Diocese of Ely Dioecesis Eliensis | |
|---|---|
 Coat of arms of the Bishop of Ely:Gules, three ducal coronets or[1] | |
 Flag | |
| Location | |
| Ecclesiastical province | Canterbury |
| Archdeaconries | Cambridge, Huntingdon and Wisbech |
| Statistics | |
| Parishes | 309 |
| Churches | 339 |
| Information | |
| Cathedral | Ely Cathedral |
| Language | English |
| Current leadership | |
| Bishop | Bishop of Ely (vacant; acting: the Bishop of Huntingdon;bishop-designate:Sarah Clark) |
| Suffragan | Dagmar Winter,Bishop of Huntingdon |
| Archdeacons | Alex Hughes,Archdeacon of Cambridge[2] Richard Harlow,Archdeacon of Huntingdon and Wisbech |
| Website | |
| https://www.elydiocese.org/ | |
TheDiocese of Ely is aChurch of England diocese in theProvince of Canterbury. It is headed by theBishop of Ely, who sits atEly Cathedral inEly. There is onesuffragan (subordinate) bishop, the Bishop ofHuntingdon. The diocese now covers the modern ceremonial county ofCambridgeshire (excluding theSoke of Peterborough) and westernNorfolk. The diocese was created in 1109 out of part of theDiocese of Lincoln.
The diocese is ancient, and the area of Ely was part of the patrimony ofSaint Etheldreda. A religious house was founded in the city in 673. After her death in 679 she was buried outside the church, and her remains were later reburied inside, the foundress being commemorated as a great Anglian saint.
The diocese has had its boundaries altered various times. From an original diocese covering the historic county of Cambridgeshire and theIsle of Ely, Bedfordshire and Huntingdonshire were added in 1837 from theDiocese of Lincoln, as was theSudbury archdeaconry inSuffolk from theDiocese of Norwich. In 1914 Bedfordshire became part of theDiocese of St Albans, and western Suffolk became part of theDiocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, whilst Ely took a western part of the Diocese of Norwich. Peterborough remains the seat of theDiocese of Peterborough.[3]
Today the diocese covers an area of 1,507 square miles (3,900 km2). It has a population of 705,000 and comprises 209 benefices, 303 parishes and 335 churches with 145 stipendiary parochial clergy.
The diocesanBishop of Ely (vacant; bishop-designate:Sarah Clark, currentlyBishop suffragan of Jarrow and acting Bishop of Durham)[4] is assisted by aBishop suffragan of Huntingdon (Dagmar Winter).
There are also four retired bishops living in the diocese who are licensed ashonorary assistant bishops:
Alternative episcopal oversight (for parishes in the diocese which reject the ministry of women priests and bishops) is provided by theprovincial episcopal visitor,Norman Banks,Bishop suffragan of Richborough, who is licensed as an honorary assistant bishop of the diocese to facilitate his work there.
