Diocese of Canterbury Dioecesis Cantuariensis | |
|---|---|
Coat of arms | |
Flag | |
| Location | |
| Ecclesiastical province | Canterbury |
| Archdeaconries | Canterbury, Ashford, Maidstone |
| Coordinates | 51°16′47″N1°5′0″E / 51.27972°N 1.08333°E /51.27972; 1.08333 |
| Statistics | |
| Parishes | 231 |
| Churches | 327 |
| Information | |
| Cathedral | Canterbury Cathedral |
| Current leadership | |
| Bishop | Archbishop of Canterbury (vacant; bishop-designate:Sarah Mullally) |
| Suffragans | Rose Hudson-Wilkin,Bishop of Dover (pseudo-diocesan) Rob Munro,Bishop of Ebbsfleet (PEV) Luke Irvine-Capel,Bishop of Richborough (PEV) |
| Archdeacons | Will Adam,Archdeacon of Canterbury Darren Miller,Archdeacon of Ashford Archdeacon of Maidstone (vacant) |
| Website | |
| canterburydiocese.org | |
TheDiocese of Canterbury is aChurch of Englanddiocese coveringeasternKent which was founded bySt Augustine of Canterbury in 597. The diocese is centred onCanterbury Cathedral and is the oldestsee of the Church of England.
The diocesan bishop is thearchbishop of Canterbury. However, because of their roles asmetropolitan bishop of theProvince of Canterbury,Primate of All England and "first bishop" of the worldwideAnglican Communion, the archbishop (whose primary residence is atLambeth Palace in London) is often away from the diocese. Therefore, their suffragan bishop, thebishop of Dover (presentlyRose Hudson-Wilkin), is in many ways empowered to act almost as if she were the diocesan bishop.
The diocese had from 1944 to 2009 a second locally focussed suffragan bishop, thebishop of Maidstone (this version of the post was discontinued in November 2010), who had a similar though subordinate role to that of the Bishop of Dover.[1] Two suffragans have nominal sees in the diocese — the bishops ofEbbsfleet andRichborough, who areprovincial episcopal visitors with a wider focus than the diocese.
Besides the archbishop and the bishop of Dover, three honorary assistant bishops supervise and officiate.Alternative episcopal oversight (for parishes in the diocese who reject the ministry of priests who are women) is provided by theprovincial episcopal visitor (PEV), thebishop suffragan of Richborough (Luke Irvine-Capel). There are threehonorary assistant bishops licensed in the diocese:
For organisational purposes, the diocese is divided into three archdeaconries,[5] containing a total of sixteendeaneries, which are further subdivided into parishes:[6] Canterbury Diocese comprises 202 parishes organised in 100 legal benefices.[7]
| Diocese | Archdeaconries | Rural deaneries |
|---|---|---|
| Diocese of Canterbury | Archdeaconry of Canterbury | Deanery ofCanterbury |
| Deanery ofEast Bridge | ||
| Deanery ofReculver | ||
| Deanery ofThanet | ||
| Deanery of Stour Valley | ||
| Archdeaconry of Ashford | Deanery ofAshford | |
| Deanery ofDover | ||
| Deanery ofElham | ||
| Deanery ofRomney | ||
| Deanery ofSandwich | ||
| Deanery ofVineyard | ||
| Archdeaconry of Maidstone | Deanery ofMaidstone | |
| Deanery ofNorth Downs | ||
| Deanery ofOspringe | ||
| Deanery ofSittingbourne | ||
| Deanery ofWeald |
1dedicated to St Alban (as a Garrison Church) until 1976
Previously known as West Bridge.
