The Diocese of Oxford is a

Church of England The Church of England (C of E) is the established Christian church in England and the mother church of the international Anglican Communion. It traces its history to the Christian church recorded as existing in the Roman province of Britai ...

diocese In 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 provinces were administratively associat ...

that forms part of the Province of Canterbury. The diocese is led by the

Bishop of Oxford The Bishop of Oxford is the diocesan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Oxford in the Province of Canterbury; his seat is at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford. The current bishop is Steven Croft, following the confirmation of his elect ...

(currently Steven Croft), and the bishop's seat is at

Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford Christ Church Cathedral is the cathedral of the Anglican diocese of Oxford, which consists of the counties of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire. It is also the chapel of Christ Church, a college of the University of Oxford. This dua ...

. It contains more church buildings than any other diocese and has more paid clergy than any other except

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

. The diocese now covers the counties of

Berkshire Berkshire ( ; in the 17th century sometimes spelt phonetically as Barkeshire; abbreviated Berks.) is a historic county in South East England. One of the home counties, Berkshire was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II as the Royal County of Be ...

(118 churches),

Buckinghamshire Buckinghamshire (), abbreviated Bucks, is a ceremonial county in South East England that borders Greater London to the south-east, Berkshire to the south, Oxfordshire to the west, Northamptonshire to the north, Bedfordshire to the north-eas ...

(152 churches), Oxfordshire (227 churches) and five churches in the nearby counties.

History

The Diocese of

Oxford Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the Un ...

was created by

letters patent Letters patent ( la, litterae patentes) ( always in the plural) are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch, president or other head of state, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, t ...

from

Henry VIII Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is best known for his six marriages, and for his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. His disagr ...

on 1 September 1542, out of part of the

Diocese of Lincoln The Diocese of Lincoln forms part of the Province of Canterbury in England. The present diocese covers the ceremonial county of Lincolnshire. History The diocese traces its roots in an unbroken line to the Pre-Reformation Diocese of Leices ...

. Osney Abbey was designated the original cathedral, but in 1545 this was changed to St Frideswide's Priory which became Christ Church Cathedral. In 1836 the Archdeaconry of Berkshire was transferred from the Diocese of Salisbury to Oxford. This comprises the county of Berkshire and parts of Wiltshire. By an Act of 1837

was notified of its transfer from the then

, to become the

Archdeaconry of Buckingham The Archdeacon of Buckingham is the senior ecclesiastical officer in charge of the Church of England in Buckinghamshire. The archdeacon has statutory oversight over the ancient Archdeaconry of Buckingham, which has existed since (at latest) the 11 ...

, effective from 1845. In 2013 and 2014, the Diocese of Oxford discussed and resolved to undertake some pastoral alterations; the new archdeaconry of Dorchester was created on 1 March 2014. On 3 March 2014, it was announced that

Judy French Judith Karen French (called Judy; born 18 November 1960) is a British retired Anglican priest. From 2014 to 2022, she was the Archdeacon of Dorchester in the Diocese of Oxford. French was educated at a United Reformed Church boarding school, stu ...

would become the first Archdeacon of Dorchester from June 2014.

Bishops

The diocesan Bishop of Oxford is assisted by the area bishops of Dorchester, Buckingham, and Reading. The suffragan See of Buckingham was created in 1914, and was the suffragan bishopric for the whole diocese until 1939 when the See of Dorchester was created; the See of Reading was re-created in 1942, after having been 'in abeyance' since 1909. The provincial episcopal visitor (for parishes in the diocese – among twelve other dioceses in the western part of the Province of Canterbury – which do not accept the ordination of women as priests) is the Bishop suffragan of Ebbsfleet, who is licensed as an honorary assistant bishop of the diocese in order to facilitate his ministry in the diocese. Several retired bishops resident in or near the diocese are licensed to serve as honorary assistant bishops.: *Since 2001:

Bill Down William John Denbigh Down (born 15 July 1934) was the ninth Bishop of Bermuda and later the Assistant Bishop of Leicester. Educated at St John's College, Cambridge (he proceeded Cambridge Master of Arts ), Down was ordained in 1960. His first pos ...

, retired

Assistant Bishop of Leicester The Bishop of Leicester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Leicester in the Province of Canterbury. Through reorganisation within the Church of England, the Diocese of Leicester was refounded in 1927, and St Martin's Churc ...

and Bishop of Bermuda, lives in

Witney Witney is a market town on the River Windrush in West Oxfordshire in the county of Oxfordshire, England. It is west of Oxford. The place-name "Witney" is derived from the Old English for "Witta's island". The earliest known record of it is ...

