Diocese of Ely

Diocese of Ely
Jurisdiction	Diocese
Name	Ely
Country	England
Province	Canterbury
Parishes	129
Churches	335
Cathedral	Ely Cathedral
Bishop	Stephen Conway
Website	ely.anglican.org

Diocese of Ely. The Diocese of Ely is a Church of England diocese within the Province of Canterbury. Its territory covers most of the historic county of Cambridgeshire, along with the West Suffolk district and one parish in Bedfordshire. The cathedral church is the Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity in Ely.

History

The diocese was founded in 1109, carved out of the vast Diocese of Lincoln, following a long campaign for independence led by Abbots of Ely Abbey. This monastic community traced its origins to a 7th-century foundation by Æthelthryth, later known as Saint Etheldreda. The Liber Eliensis, a 12th-century chronicle, documents the abbey's history and its transformation into a bishopric. The immense wealth and strategic importance of the Isle of Ely, a region of fenland historically difficult to access, underpinned the establishment of the see. Key medieval bishops included Bishop Nigel, a treasurer to King Stephen, and Hugh de Northwold, who oversaw significant building work at the cathedral. Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII, the former monastic cathedral was re-founded as a cathedral chapter of secular canons.

Organisation

The diocese is divided into three archdeaconries: the Archdeaconry of Cambridge, the Archdeaconry of Huntingdon and Wisbech, and the Archdeaconry of Sudbury. These are further subdivided into deaneries, which are groupings of parishes. The chief administrative body is the Diocesan Synod, which sets policy and oversees mission. The Bishop of Ely is assisted by the Bishop of Huntingdon (a suffragan bishop) and the Bishop of Peterborough (who acts as a provincial episcopal visitor). Key institutions include the Ely Diocesan Board of Finance and the advisory Cathedral Chapter.

Bishops

The diocesan Bishop of Ely has his seat (cathedra) in Ely Cathedral. The current bishop is the Right Reverend Stephen Conway, who was translated from the Diocese of Salisbury in 2010. Notable historical bishops include Thomas Arundel, who later became Archbishop of Canterbury; Matthew Wren, a key figure in the Laudian reforms imprisoned during the English Civil War; and Francis White, a noted theologian. The suffragan Bishop of Huntingdon is Dagmar Winter. Previous bishops have included influential figures like Edward Benson, who later became Archbishop of Canterbury, and Peter Walker.

Churches

There are approximately 335 churches within the diocese, ranging from the magnificent Ely Cathedral to small rural parishes. The cathedral is renowned for its unique 14th-century Octagon lantern tower and its role as a centre for the Three Choirs Festival. Other significant churches include the University Church of St Mary the Great in Cambridge, the medieval St Wendreda's Church in March famed for its angel roof, and St Botolph's Church in Trinity parish. Many churches, such as those in the Marshland Fen area, reflect distinctive local architectural styles using clunch and Barnack stone.

Schools

The diocese is responsible for a significant number of voluntary aided and voluntary controlled schools across the region. These include primary schools and several secondary institutions, such as Ely St Mary's Church of England Junior School and the Bishop Laney Sixth Form in Ely. The Diocese of Ely Education Trust oversees many of these schools, promoting education within a Christian ethos. Historical educational links are profound, with the diocese encompassing the University of Cambridge and its many collegiate chapels, including King's College Chapel and St John's College Chapel.

See also

* Anglican Diocese of Ely * Ely Cathedral * Bishop of Ely * Archdeacon of Ely * Isle of Ely * Cambridgeshire

Category:Diocese of Ely Category:Church of England dioceses Category:1109 establishments in England Category:Religious organizations established in the 1100s