The Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, also referred to as the United Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, is a

diocese In Ecclesiastical polity, church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided Roman province, prov ...

in the

Church of Ireland The Church of Ireland (, ; , ) is a Christian church in Ireland, and an autonomy, autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. It is organised on an all-Ireland basis and is the Christianity in Ireland, second-largest Christian church on the ...

. The diocese is in the

ecclesiastical province An ecclesiastical province is one of the basic forms of jurisdiction in Christian churches, including those of both Western Christianity and Eastern Christianity, that have traditional hierarchical structures. An ecclesiastical province consist ...

Dublin Dublin is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Situated on Dublin Bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, and is bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, pa ...

. It is the see of the

Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross The Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross is the Church of Ireland Ordinary of the united Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross in the Province of Dublin. The current bishop is the Right Reverend Paul Colton BCL, DipTh, MPhil, LLM, PhD. He was consecrate ...

, the result of a combination of the bishoprics of Cork and Cloyne and Ross in 1583, the separation of Cork and Ross and Cloyne in 1660, and the re-combination of Cork and Ross and Cloyne in 1835. CorkCathedralsunlight

History of the Diocese of Cork

The Diocese of Cork was one of the twenty-four dioceses established at the

Synod of Rathbreasail A synod () is a council of a Christian denomination, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. The word ''synod'' comes from the Ancient Greek () ; the term is analogous with the Latin word . Originally, ...

(1111 AD) on an ancient bishopric founded by

Saint Finbarr Saint Finbar, Finbarr, Finnbar, or Finnbarr, in Irish Fionnbharra, very often abbreviated to Barra, (c. 550– 25 September 623) was Bishop of Cork and abbot of a monastery in what is now the city of Cork, Ireland. He is patron saint of ...

in 876. On 30 July 1326,

Pope John XXII Pope John XXII (, , ; 1244 – 4 December 1334), born Jacques Duèze (or d'Euse), was head of the Catholic Church from 7 August 1316 to his death, in December 1334. He was the second and longest-reigning Avignon Papacy, Avignon Pope, elected by ...

, on the petition of King Edward II of England, issued a

papal bull A papal bull is a type of public decree, letters patent, or charter issued by the pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the leaden Seal (emblem), seal (''bulla (seal), bulla'') traditionally appended to authenticate it. History Papal ...

for the union of the bishoprics of Cork and

Cloyne Cloyne () is a small town located to the southeast of Midleton in eastern County Cork, Ireland. It is also a see city of the Anglican (Church of Ireland) Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, while also giving its name to a Roman Catholic dioce ...

, the union to take effect on the death of either bishop. The union should have taken effect on the death of Philip of Slane in 1327, however, bishops were still appointed to each separate bishopric. The union eventually took place with Jordan Purcell appointed bishop of the united see of Cork and Cloyne in 1429. Following the Reformation, the diocese was again split and from 1583, Ross and Cork shared a bishop. In 1835 Cloyne was merged with "Ross and Cork".

History of the Diocese of Cloyne

The diocese of Cloyne has its origins in the monastic settlement founded by St Colman in the 6th century. Cloyne was not one of the dioceses established at the Synod of Rathbreasail, but a bishop of Cloyne was ruling the diocese by 1148, which was recognized at the

Synod of Kells The Synod of Kells (, ) took place in 1152, under the presidency of Giovanni Cardinal Paparoni, and continued the process begun at the Synod of Ráth Breasail (1111) of reforming the Irish church. The sessions were divided between the abbeys o ...

in March 1152. The see was merged with Cork to form the Diocese of Cork and Cloyne in 1429.

History of the Diocese of Ross

This see was founded by St. Fachtna, and the place-name was variously known as Roscairbre (

Rosscarbery Rosscarbery () is a village and census town in County Cork, Ireland. The village is on a shallow estuary, which opens onto Rosscarbery Bay. Rosscarbery is in the Cork South-West (Dáil Éireann) constituency, which has three seats. History The ...

) and Rosailithir (Ross of the pilgrims). St. Fachtna founded the

School of Ross The School of Ross was a monastic institution located in what is now called Rosscarbery, County Cork, Ireland, but formerly ''Ross-Ailithir'' (Ross of the Pilgrims), from the large number of monks and students who "flocked" to it from all over ...

as well as the see; and his death occurred about 590, on 14 August, on which day his feast is celebrated. At that time the chiefs of the tuath were the

O'Leary O'Leary is an Irish surname derived from the Gaelic Ó Laoghaire, meaning "descendant of Laoghaire"—a personal name often interpreted as "keeper of the calves" or "calf herder." The name is historically associated with a prominent family lineage ...