TheBishop of Peterborough has also been commissioned as assistant bishop in the diocese so that he can exercise pastoral care in several oldHuntingdonshire parishes now within thePeterborough unitary authority: includingStanground,Orton,Woodston,Yaxley andFletton.[10][11][12][13]
The archdeaconries have been as follows:
Thearchdeaconry of Wisbech (comprising the deaneries of Ely, March, Wisbech, Fincham and Lynn Marshland, which before 1915 were not in any archdeaconry) was active from 1915 to 2005. The following changes to deaneries have taken place:
In 1851 the diocese had the following rural deaneries:[14]
| Diocese | Archdeaconries | Rural Deaneries | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diocese of Ely | Archdeaconry of Cambridge | Deanery ofBourn | 27,913 |
| Deanery ofCambridge North | 69,975 | ||
| Deanery of Cambridge South | 62,428 | ||
| Deanery ofFordham andQuy | 29,433 | ||
| Deanery ofGranta | 33,096 | ||
| Deanery ofNorth Stowe | 47,138 | ||
| Deanery ofShingay | 21,269 | ||
| Archdeaconry of Huntingdon & Wisbech | Deanery ofEly | 58,230 | |
| Deanery ofFincham andFeltwell | 36,708 | ||
| Deanery ofHuntingdon | 57,830 | ||
| Deanery ofMarch | 58,032 | ||
| Deanery ofSt Ives | 44,362 | ||
| Deanery ofSt Neots | 37,630 | ||
| Deanery ofWisbechLynnMarshland | 65,902 | ||
| Deanery ofYaxley | 77,384 |
All Saints' church, Newmarket, was in this portion of the diocese until it was transferred to Suffolk in 1889.[15] It was a chapelry to Woodditton until the 19th century.[16] The chapelry of St Nicholas, Landwade, was also in this portion of the diocese until it was transferred to Suffolk.[17]
St Nicholas' Church,Swineshead, was historically in this portion of the Diocese of Ely, but moved to the Diocese of St Albans when it was transferred from Huntingdonshire to Bedfordshire.[18] St James the Great,Thurning, was historically in this area, but moved to the Diocese of Peterborough when the parish was transferred wholly to Northamptonshire (the parish church was always in Northamptonshire).[19]
| Publication | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| Ely Diocesan Remembrancer[20] | May 1885 | December 1915 |
| Ely Diocesan Gazette[21] | January 1916 | November 1989 |
| Ely Ensign[22] | December 1989 | January 2007 |
| eLife Diocesan Newsletter | January 2009 | Present |
| Period | Additions | Closures | Total at end |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medieval | [364 medieval churches and chapelries] | 364 | |
| C13th | Huntingdon St Lawrence, Quy? | 362 | |
| C14th | Cambridge All SS by the Castle, Huntingdon St Botolph?, Huntingdon St Clement, Huntingdon St Edmund, Huntingdon St Martin, Huntingdon Trinity | 356 | |
| C15th | Cambridge St John, Huntingdon St Nicholas? | 354 | |
| C16th | Abington Pigotts St Swithin, Barnwell, Beachamwell St John, Benwick, Cambridge St Anne, Childerley, Earith, Earith Bridge, Haslingfield St Mary, Histon St Etheldreda, Howes, Huntingdon St Andrew, Huntingdon St Michael, Huntingdon St Peter, Kneesworth, Newton-in-the-Isle St Mary, Reach, Redreth, Roxham, Sawtry Judith, Silverley, Willingham-next-Carlton | 332 | |
