Bishop of Sodor and Man
The Bishop of Sodor and Man is the Ordinary of the Diocese of Sodor and Man in the Province of York in the Church of England. The diocese only covers the Isle of Man. The Cathedral Church of St German where the bishop's seat is located, is in the town of Peel. St German's was elevated to cathedral status on 1 November 1980.
The bishop is an ex officio member of the Legislative Council of the Isle of Man and of Tynwald Court. The bishop's residence is Thie yn Aspick, Douglas.
The right to appoint the Bishop of Sodor and Man is vested in the British crown; the Monarch acts, perhaps somewhat anomalously, on the advice of the Prime Minister. However, unlike diocesan bishops in England, who are formally elected by the canons of the cathedral church in accordance with the monarch's congé d'elire, the Bishop of Sodor and Man is appointed directly by the monarch by letters patent.
Peter Eagles was appointed Bishop of Sodor and Man, and was installed at the Cathedral Church of St German at Peel on 30 September 2017. He retired effective 31 October 2023. Tricia Hillas became the next Bishop of Sodor and Man in October 2024.
Diocese
The name Sodor and Man is from an earlier diocese which included not only the Isle of Man but also the Hebrides. The name for this whole area in the original Norse was Suðreyjar. In Latin, the corresponding adjective was Sodorensis, later abbreviated in the English title as Sodor. In the Middle Ages, the diocese was considered part of Scotland, and was under the control of neither the Archbishop of York nor the Archbishop of Canterbury. During the Great Schism, the Pope created a different line of bishops in the southern part of the diocese which became part of the Church of England. An Act of Parliament in 1542, during the reign of King Henry VIII, included the diocese in the Province of York. The termination "and Man" appears to have been added in the 17th century, as later generations did not realise that Sodor originally included the Isle of Man. The designation "Sodor and Man" had become a fixture by 1684.Tables
List of Bishops of Man and the Isles
The bishops of Man and the Isles were also styled bishops of Sodor.Assistant bishops
In contrast with mainland dioceses, the Manx diocese did not formerly have assistant bishops, whether full- or part-time, stipendiary or retired. In recent years assistant bishops have been appointed ad hoc to exercise delegated functions in relation to clergy discipline, or in the absence of the diocesan bishop on leave. The Rt Rev Mark Davies, suffragan bishop of Middleton in the diocese of Manchester, was appointed assistant bishop of Sodor and Man on 13 May 2025. The diocese has never had a suffragan bishop.In fiction
The Bishop of Sodor and Man is mentioned in the song "If you Want a Receipt for that Popular Mystery" sung by Colonel Calverley in the operetta Patience by Gilbert and Sullivan. The song lists the elements of a Heavy Dragoon, including "Style of the Bishop of Sodor and Man". The reference is to Rowley Hill.The Island of Sodor, the main setting of The Railway Series and Thomas & Friends, is named after, and part of, the diocese. In addition, the Sudrian Locale known popularly as Rolf's Castle is named after Roolwer.