, known as Uí Laoghaire Ruis Ó gCairbre. By 1160, Ross (distinct from the Scottish Diocese of Ross) was an independent bishopric. In 1207, the Norman King,

John of England John (24 December 1166 – 19 October 1216) was King of England from 1199 until his death in 1216. He lost the Duchy of Normandy and most of his other French lands to King Philip II of France, resulting in the collapse of the Angevin Empi ...

, granted the ''

cantred A cantred was a subdivision of a county in the Anglo-Norman Lordship of Ireland between the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries, analogous to the cantref of Wales or the hundred of England. In County Dublin the equivalent unit was termed a serjeant ...

'' of Rosailithir to David Roche, regardless of the claims of the native chief, the

O'Driscoll O'Driscoll (and its derivative Driscoll) is an Irish surname. It is derived from the Gaelic ''Ó hEidirsceoil''. The O'Driscolls were rulers of the Dáirine sept of the Corcu Loígde until the early modern period; their ancestors were Kings ...

, but the episcopal manors were left undisturbed. In 1306, the value of the bishop's ''mensa'' was 26 marks, while the cathedral was valued at 3 marks; and the tribal revenue of the see was 45 pounds sterling. The number of parishes was 29, divided into three divisions; and there was a

Cistercian The Cistercians (), officially the Order of Cistercians (, abbreviated as OCist or SOCist), are a Catholic religious order of monks and nuns that branched off from the Benedictines and follow the Rule of Saint Benedict, as well as the contri ...

abbey, Carrigilihy (''de fonte vivo''); also a

Benedictine The Benedictines, officially the Order of Saint Benedict (, abbreviated as O.S.B. or OSB), are a mainly contemplative monastic order of the Catholic Church for men and for women who follow the Rule of Saint Benedict. Initiated in 529, th ...

Priory at St. Mary's, Ross. The Franciscans acquired a foundation at

Sherkin Island Sherkin Island, historically called Inisherkin (), lies southwest of County Cork in Ireland alongside other islands of Roaringwater Bay. It had a population of 111 people at the time of the 2016 Census, and measures long by wide. The i ...

from the O'Driscolls in 1460. Blessed Thady MacCarthy was appointed Bishop of Ross in 1482, but was forcibly deprived of his see in 1488 However, he was translated to the united bishopric of Cork and Cloyne in 1490; was again a victim of political intrigues, and died a confessor at

Ivrea Ivrea (; ; ; ) is a town and ''comune'' of the Metropolitan City of Turin in the Piedmont region of northwestern Italy. Situated on the road leading to the Aosta Valley (part of the medieval Via Francigena), it straddles the Dora Baltea and is ...

in 1492, being beatified in 1895. In 1517 the revenue of the diocese was 60 marks. At that date the chapter was complete with 12 canons and 4 vicars, and there were 27 parishes, including three around

Berehaven Castletownbere (), or Castletown Berehaven, is a port town in County Cork, Ireland. It is on the Beara Peninsula by Berehaven Harbour. A regionally important fishing port, the town also serves as a commercial and retail hub for the local hinterl ...

. Following

the Reformation The Reformation, also known as the Protestant Reformation or the European Reformation, was a time of major theological movement in Western Christianity in 16th-century Europe that posed a religious and political challenge to the papacy and ...

, the merged dioceses of "Cork and Cloyne" were again split, with Ross and Cork sharing a bishop from 1583 onwards.

Cathedrals

Saint Finbarre's Cathedral Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral () is a Gothic Revival three-spire Church of Ireland cathedral in Cork city, Ireland. It is located on the south bank of the River Lee and dedicated to Finbarr of Cork, patron saint of the city. Formerly the sole ...

, Cork city, Cork. * Cathedral Church of St. Fachtna, Rosscarbery, Ross. * St. Coleman's Cathedral, Cloyne.

Parishes

Diocese of Cork

The Diocese of Cork has 14 parishes with 40 churches (excluding the cathedral) * Aghadown, St Matthew's Church, Aghadown - parish of Ballydehob *

Ballydehob Ballydehob () is a coastal village in the southwest of County Cork, Ireland. It is 13 km west of Skibbereen and 13 km south of Bantry. History During the Bronze Age (2200-600 B.C.), copper was mined on Mount Gabriel, just west of the ...