| C17th | Welney | Beachamwell All SS, Botolph Bridge, Burwell St Andrew, Clopton, Coppingford, Eastrea, Eldernell, Huntingdon St Benedict, Huntingdon St George, Huntingdon St Germain, Huntingdon St John, Weeting All SS | 321 |
| C18th | Barton Bendish All SS, Fulbourn All SS, Shingay | 318 | |
| 1830s | Cambridge Christ Ch, Coates, Marshland St James, Wisbech Octagon | Cambridge St Andrew the Less | 321 |
| 1840s | Cambridge St Paul, Ten Mile Bank, Walpole Highway | Ashley St John | 323 |
| 1850s | Benwick, Lode, Pondersbridge?, Ramsey St Mary, Walton Highway | 328 | |
| 1860s | Cambridge St Barnabas, Cambridge St Luke, Cambridge St Matthew, Christchurch, Friday Bridge, Little Ouse, Nordelph, Prickwillow, Pymoor, Wisbech St Augustine | Feltwell St Nicholas | 337 |
| 1870s | Angle Bridge, Cambridge St John Wellington St, Cambridge St Mark, Coldham, Gorefield, Guyhirn St Mary Magdalene, Littleport St Matthew, March St John, March St Mary, Parson Drove Emmanuel, Ramsey Hollow, Saxon Street, Whittington, Wimblington | Duxford St John, Sawtry St Andrew | 349 |
| 1880s | March St Peter, Queen Adelaide, Walpole Cross Keys | 352 | |
| 1890s | Cambridge St Augustine, Cambridge St John, Cambridge St Philip, Downham Fen, Ely St Peter, Six Mile Bottom, West Fen | 359 | |
| 1900s | Chatteris St Peter, North Side, Ramsey Forty Foot?, Stanground St Michael?, Stow Bridge, Welches Dam | Swaffham Prior SS Cyriac & Julitta | 364 |
| 1930s | Cambridge St George, Cambridge St Martin | Hockwold?, Steeple Gidding?, Walpole St Andrew?, Wiggenhall St Peter? | 362 |
| 1940s | Cambridge St Stephen | Cambridge St John Wellington St, Shingham, Wisbech Octagon | 360 |
| 1950s | Cambridge Good Shepherd, Cambridge Holy Cross?, Cambridge St James | Cambridge St Michael?, Cambridge St Peter?, Littleport St Matthew?, Ramsey Hollow?, West Fen? | 358 |
| 1960s | Bar Hill, Huntingdon St Barnabas | Angle Bridge?, Barton Bendish St Mary, Barway, Denton, Downham Fen?, Guyhirn, Queen Adelaide, Ramsey Forty Foot?, Walton Highway?, Woolley | 350 |
| 1970s | Caldecote, Cambridge All SS, Conington?, East Hatley, Islington?, Little Ouse, Little Raveley, Longstanton St Michael, North Side?, Offord D'Arcy, Papworth St Agnes, Parson Drove St John, Walpole Cross Keys, Welches Dam?, Woodwalton? | 335 | |
| 1980s | Cambridge St Thomas | Chatteris St Peter, Coldham?, Pymoor, Saxon Street, Stoke Ferry?, Walpole Highway, Wiggenhall St Mary the Virgin, Wyton | 328 |
| 1990s | Cambourne | Cambridge Holy Sepulchre, Stanground St Michael? | 327 |
| 2000s | Orton Goldhay | Guyhirn St Mary Magdalene, Marshland St James, Murrow, Prickwillow | 324 |
| 2010s | Ely Christ Ch, Hampton, Huntingdon Christ Ch, Orchard Park | Cambridge St Stephen, Hatley St George, South Runcton | 325 |
| 2020s | Alconbury Weald, Deaf Church, Northstowe | Huntingdon Christ Ch, Tadlow, Woodston | 325 |
| Benefice | Population | Churches | Clergy (Oct 2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wisbech Walsoken // Wisbech St Aug // Wisb SS Peter & Paul | 25,664 | 3 | 1 Joint Priest-in-Charge, 1 Joint NSM (Wisbech) |
| Peterborough Fletton // Peterboro Stanground and Farcet | 25,502 | 4 | Vacant |
| March | 22,967 | 4 | 1 Team Rector, 1 Team Vicar, 1 NSM |
| Huntingdon | 20,847 | 4 | Vacant, 1 Curate, 1 NSM |