. *Since 2004: James Johnson (Bishop of St Helena) returned to parish ministry in Northants and Essex before retiring to Bodicote. *Since 2010: Anthony Russell, former

Bishop of Ely The Bishop of Ely is the Ordinary (officer), ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Ely in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese roughly covers the county of Cambridgeshire (with the exception of the Soke of Peterborough), together with ...

and area Bishop of Dorchester, lives in Holton. *Since 2010:

Henry Scriven Henry William Scriven (born 30 August 1951) is an English people, English Anglican bishop who has served in Europe and in America. Biography Scriven was educated at Repton School in Derbyshire and later at the University of Sheffield. He then st ...

, Mission Director for Latin America ( CMS) and former Assistant Bishop in

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...

and

Suffragan Bishop in Europe The Suffragan Bishop in Europe is an Episcopal polity, episcopal title used by a suffragan bishop of the Church of England Diocese in Europe (in the Province of Canterbury.) The suffragan bishop assists the diocesan Bishop in Europe in overseeing ...

, lives in

Abingdon-on-Thames Abingdon-on-Thames ( ), commonly known as Abingdon, is a historic market town and civil parish in the ceremonial county of Oxfordshire, England, on the River Thames. Historically the county town of Berkshire, since 1974 Abingdon has been admini ...

and is also licensed in

Chichester Chichester () is a cathedral city and civil parish in West Sussex, England.OS Explorer map 120: Chichester, South Harting and Selsey Scale: 1:25 000. Publisher:Ordnance Survey – Southampton B2 edition. Publishing Date:2009. It is the only ...

and Winchester dioceses. *Since 2013: David Jennings, retired former Bishop suffragan of Warrington, lives in Northleach,

Gloucestershire Gloucestershire ( abbreviated Glos) is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn and the entire Forest of Dean. The county town is the city of Gl ...

and is also licensed in Gloucester diocese. *Since 2013:

John Went '' This article is about the bishop. For the Protestant martyr, see John Went (martyr).'' John Stewart Went (born 11 March 1944) was the Anglican Bishop of Tewkesbury, the suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Gloucester, from 25 January 1996 unt ...

, former Bishop suffragan of Tewkesbury, lives in

Latimer Latimer may refer to: Places England * Latimer, Buckinghamshire, a village ** Latimer and Ley Hill, a civil parish that until 2013 was just called "Latimer" * Latimer, Leicester, an electoral ward and administrative division of the city of Leicest ...

George Carey George Leonard Carey, Baron Carey of Clifton (born 13 November 1935) is a retired Anglican bishop who was the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1991 to 2002, having previously been the Bishop of Bath and Wells. During his time as archbishop the Ch ...

(retired Archbishop of Canterbury) lives in the diocese and was an honorary assistant bishop, but resigned his licence following his implication in the

Peter Ball Peter Ball may refer to: *Peter Ball (bishop) (1932–2019), former Bishop of Lewes and of Gloucester and convicted sex offender * Peter Ball (physician) (died 1675), English physician *Peter Eugene Ball (born 1943), English sculptor *Peter Ball ( ...

abuse case, and Humphrey Southern, former Bishop suffragan of Repton, is the Principal of Ripon College Cuddesdon.

Current extent

Counties

The diocese now covers the counties of *

(118 churches) *

(152 churches) * Oxfordshire (227 churches) and has *three churches in the county of

Bedfordshire Bedfordshire (; abbreviated Beds) is a ceremonial county in the East of England. The county has been administered by three unitary authorities, Borough of Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Borough of Luton, since Bedfordshire County Council ...

*one church in the traditional county of

Middlesex Middlesex (; abbreviation: Middx) is a historic county in southeast England. Its area is almost entirely within the wider urbanised area of London and mostly within the ceremonial county of Greater London, with small sections in neighbourin ...

*one church in the county of

Hampshire Hampshire (, ; abbreviated to Hants) is a ceremonial county, ceremonial and non-metropolitan county, non-metropolitan counties of England, county in western South East England on the coast of the English Channel. Home to two major English citi ...

Episcopal areas

Since the creation of an area scheme in 1984, the diocese has been divided into three episcopal areas. The

has authority throughout the diocese, but also has primary responsibility for the city and suburbs of

, which form the Archdeaconry of Oxford. *City of Oxford and surrounding area (Archdeaconry of Oxford) **current

: Steven Croft **includes Deaneries of

and Cowley * Dorchester Episcopal Area (Archdeaconry of Dorchester) **current area Bishop of Dorchester: Colin Fletcher **includes Deaneries of Aston & Cuddesdon, Bicester & Islip,

Chipping Norton Chipping Norton is a market town and civil parish in the Cotswold Hills in the West Oxfordshire district of Oxfordshire, England, about south-west of Banbury and north-west of Oxford. The 2011 Census recorded the civil parish population ...