, St Matthias - parish of Ballydehob *

Ballinadee Ballinadee () is a village in County Cork, Ireland. It lies in the parish of Courceys, approximately 12 km by road west of Kinsale and 9 km south east of Bandon. Ballinadee is on the banks of the River Pound, which flows into the Rive ...

- parish of Ballymodan * Ballymartle - parish of Kinsale * Ballymodan, St Peter's Church, Ballymodan - parish of Ballymodan * Beara, St Peter - parish of Kilmocomogue *

Blackrock BlackRock, Inc. is an American Multinational corporation, multinational investment company. Founded in 1988, initially as an enterprise risk management and fixed income institutional asset manager, BlackRock is the world's largest asset manager ...

St Michael, St Michael - parish of Douglas * Brinny Church - parish of Ballymodan *

Carrigaline Carrigaline (; ) is a town and civil parish in County Cork, Republic of Ireland, Ireland, situated on the River Owenabue. Located about south of Cork (city), Cork city, and with a population of 18,239 people, it is one of the largest commuter ...

, St Mary - parish of Carriglaine * Carrigrohane, St Peter - parish of Carrigrohane *

Cork "Cork" or "CORK" may refer to: Materials * Cork (material), an impermeable buoyant plant product ** Stopper (plug), or "cork", a cylindrical or conical object used to seal a container *** Wine cork an item to seal or reseal wine Places Ireland * ...

, St Anne Shandon *

Crookhaven Crookhaven () is a village in County Cork, Ireland, on the most southwestern tip of the island of Ireland. With an out-of-season population of about sixty, it swells in the summer season to about four hundred, when the occupants of the seasonal ...

, St Brendan - parish of Kilmoe * Desertserges - parish of Kinneigh *

Douglas Douglas may refer to: People * Douglas (given name) * Douglas (surname) Animals * Douglas (parrot), macaw that starred as the parrot ''Rosalinda'' in Pippi Longstocking * Douglas the camel, a camel in the Confederate Army in the American Civil ...

, St Luke - parish of Douglas * Drimoleague, St Matthew - parish of Fanlobbus * Drinagh, Christ Church - parish of Fanlobbus *

Dunmanway Dunmanway (, official Irish name: ) is a market town in County Cork, in the southwest of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is the geographical centre of the region known as West Cork. It is the birthplace of Sam Maguire, an Irish Protestant repub ...

St Edmund - parish of Fanlobbus * Durrus, St James the Apostle - parish of Kilmocomogue * Garrycloyne - parish of Carrigrohane * Fanlobbus, St Mary - parish of Fanlobbus * Frankfield, Holy Trinity - parish of Douglas *

Inniscarra Inniscarra () is a civil parish in the Barony (Ireland), barony of Muskerry East, County Cork, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is located about 15km west of Cork (city), Cork city. The local GAA club is Inniscarra GAA and Dripsey GAA. Innisca ...

, Senan - parish of Carrigrohane *

Innishannon Innishannon or Inishannon () is a large village on the main Cork (city), Cork–Bandon, County Cork, Bandon road (N71 road (Ireland), N71) in County Cork, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Situated on the River Bandon, the village has grown d ...

, Christ Church - parish of Ballymodan * Kilbonane, St Mark - parish of Moviddy * Kilmeen, Christ Church - parish of Kinneigh * Kilmocomogue * Kilmurry, St Andrew - parish of Moviddy * Kinneigh, St Bartholomew - parish of Kinneigh *

Kinsale Kinsale ( ; ) is a historic port and fishing town in County Cork, Ireland. Located approximately south of Cork (city), Cork City on the southeast coast near the Old Head of Kinsale, it sits at the mouth of the River Bandon, and has a populatio ...

, Church of St Multose - parish of Kinsale * Marmullane, St Mary - parish of Douglas * Monkstown, St John - parish of Carriglaine * Murragh, St Patrick - parish of Kinneigh * Nohoval - parish of Templebreedy * Rathclaren - parish of Ballymodan *

Schull Schull or Skull ( ; or ''Scoil Mhuire'', meaning "Mary's School") is a town on the south-west coast of County Cork in Ireland. Located on the southwest coast of Ireland in the Municipal district (Ireland), municipal district of West Cork, ...