1original dedication to St Gregory
(created 2024 out of the previous Deanery of Romney and Tenterden)
1original dedication to St Mary
| Benefice | Population | Churches | Clergy (Oct 2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashford | 86,378 | 11 | 1 Team Rector, 3 Team Vicars, 2 Curates, 2 NSMs |
| West Sheppey | 38,793 | 3 | Vacant |
| Dover | 33,130 | 5 | 2 Team Vicars, 1 NSM |
| Milton Regis w Murston, Bapchild & Tonge // Borden | 32,795 | 5 | Vacant (prev. 1 Joint P-in-C), 1 Curate, 2 NSMs |
| Whitstable | 32,653 | 6 | 1 Team Rector, 2 Team Vicars, 2 Curates, 1 NSM |
| North Downs | 26,967 | 12 | 1 Priest-in-Charge |
| Romney Marsh | 22,716 | 14 | 1 Team Rector, 1 Team Vicar, 3 NSMs |
| Sittingbourne with Bobbing | 21,980 | 3 | Vacant, 1 NSM |
| Faversham | 21,624 | 4 | 1 Vicar, 1 Curate |
| Ramsgate St Laurence in Thanet | 21,337 | 5 | 1 Priest-in-Charge |
| Allington with Maidstone St Peter // Maidstone St Paul | 21,229 | 2 | 1 Joint Priest-in-Charge |
| Maidstone All Saints St Philip with St Stephen Tovil | 21,213 | 2 | Vacant |
| Margate St John the Baptist // Margate All Saints | 21,073 | 2 | 1 Joint Priest-in-Charge |
| Maidstone St Martin | 19,222 | 1 | 1 Priest-in-Charge, 1 NSM |
| Upper Deal and Great Mongeham | 17,369 | 4 | 1 Priest-in-Charge, 3 NSMs |
| Margate St Paul // Margate Holy Trinity | 16,296 | 2 | 1 Joint Priest-in-Charge, 2 Curates, 1 NSM |
| Herne | 15,901 | 2 | 1 Priest-in-Charge |
| Cheriton with Newington | 15,420 | 3 | 1 Rector, 1 NSM |
| Herne Bay Christ Church | 14,469 | 2 | 1 Vicar, 1 Curate, 1 NSM |
| Folkestone SS Augustine, Mary & Eanswythe | 13,717 | 2 | 1 Priest-in-Charge |
| Wantsum // Westgate St Saviour | 13,414 | 5 | 1 Joint Priest-in-Charge, 1 NSM |
| Folkestone Trinity | 12,801 | 3 | Vacant, 3 NSMs |
| The Six | 12,496 | 6 | Vacant, 1 NSM |
| Tenterden, Rother and Oxney | 12,458 | 9 | 1 Team Rector, 1 Team Vicar, 1 NSM |
| Broadstairs St Peter in Thanet | 11,643 | 1 | 1 Priest-in-Charge, 1 NSM |
| Ramsgate St Luke // Ramsgate St George | 11,098 | 2 | 1 Joint Vicar/Priest-in-Charge, 1 Curate |
| Birchington with Acol and Minnis Bay | 11,019 | 3 | 1 Priest-in-Charge, 1 NSM |
| Reculver | 10,640 | 3 | Vacant, 1 NSM |
| Bewsborough | 10,620 | 6 | 1 Rector, 1 Curate |
| Ramsgate Holy Trinity // Deal St Andrew (underBp of Richborough) | 10,330 | 2 | Vacant (previously 1 Joint Rector) |
| Walmer and Cornilo | 10,177 | 8 | 1 Rector, 3 NSMs |
| Canterbury St Dunstan, St Mildred & St Peter | 10,097 | 3 | 1 Rector |
| Hythe | 9,800 | 3 | 1 Vicar, 1 Curate |
| Barham Downs with Adisham and Aylesham | 9,522 | 6 | 1 Rector, 2 Curates |
| Folkestone St John the Baptist | 9,085 | 1 | 1 Vicar, 1 Curate |
| Canterbury Hackington | 9,042 | 1 | 1 Priest-in-Charge, 1 NSM, 1 Hon. Curate |
| Canterbury St Mary Bredin | 8,762 | 1 | 1 Vicar, 1 Curate |
| Maidstone St Luke | 8,727 | 1 | 1 Vicar, 2 Curates, 1 NSM |
| Hawkinge | 8,601 | 1 | 1 Priest-in-Charge |
| Len Valley | 8,239 | 4 | Vacant |
| Canterbury All Saints | 8,195 | 1 | 1 Priest-in-Charge, 1 Curate, 1 NSM |