| St Neots with Eynesbury | 20,840 | 2 | 1 Team Rector |
| Ely | 20,733 | 4 | 1 Team Rector, 1 Team Vicar, 1 NSM |
| Cambridge Ascension | 18,783 | 3 | 1 Team Rector, 1 Team Vicar |
| Isle of Ely Villages | 18,565 | 11 | Vacant (x2), 1 NSM |
| Peterborough Hampton | 17,920 | 1 | 1 Vicar, 1 Curate |
| Whittlesey, Pondersbridge and Coates | 17,887 | 4 | Vacant |
| St Ives | 16,678 | 1 | 1 Vicar |
| 5Folds | 15,705 | 5 | 1 Team Rector, 1 Team Vicar, 1 BMO Minister, 1 NSM |
| Cambridge Chesterton Good Shepherd | 15,578 | 2 | 1 Vicar, 3 Curates |
| Alwalton & Chesterton // Peterb Orton Goldhay & Orton Malborne | 15,442 | 3 | 1 Joint Vicar/Priest-in-Charge |
| Peterborough The Ortons (// Peterborough Woodston) | 14,866 | 2 | 1 Vicar |
| The Fen Orchards // Outwell // Upwell (Orchard Welle) | 14,036 | 5 | Vacant (since 2020/22), 1 NSM |
| Cambridge Trumpington | 13,343 | 1 | Vacant, 1 NSM |
| Grimshoe // Wissey Valley | 12,714 | 12 | Vacant, 2 NSMs |
| Lordsbridge | 12,695 | 11 | 2 Team Vicars, 2 Curates, 3 NSMs |
| Leverington, Newton etc // Wisbech St Mary, Gorefield etc | 12,378 | 6 | 1 Joint Rector/Vicar |
| Soham | 12,321 | 1 | 1 Rector, 1 Curate |
| Cambourne | 12,088 | 1 | Vacant (served by a Baptist minister) |
| Cambridge St John the Evangelist | 11,385 | 1 | 1 Vicar, 2 NSMs, 1 Hon. Curate |
| West Norfolk Priory | 11,181 | 12 | 1 Rector |
| Chatteris | 11,166 | 1 | 1 Vicar |
| Six Fen Churches | 10,142 | 6 | 1 Rector |
| Cambridge Cherry Hinton | 10,099 | 1 | 1 Vicar, 1 Curate, 1 NSM |
| Littleport | 9,997 | 1 | 1 Vicar |
| The Ramseys and Upwood | 9,895 | 3 | 1 Rector, 1 Curate |
| Downham Market and Stradsett (underBishop of Richborough) | 9,769 | 2 | 1 Rector |
| Cambridge Chesterton St Andrew | 9,535 | 1 | 1 Vicar, 3 NSMs |
| Yaxley | 9,387 | 1 | 1 Vicar |
| Cambridge Chesterton St George | 9,214 | 1 | 1 Vicar, 1 NSM |
| Godmanchester and Hilton | 8,934 | 2 | 1 Vicar |
| Histon // Impington | 8,450 | 2 | 1 Joint Vicar, 3 Joint Curates |
| Papworth | 8,396 | 15 | 1 Team Rector, 1 NSM |
| Hartford and Houghton with Wyton | 8,070 | 2 | 1 Rector, 1 Curate, 2 NSMs |
| East Leightonstone | 7,787 | 3 | 1 Vicar, 1 Curate |
| Babraham // Sawston | 7,637 | 2 | 1 Joint Vicar, 1 Joint Curate, 1 Joint Hon. Curate |
| Clenchwarton // Walpole // West Walton | 7,336 | 3 | 1 Joint Rector |
| Warboys with Broughton and Bury with Wistow | 7,178 | 4 | 1 Rector |
| Fen Edge | 7,037 | 3 | 1 Vicar |
| Melbourn // Meldreth | 6,979 | 2 | 1 Joint Vicar |
| Cambridge St Martin | 6,891 | 1 | 1 Vicar, 2 NSMs |
| Cottenham with Rampton | 6,766 | 2 | 1 Rector |
| Burwell with Reach | 6,753 | 2 | 1 Vicar, 1 Curate, 1 NSM |
| Bluntisham cum Earith, Colne, Holywell cum Needingworth | 6,717 | 3 | 1 Vicar, 1 NSM |
| Cambridge St James | 6,630 | 1 | Vacant, 1 Curate |
| Three Rivers | 6,626 | 5 | 1 Rector |
| North Leightonstone | 6,508 | 12 | 1 Priest-in-Charge, 0.5 Curate, 1 Dioc. Pioneer Minister |
| Landbeach // Waterbeach | 6,498 | 2 | 1 Joint Priest-in-Charge, 1 Joint Curate, 1.5 Joint NSMs |
| Linton | 6,049 | 5 | 1 Team Rector, 1 Team Vicar, 1 Curate |
| Cambridge Christ Church (underBishop of Ebbsfleet) | 5,758 | 1 | 1 Vicar, 4 Curates |
| The Paxtons with Diddington and Southoe | 5,695 | 4 | Vacant (will include the Offords) |