, Holy Trinity - parish of Kilmoe * Teampol-Na-Mbocht - parish of Kilmoe * Templemartin, St Martin - parish of Moviddy * Templetrine - parish of Kinsale * Templebreedy, Holy Trinity *

University College Cork University College Cork – National University of Ireland, Cork (UCC) () is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland, and located in Cork (city), Cork. The university was founded in 1845 as one of three Queen's Universit ...

Diocese of Cloyne

The Diocese of Cloyne has 5 parishes with 19 churches. * Ardmore - parish of Youghal * Ardnageehy, Mary - parish of Fermoy * Ballyhooly, Christ Church - parish of Fermoy * Brigown, St George - parish of Fermoy * Castlemartyr, St Anne - parish of Youghal * Castletownroche - parish of Mallow *

, St Colman's Cathedral - parish of Cloyne *

Cobh Cobh ( ,), known from 1849 until 1920 as Queenstown, is a seaport town on the south coast of County Cork, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. With a population of 14,148 inhabitants at the 2022 census of Ireland, 2022 census, Cobh is on the south si ...

& Glanmire - parish of Cobh & Glanmire Union * Corkbeg, St Michael & All Angels - parish of Cloyne *

Doneraile Doneraile (), historically Dunnerail, is a town in County Cork, Ireland. It is on the R581 regional road east of the N20 road, which runs from Limerick to Cork. It is about north of Mallow town. It is on the River Awbeg, a branch of th ...

, St Mary - parish of Mallow *

Fermoy Fermoy () is a town on the Munster Blackwater, River Blackwater in east County Cork, Ireland. As of the 2022 census of Ireland, 2022 census, the town and environs had a population of approximately 6,700 people. It is located in the barony (Ir ...

, Christ Church - parish of Fermoy * Gurranekennefeake, Holy Trinity - parish of Cloyne * Knockmourne, St Luke - parish of Fermoy * Little Island, St Lappan - parish of Cobh & Glanmire Union * Mallow, St James - parish of Mallow *

Midleton Midleton (; , meaning "monastery at the weir") is a town in south-eastern County Cork, Ireland. It lies approximately 16 km east of Cork City on the Owenacurra River and the N25 road, which connects Cork to the port of Rosslare. A satelli ...

, St John the Baptist- parish of Cloyne * Rathcooney - parish of Cobh & Glanmire Union * Rushbrooke, Christ Church - parish of Cobh & Glanmire Union * Youghal, St Mary - parish of Youghal

Diocese of Ross

The Diocese of Ross has three parishes with 13 churches. *

Abbeystrewry Abbeystrewry, also Abbeystrowry, is a parish, formerly within the Diocese of Ross and a civil parish in the barony of Carbery East, in County Cork County Cork () is the largest and the southernmost Counties of Ireland, county of Republic ...

- parish of Abbeystrewry * Caheragh, St Mary - parish of Abbeystrewry *

Castlehaven Castlehaven () is a civil parish in County Cork, Ireland. It is located in West Cork, approximately 45 miles south-west of Cork City on the coast. The civil parish includes the town of Castletownshend and the hamlets of Rineen and Tragumna. Th ...

- parish of Abbeystrewry * Castleventry - parish of Ross * Courtmacsherry, St John the Evangelist - parish of Kilgariffe * Kilfaughnabeg, Christ Church - parish of Ross * Kilgariffe - parish of Kilgariffe * Kilmacabea - parish of Ross *Kilmalooda, All Saints' Church - parish of Kilgariffe * Myross - parish of Ross *

, St Fachtna's Cathedral - parish of Ross * Timoleague, The Ascension - parish of Kilgariffe * Tullagh, St Matthew - parish of Abbeystrewry

Bishops

Education and faith development

There are a number Church of Ireland primary and secondary schools in the diocese, with the Bishop as the patron. There is also a children's ministry which organizes events outside the school system. Developing from the ''Bishop's Course in Theology'', recently the ''Certificate in Christian Studies'' (validated by St. Patrick's College, Maynooth) has been delivered in the Diocese.Certificate in Christian Studies launched in Cork, Cloyne and Ross
News, Irish Anglican, 12 February 2018.

References

External links

Diocesan Website
{{authority control Cork, Cloyne Religion in County Cork Church of Ireland in the Republic of Ireland