| Sturry with Fordwich and Westbere with Hersden | 8,139 | 2 | Vacant |
| Eastchurch with Leysdown and Harty | 8,120 | 2 | Vacant (since 2016) |
| Canterbury St Martin and St Paul | 8,095 | 2 | 1 Rector |
| Reading Street | 7,626 | 1 | 1 Vicar |
| Kingsdown, Creekside and High Downs | 7,422 | 10 | 1 Vicar, 1 Curate |
| Calehill with Westwell | 7,382 | 7 | 1 Rector |
| Headcorn and the Suttons | 7,358 | 4 | Vacant |
| Staplehurst | 6,654 | 1 | 1 Rector |
| Maidstone St Michael (underBishop of Richborough) | 6,614 | 1 | 1 Priest-in-Charge |
| Maidstone St Andrew | 6,552 | 1 | 1 Priest-in-Charge |
| Elham Valley | 6,533 | 8 | 1 Rector, 1 NSM, 1 OLM |
| Westgate St James (underBishop of Ebbsfleet) | 6,523 | 1 | 1 Priest-in-Charge |
| Wye | 6,303 | 8 | 1 Vicar, 2 Curates, 1 OLM |
| Loose (underBishop of Ebbsfleet) | 6,160 | 1 | 1 Vicar, 1 Curate |
| Ramsgate Christ Church (underBishop of Ebbsfleet) | 6,064 | 1 | Vacant (since 2021) |
| Canonry | 5,884 | 6 | 1 Vicar, 1 NSM |
| Broadstairs Holy Trinity | 5,865 | 1 | Vacant |
| Denswood | 5,855 | 3 | 1 Rector, 1 Curate |
| Canterbury Harbledown (underBishop of Richborough) | 5,810 | 2 | 1 Rector |
| Chartham and Upper Hardres with Stelling | 5,703 | 3 | 1 Vicar |
| Sandwich and Worth | 5,579 | 2 | 1 Rector, 1 NSM |
| Eastry and Woodnesborough | 5,538 | 5 | 1 Rector, 1 NSM |
| Stour Downs | 5,387 | 6 | 1 Vicar |
| Cranbrook | 5,260 | 1 | 1 Vicar, 1 Curate |
| Marden | 5,188 | 1 | 1 Vicar, 1 Curate |
| Saxon Shoreline | 5,049 | 8 | 1 Rector |
| Hawkhurst | 4,916 | 1 | 1 Vicar |
| Lympne and Saltwood | 4,887 | 3 | 1 Rector, 1 NSM |
| Boughton, Dunkirk, Goodnestone, Graveney, Hernhill | 4,867 | 4 | 1 Priest-in-Charge |
| Tunstall and Bredgar | 4,474 | 7 | 1 Rector, 1 Curate |
| River | 4,363 | 1 | 1 Priest-in-Charge, 1 NSM |
| Little Stour | 4,275 | 5 | 1 Priest-in-Charge |
| Blean | 4,202 | 1 | 1 Vicar, 1 NSM |
| Biddenden and Smarden | 4,056 | 2 | 1 Priest-in-Charge |
| Thanington | 3,879 | 2 | 1 Priest-in-Charge |
| Benenden and Sandhurst | 3,719 | 3 | 1 Vicar, 1 NSM |
| King's Wood | 3,658 | 5 | 1 Rector |
| Boughton Monchelsea | 3,574 | 1 | Vacant |
| Folkestone St Peter (underBishop of Richborough) | 3,548 | 1 | Vacant |
| Maidstone St Faith | 3,419 | 1 | 1 Priest-in-Charge |
| Margate St Philip | 3,380 | 1 | 1 Vicar |
| Bridge | 3,242 | 5 | 1 Vicar |
| St Margarets-At-Cliffe with Westcliffe and Langdons | 3,218 | 4 | Vacant (0.5FTE) |
| Alkham with Capel Le Ferne and Hougham | 3,151 | 3 | 1 Priest-in-Charge |
| Goudhurst with Kilndown | 3,076 | 2 | 1 Vicar |
| Deal St George | 2,458 | 1 | Vacant |
| Sissinghurst with Frittenden | 2,326 | 2 | 1 Rector |
| Temple Ewell with Lydden | 2,181 | 2 | 1 Priest-in-Charge |
| Shepherds Lees | 1,515 | 4 | 1 Priest-in-Charge, 1 NSM |
| [Canterbury Cathedral | 375 | 1 | 1 Dean, 2 Canons Residentiary] |
| [Dover Castle | 0 | 1 | 1 Hon. Chaplain] |
There are a total of 90 benefices (counting multiple benefices held simultaneously by the same cleric as one).