| Cambridge St Paul | 5,665 | 1 | 1 Vicar, 1 Curate, 1 NSM |
| Anglesey | 5,576 | 5 | 1 Vicar, 1 Curate |
| East Marshland | 5,473 | 5 | Vacant (since 2022) |
| Fen Ditton // Horningsea // Teversham | 5,188 | 3 | 1 Joint Rector/Vicar, 1 Joint Curate |
| Fulbourn // Great Wilbraham // Little Wilbraham | 5,188 | 4 | 1 Joint Rector/Vicar |
| Ouse Valley | 5,050 | 7 | 1 Rector |
| Somersham with Pidley & Oldhurst & Woodhurst | 4,838 | 4 | Vacant |
| Great Shelford | 4,667 | 1 | 1 Vicar, 1 Curate, 2 NSMs |
| Granta Vale | 4,660 | 7 | 1 Rector, 1 Curate |
| Fen Drayton with Fenstanton | 4,652 | 2 | 1 Rector, 1 Curate |
| Girton // Madingley | 4,573 | 2 | 1 Joint Rector/Vicar, 1 Joint Curate, 1 Joint NSM |
| Terrington St Clement (underBishop of Ebbsfleet) | 4,562 | 1 | 1 Vicar |
| Gamlingay and Everton | 4,481 | 2 | 1 Rector |
| Cambridge Holy Cross | 4,452 | 1 | 1 Vicar |
| Fowlmere, Foxton, Shepreth and Thriplow | 4,444 | 4 | 1 Rector |
| Buckden with the Offords | 4,256 | 2 | Vacant (Offords to be transferred, see above) |
| South Leightonstone // West Leightonstone | 4,221 | 14 | 1 Joint Rector/Vicar, 0.5 Curate (West) |
| Milton | 4,176 | 1 | 1 Priest-in-Charge, 0.5 NSM |
| Elton // Stilton, Folksworth, Morborne and Haddon | 3,981 | 5 | 1 Joint Rector/Vicar |
| Cambridge St Matthew (underBishop of Ebbsfleet) | 3,930 | 1 | 1 Vicar, 1 Curate |
| Bar Hill | 3,899 | 1 | 1 Minister, 1 Curate |
| Bassingbourn // Whaddon | 3,768 | 2 | 1 Joint Vicar |
| The Staughtons with Hail Weston | 3,653 | 3 | Vacant |
| Hemingford Abbots // Hemingford Grey | 3,588 | 2 | 1 Joint Rector/Vicar, 1 Joint Curate |
| Grantchester // Cambridge Newnham | 3,584 | 2 | 1 Joint Vicar, 1 Joint Curate, 1 Curate, 2 Joint NSMs |
| Harston with Hauxton and Newton | 3,522 | 3 | 1 Vicar |
| Duxford // Hinxton // Ickleton // Pampisford | 3,434 | 4 | 1 Joint Rector/Vicar (D, H, L only), 1 Joint NSM |
| Shingay | 3,401 | 5 | 1 Rector, 1 NSM |
| Cambridge St Barnabas | 3,287 | 1 | 1 Vicar, 1 Curate |
| Orwell | 3,237 | 5 | 1 Rector |
| Cambridge St Andrew the Great (underBishop of Ebbsfleet) | 3,193 | 1 | 1 Vicar, 2 Curates |
| Ashley // Cheveley // Kirtling // Woodditton | 2,877 | 4 | 1 Joint Rector/Vicar |
| Raddesley | 2,513 | 6 | 1 Rector |
| Cambridge St Botolph | 2,082 | 1 | 1 Rector, 1 NSM |
| Stapleford | 1,975 | 1 | 1 Vicar, 1 Curate |
| Great & Little Gransden, Abbotsley, Waresley | 1,939 | 4 | 1 Rector, 1 Curate, 1 Hon. Curate |
| Cambridge Holy Trinity | 1,883 | 1 | 1 Priest-in-Charge, 3 Curates |
| Whittlesford | 1,856 | 1 | 1 Vicar |
| Oakington | 1,497 | 1 | 1 Vicar |
| Cambridge St Mary the Less | 1,366 | 1 | 1 Vicar, 1 Curate, 1 NSM |
| Cambridge St Edward | 1,339 | 1 | 1 Chaplain, 1 Curate |
| Cambridge St Benedict | 988 | 1 | 1 Vicar, 1 NSM |
| Wicken | 841 | 1 | Vacant |
| Little Shelford (underBishop of Ebbsfleet) | 770 | 1 | 1 Rector, 1 Curate |
| Cambridge St Mary the Great | 730 | 1 | 1 Vicar, 2 Curates, 2 NSMs |
| Cambridge St Clement | 469 | 1 | 1 Vicar |
| [Ely Cathedral | (44) | 1 | 1 Dean, 3 Canons Residentiary] |
| [Ely St Peter | N/A | 1 | 1 Curate-in-Charge] |
There are a total of 100 benefices (counting multiple benefices held simultaneously by the same cleric as one).
