Diocese of Norwich
The Diocese of Norwich is an ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Church of England, forming part of the Province of Canterbury in England. Its origins trace back to the early medieval bishopric of Elmham and Thetford, which were subsequently merged and relocated to Norwich in 1095 under Bishop Herbert de Losinga. Historically, the diocese has overseen numerous parishes across Norfolk and Suffolk, and it played a significant role in the religious and political developments of medieval England. Today, it continues to function as an important administrative and spiritual centre within the Anglican Church.
History
The Diocese of Norwich traces its origins to the early medieval Bishopric of East Anglia, founded in 630 at Dommoc. Like many Anglo-Saxon bishoprics, it relocated over time, moving to Elmham in 673. Following the Norman Conquest, it was transferred to Thetford in 1070 before finally settling in Norwich in 1095 under Bishop Herbert de Losinga.It currently oversees 563 parishes and 656 churches, covering nearly all of Norfolk except for the extreme west beyond the River Great Ouse, which falls under the Diocese of Ely. The diocese also includes the deanery of Lothingland, encompassing the port of Lowestoft and its surrounding areas in Suffolk. This totals an area of over with a population of approximately 867,000.
Like most older dioceses, its territory has gradually reduced over time. Until the formation of the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich in 1914, Suffolk was included, along with other areas in earlier periods.
Organisation
Bishops
The Bishop of Norwich leads the diocese and is assisted by two suffragan bishops, the Bishop of Thetford and the Bishop of Lynn. The suffragan sees of Ipswich and of Thetford were both created by the Suffragan Bishops Act 1534 but went into abeyance after one incumbent; Thetford was next filled in 1894 and Ipswich in 1899. The See of Ipswich has been in abeyance since before the diocesan see including that city's name was created; a new second suffragan see – of Lynn – was therefore founded in 1963.Alternative episcopal oversight is provided by the provincial episcopal visitor, Norman Banks, Bishop suffragan of Richborough, who is licensed as an honorary assistant bishop of the diocese to facilitate his ministry. There are also seven retired bishops living in the diocese who are licensed as honorary assistant bishops:
- 2000–present: Malcolm Menin, retired Bishop suffragan of Knaresborough, lives in Lakenham.
- 2001–present: Richard Garrard, retired Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome & Archbishop's Representative to the Holy See and former Bishop of Penrith, lives in Upper Stoke and is also licensed in the Diocese in Europe.
- 2003–present: David Leake, retired Bishop of Argentina and former Presiding Bishop in the Southern Cone, lives in East Runton.
- 2004–present: Tony Foottit, retired Bishop suffragan of Lynn, lives in Reepham.
- 2006–present: Peter Fox, former Bishop of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea is Vicar of the Lakenham Group.
- 2008–present: David Gillett, retired Bishop suffragan of Bolton, lives in Diss.
- 2009–present: Lindsay Urwin, Administrator of the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, is a former area Bishop of Horsham. He is also licensed in Ely, Peterborough and Chichester dioceses.
Archdeaconries and deaneries
Churches
Not in a deanery
Deanery of Norwich East
Deanery of Norwich North
Deanery of Norwich South
Deanery of Blofield
Deanery of Depwade
Deanery of Great Yarmouth
Deanery of Humbleyard
Deanery of Loddon
Deanery of Lothingland
Deanery of Redenhall
Deanery of St Benet at Waxham & Tunstead
Deanery of Thetford & Rockland
Deanery of Breckland
Deanery of Burnham & Walsingham
Deanery of Dereham in Mitford
Deanery of Heacham & Rising
Deanery of Holt
Deanery of Ingworth and Sparham
Deanery of Lynn
Deanery of Repps
Dedications
This table is drawn from the above lists. More than half of the churches in the diocese have just four dedications: St Mary, St Andrew, All Saints and St Peter.| Saint | No. |
| St Agnes | 1 |
| St Alban | 1 |
| All Saints | 106 |
| St Andrew | 66 |
| St Andrew & All Saints | 2 |
| SS Andrew & Mary | 2 |
| SS Andrew & Peter | 2 |
| St Anne | 1 |
| Assumption of Mary | 5 |
| St Barnabas | 1 |
| St Bartholomew | 4 |
| St Benedict | 2 |
| St Botolph | 8 |
| St Catherine | 3 |
| Christ Church | 4 |
| St Clement | 1 |
| Holy Cross | 2 |
| St Cuthbert | 2 |
| St David | 1 |
| St Edmund | 13 |
| St Elizabeth | 1 |
| St Ethelbert | 4 |
| SS Fabian & Sebastian | 1 |
| St Faith | 1 |
| Fountain of Life | 1 |
| St Francis | 1 |
| St George | 8 |
| SS Gervase & Protase | 1 |
| St Giles | 4 |
| Good Shepherd | 1 |
| Grace Church | 1 |
| St Helen | 4 |
| St Helen & All Saints | 1 |
| Holy Innocents | 1 |
| St James | 3 |
| St John the Baptist | 13 |
| St John the Baptist's Head | 1 |
| St John the Baptist & All Saints | 1 |
| St John the Evangelist | 5 |
| SS John & Mary | 1 |
| St Julian | 1 |
| St Lawrence | 6 |
| St Leonard | 2 |
| St Luke | 2 |
| St Margaret | 37 |
| St Margaret & All Saints | 1 |
| St Mark | 2 |
| St Martin | 8 |
| St Mary Magdalene | 7 |
| St Mary the Virgin | 122 |
| St Mary & All Saints | 2 |
| St Mary & Holy Cross | 1 |
| SS Mary & Botolph | 1 |
| SS Mary & Margaret | 4 |
| SS Mary & Thomas Becket | 1 |
| SS Mary & Walstan | 1 |
| St Matthew | 1 |
| St Matthias | 1 |
| St Maurice | 1 |
| St Michael | 26 |
| St Nicholas | 19 |
| SS Nicholas, Mary & Thomas | 1 |
| St Paul | 5 |
| St Peter | 49 |
| SS Peter & John | 1 |
| SS Peter & Paul | 26 |
| St Remigius | 3 |
| St Stephen | 1 |
| St Swithin | 3 |
| St Thomas | 2 |
| Holy Trinity | 11 |
| Holy Trinity & All Saints | 1 |
| St Withburga | 1 |
| No dedication | 5 |