| Deanery | Population | Churches | Clergy (Oct 2025) | Popn. per stip. cl. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thanet | 141,476 | 26 | 3 Vicars, 7 Priests-in-Charge, 3 Curates, 4 NSMs | 10,883 |
| Sittingbourne | 118,658 | 26 | 1 Rector, 1 Deanery Minister, 2 Curates, 4 NSMs | 29,665 |
| Ashford | 99,147 | 24 | 2 Rectors, 4 Vicars, 2 Curates, 2 NSMs | 12,393 |
| Maidstone | 93,136 | 10 | 2 Vicars, 5 Priests-in-Charge, 3 Curates, 2 NSMs | 9,314 |
| Elham | 84,392 | 25 | 3 Rectors, 2 Vicars, 2 Priests-in-Charge, 2 Curates, 6 NSMs, 1 OLM | 9,377 |
| Reculver | 73,663 | 13 | 1 Rector, 3 Vicars, 1 Priest-in-Charge, 3 Curates, 3 NSMs | 9,208 |
| Canterbury | 66,221 | 15 | 3 Rectors, 2 Vicars, 3 Priests-in-Charge, 2 Curates, 3 NSMs, 1 Hon. Curate | 6,622 |
| Dover | 56,663 | 21 | 1 Rector, 2 Vicars, 3 Priests-in-Charge, 1 Curate, 2 NSMs | 8,095 |
| Sandwich | 45,313 | 21 | 3 Rectors, 1 Priest-in-Charge, 7 NSMs | 11,328 |
| North Downs | 38,780 | 17 | 1 Priest-in-Charge | 38,780 |
| Weald | 38,497 | 15 | 2 Rectors, 5 Vicars, 2 Curates, 1 NSM | 4,277 |
| Ospringe | 35,428 | 22 | 2 Vicars, 2 Priests-in-Charge, 2 Curates, 1 NSM | 5,905 |
| Romney | 27,765 | 22 | 2 Rectors, 1 Vicar, 3 NSMs | 9,255 |
| East Bridge | 22,923 | 22 | 1 Rector, 2 Vicars, 1 Priest-in-Charge, 2 Curates, 1 NSM | 3,821 |
| Vineyard | 22,369 | 14 | 2 Rectors, 1 Vicar, 1 Priest-in-Charge, 1 Curate, 1 NSM | 4,474 |
| Stour Valley | 15,664 | 16 | 1 Rector, 2 Vicars, 2 Curates, 1 OLM | 3,133 |
| Totals | 980,095 | 309 | 108 stipendiary clergy, 43 non-stipendiary | average: 9,075 |
| Archdeaconry | Population | Churches | Clergy (Nov 2025) | Popn. per stip. cl. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashford | 335,649 | 127 | 36 stipendiary, 22 non-stipendiary | 9,324 |
| Maidstone | 324,499 | 90 | 30 stipendiary, 8 non-stipendiary | 10,817 |
| Canterbury | 319,947 | 92 | 42 stipendiary, 13 non-stipendiary | 7,618 |
TheReport of the Commissioners appointed by his Majesty to inquire into the Ecclesiastical Revenues of England and Wales (1835) noted the net annual revenue for the Canterbury see was £19,182.[9] This made it the wealthiest diocese in England.