Columba) |
|
|
19,250 | [96] | |
| Fareham (St John the Evangelist) |
|
|
9,746 | [97] | |
| Fareham (St Peter and St Paul) |
|
|
14,251 | [98] | |
| Hook (St Mary) with Warsash |
|
|
9,843 | [99] | |
| Locks Heath (St John the Baptist) |
|
|
11,658 | [100] | |
| Portchester (St Mary) |
|
|
15,618 | [101] | |
| Sarisbury (St Paul) |
|
|
12,585 | [102] | |
| Whiteley Conventional District |
|
[103] | |||
| Titchfield (St Peter) |
|
|
9,956 | [104] |
Deanery of Gosport
| Benefice | Churches | Link | Clergy | Population served | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alverstoke (St Faith) (St Francis) (St Mary) |
|
|
16,532 | [105] | |
| Bridgemary (St Matthew) |
|
|
19,046 | [106] | |
| Elson (St Thomas) |
|
[107] | |||
| Forton (St John the Evangelist) |
|
|
12,473 | [108] | |
| Gosport (Christ Church) |
|
|
8,399 | [109] | |
| Gosport (Holy Trinity) | [110] | ||||
| Lee-On-The-Solent (St Faith) |
|
|
10,863 | [111] | |
| Rowner (St Mary the Virgin) |
|
|
15,312 | [112] |
Deanery of Petersfield
| Benefice | Churches | Link | Clergy | Population served | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackmoor (St Matthew) and Whitehill |
|
4,484 | [113] | ||
| Greatham (St John the Baptist) |
|
[114] | |||
| Bramshott (St Mary the Virgin) and Liphook |
|
|
8,514 | [115] | |
| Petersfield (St Peter) |
|
11,125 | [116] | ||
| Buriton (St Mary the Virgin) |
|
[117] | |||
| Empshott (Holy Rood) and Hawkley with Priors Dean |
|
|
525 | [118] | |
| Langrish (St John the Evangelist) |
|
|
2,520 | [119] | |
| Meon, East (All Saints) | [120] | ||||
| Meon, West (St John the Evangelist) and Warnford |
|
[121] | |||
| Liss (St Mary) (St Peter) (St Saviour) |
|
|
6,349 | [122] | |
| Sheet (St Mary Magdalene) |
|
|
4,691 | [123] | |
| Steep (All Saints) and Froxfield with Privett |
|
|
2,600 | [124] |