| Deanery | Population | Churches | Clergy (Oct 2025) | Popn. per stip. cl. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yaxley | 94,135 | 19 | 1 Rector, 5 Vicars, 1 Curate | 13,448 |
| Cambridge North | 76,830 | 16 | 2 Rectors, 10 Vicars, 13 Curates, 6 NSMs | 3,073 |
| Wisbech Lynn Marshland | 69,449 | 23 | 2 Rectors, 1 Vicar, 1 Priest-in-Charge, 2 NSMs | 17,362 |
| Cambridge South | 68,542 | 16 | 1 Rector, 8 Vicars, 1 P-in-C, 1 Chapl, 15 Curates, 12 NSMs, 1 Hon. Curate | 2,636 |
| Huntingdon | 64,607 | 41 | 4 Rectors, 2 Vicars, 1 Priest-in-Charge, 6 Curates, 1 Pioneer Min, 3 NSMs | 4,615 |
| March | 62,162 | 15 | 2 Rectors, 2 Vicars, 1 NSM | 15,541 |
| Ely | 61,616 | 17 | 2 Rectors, 2 Vicars, 1 Curate, 2 NSMs | 12,323 |
| North Stowe | 51,564 | 16 | 3 Rectors, 3 Vicars, 2 Priests-in-Charge, 2 Ministers, 6 Curates, 4 NSMs | 3,223 |
| St Ives | 45,306 | 15 | 2 Rectors, 2 Vicars, 1 Curate, 1 NSM | 9,061 |
| St Neots | 40,864 | 17 | 3 Rectors, 1 Curate, 1 Hon. Curate | 10,216 |
| Fincham and Feltwell | 38,714 | 31 | 3 Rectors, 2 NSMs | 12,905 |
| Granta | 34,570 | 25 | 4 Rectors, 6 Vicars, 6 Curates, 3 NSMs, 1 Hon. Curate | 2,161 |
| Bourn | 33,179 | 27 | 1 Rector, 2 Vicars, 2 Curates, 4 NSMs | 6,636 |
| Fordham and Quy | 30,374 | 27 | 4 Rectors, 2 Vicars, 2 Curates, 1 NSM | 3,797 |
| Shingay | 21,829 | 18 | 3 Rectors, 2 Vicars, 1 NSM | 4,366 |
| Totals | 793,741 | 323 | 147 stipendiary clergy, 45 non-stipendiary | average: 5,400 |
| Archdeaconry | Population | Churches | Clergy (Nov 2025) | Popn. per stip. cl. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntingdon and Wisbech | 476,853 | 178 | 46 stipendiary, 12 non-stipendiary | 10,366 |
| Cambridge | 316,888 | 145 | 101 stipendiary, 33 non-stipendiary | 3,138 |
52°23′55″N0°15′48″E / 52.39861°N 0.26333°E /52.39861; 0.26333
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