, Deddington,

Henley Henley may refer to: Places United Kingdom * Henley, Dorset, a location * Henley, Gloucestershire, a location * Henley-on-Thames, a town in South Oxfordshire, England ** Henley (UK Parliament constituency) ** Henley Rural District, a former ru ...

and

Woodstock Woodstock Music and Art Fair, commonly referred to as Woodstock, was a music festival held during August 15–18, 1969, on Max Yasgur's dairy farm in Bethel, New York, United States, southwest of the town of Woodstock, New York, Woodstock. ...

*Buckingham Episcopal Area (Archdeaconry of Buckingham) **current area Bishop of Buckingham: Alan Wilson **includes Deaneries of Amersham, Aylesbury, Buckingham,

Burnham Burnham may refer to: Places Canada *Burnham, Saskatchewan England *Burnham, Buckinghamshire ** Burnham railway station ** Burnham Grammar School *Burnham Green, Hertfordshire, location of The White Horse * Burnham, Lincolnshire **High Burnham, ...

& Slough, Claydon, Milton Keynes, Mursley,

Newport Newport most commonly refers to: *Newport, Wales *Newport, Rhode Island, US Newport or New Port may also refer to: Places Asia *Newport City, Metro Manila, a Philippine district in Pasay Europe Ireland *Newport, County Mayo, a town on the ...

, Wendover and Wycombe *Reading Episcopal Area (Archdeaconry of Berkshire) **current area Bishop of Reading: Olivia Graham **includes Deaneries of Abingdon,

Bracknell Bracknell () is a large town and civil parish in Berkshire, England, the westernmost area within the Greater London Urban Area and the administrative centre of the Borough of Bracknell Forest. It lies to the east of Reading, south of Maidenhe ...

, Bradfield,

Maidenhead Maidenhead is a market town in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in the county of Berkshire, England, on the southwestern bank of the River Thames. It had an estimated population of 70,374 and forms part of the border with southern Bu ...

& Windsor, Newbury,

Reading Reading is the process of taking in the sense or meaning of Letter (alphabet), letters, symbols, etc., especially by Visual perception, sight or Somatosensory system, touch. For educators and researchers, reading is a multifaceted process invo ...

, Sonning, Vale of White Horse, Wallingford and Wantage

Archdeaconries and deaneries

*including Cathedral

Churches

Outside deanery structures

Deanery of Oxford

¹situated within the area covered by the Cowley deanery

Deanery of Cowley

Deanery of Abingdon

Deanery website

Deanery of Aston and Cuddesdon

Deanery of Bicester and Islip

Deanery of Chipping Norton

Deanery of Deddington

Deanery of Henley

Deanery of Vale of White Horse

Deanery of Wallingford

Deanery of Wantage

Deanery website

Deanery of Witney

Deanery of Woodstock

Deanery of Amersham

Deanery website

Deanery of Aylesbury

Deanery of Buckingham

Deanery website

Deanery of Burnham and Slough

Deanery of Claydon

Deanery of Milton Keynes

Deanery of Mursley

Deanery of Newport

Deanery of Wendover

Deanery of Wycombe

Deanery website

Deanery of Bracknell

Deanery of Bradfield

Deanery of Maidenhead and Windsor

Deanery of Newbury

Deanery of Reading

Deanery website

Deanery of Sonning

Other foundations employing Church of England clergy within the diocesan area

References

Church of England Statistics 2002

External links

*
Churches in the Diocese of Oxford ("A Church Near You")
{{coord, 51.831, -1.305, type:adm2nd_region:GB, display=title

1541 establishments in England Religious organizations established in the 1540s Dioceses established in the 16th century

History

Bishops

Current extent

Counties

Episcopal areas

Archdeaconries and deaneries

Churches

Outside deanery structures

Deanery of Oxford

Deanery of Cowley

Deanery of Abingdon

Deanery of Aston and Cuddesdon

Deanery of Bicester and Islip

Deanery of Chipping Norton

Deanery of Deddington

Deanery of Henley

Deanery of Vale of White Horse

Deanery of Wallingford

Deanery of Wantage

Deanery of Witney

Deanery of Woodstock

Deanery of Amersham

Deanery of Aylesbury

Deanery of Buckingham

Deanery of Burnham and Slough

Deanery of Claydon

Deanery of Milton Keynes

Deanery of Mursley

Deanery of Newport

Deanery of Wendover

Deanery of Wycombe

Deanery of Bracknell

Deanery of Bradfield

Deanery of Maidenhead and Windsor

Deanery of Newbury

Deanery of Reading

Deanery of Sonning

Other foundations employing Church of England clergy within the diocesan area

See also

References

External links