View source for Diocese of Chester

{{Short description|Diocese of the Church of England}}
{{For|the medieval diocese based in Chester|Diocese of Lichfield}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox diocese
| jurisdiction     = Diocese
| name             = Chester
| latin            = Dioecesis Cestrensis
| coat             = Diocese of Chester arms.svg
| coat_size        = 150px
| flag             = Flag of the Diocese of Chester.svg
| flag_size        = 150px
| province         = [[Province of York|York]]
| parishes         = 275
| churches         = 368
| bishop           = [[Mark Tanner]], [[Bishop of Chester]]
| cathedral        = [[Chester Cathedral]]
| language         = [[English language|English]]
| archdeaconries   = Chester, Macclesfield
| suffragans       = {{ublist|[[Julie Conalty]], [[Bishop of Birkenhead]]|[[Sam Corley]], [[Bishop of Stockport]]}}
| archdeacons      = {{ublist|[[Michael Gilbertson (priest)|Michael Gilbertson]], [[Archdeacon of Chester]]|[[Jane Proudfoot]], [[Archdeacon of Macclesfield]]}}
| website          = [http://www.chester.anglican.org/ chester.anglican.org]
}}
The '''Diocese of Chester''' is a [[Church of England]] [[diocese]] in the [[Province of York]] covering the pre-1974 county of [[Cheshire]] and therefore including the [[The Wirral Peninsula|Wirral]] and parts of [[Metropolitan Borough of Stockport|Stockport]], [[Metropolitan Borough of Trafford|Trafford]] and [[Metropolitan Borough of Tameside|Tameside]].<ref>[http://www.chester.anglican.org/ Diocese of Chester.] Retrieval Date: 30 September 2007.</ref>

==History==
[[File:ChesterDiocese-1541.svg|thumb|right|The Diocese of Chester when created in 1541 showing the extent of the two archdeaconries that went to make it up.]]
[[File:Chesterdeaneries1835.svg|thumb|right|The deaneries of the Diocese of Chester in about 1835, shortly before a series of boundary changes greatly diminished its size.]]
[[File:ChesterDioceseChanges-19th.svg|thumb|right|Map showing the areas of the Diocese of Chester which were transferred to other Dioceses in the 19th century, together with the dates on which they were transferred.]]

===Ancient diocese===
Before the sixteenth century the city possessed a bishop and a cathedral, though only intermittently. Even before the [[Norman Conquest]] the title "[[Bishop of Chester]]" is found in documents applied to prelates who would be more correctly described as [[Bishop of Mercia]], or [[Bishop of Lichfield]]. After the [[Council of London (1075)|Council of London]] in 1075 had decreed the transfer of all episcopal chairs to cities, [[Peter, Bishop of Lichfield]], removed his seat from Lichfield to Chester, and became known as Bishop of Chester. There he chose [[St John the Baptist's Church, Chester|The Collegiate Church of St John the Baptist]] as his cathedral. The next bishop, however, transferred (1102) the see to Coventry on account of the rich monastery there, though he retained the episcopal palace at Chester. The [[Diocese of Coventry and Lichfield]] was of enormous extent, and it was probably found convenient to have something analogous to a cathedral at Chester, even though the ''cathedra'' itself were elsewhere; accordingly the church of St John ranked as a cathedral for a considerable time, and had its own dean and chapter of secular canons down to the time of the Reformation.

The chief ecclesiastical foundation in Chester was the Benedictine [[monastery of St Werburgh]], the great church of which finally became the Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary. The site had been occupied even during the Christian period of the Roman occupation by a church dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul, and rededicated to St Werburgh and St Oswald during the Saxon period. The church was served by a small chapter of secular canons until 1093, when [[Hugh Lupus, Earl of Chester]], converted it into a major Benedictine monastery, in which foundation he had the co-operation of [[St Anselm]], then Prior of Bec, who sent Richard, one of his monks, to be the first abbot. A new Norman church was built by him and his successors. The monastery, though suffering loss of property both by the depredations of the Welsh and the inroads of the sea, prospered, and in the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth centuries the monks transformed their Norman church into a gothic building which, though not be reckoned among the greatest cathedrals of England, yet is not unworthy of its rank, and affords a valuable study in the evolution of Gothic architecture. It has been said of it that "at every turn it is satisfying in small particulars and disappointing in great features". The last of the abbots was John, or Thomas, Clark, who resigned his abbey, valued at £1,003 5s. 11d. per annum, to the king.<ref>[[Wikisource:Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)/Chester]]</ref>

===1541 to 1836===
The diocese was created, during the [[English Reformation|Reformation]], on 14 August 1541<ref>{{Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae |last=Joyce M. |first=Horn |last2=David M. |first2=Smith |last3=Mussett |first3=Patrick |period=1541–1857 |volume=11 |pages=33–34 }}</ref> from the Chester archdeaconry of the [[Diocese of Lichfield and Coventry]], covering [[Cheshire]] and [[Lancashire]], and the [[Archdeacon of Richmond and Craven|Richmond Archdeaconry]] of the [[Diocese of York]].<ref name=elrington-page12>Elrington, C. R. (Ed.) (1980). p. 12.</ref> The diocese was originally formed as part of the [[Province of Canterbury]], but was quickly transferred to the [[Province of York]] later in the same year.<ref name=elrington-page12 /> The twenty deaneries of the new diocese were: Amounderness, Bangor, Blackburn, Boroughbridge, Catterick, Chester, Copeland, Frodsham, Furness, Kendal, Leyland, Lonsdale, Macclesfield, Malpas, Manchester, Middlewich, Nantwich, Richmond, Warrington, and Wirral. The deaneries as shown in the accompanying map, were established by 1224 and remained largely unchanged until the nineteenth century.<ref>Dunn, F. I. (1987). p. 8.</ref>

===Since 1836===
Starting in 1836, a series of boundary changes saw the diocese eventually greatly diminished in size so that its extent was almost the same as that of the [[ceremonial county]] of Cheshire as it existed just prior to 1974.<ref>Elrington, C. R. (Ed.) (1980). page 64.</ref><ref>Dunn, F. I. (1987). p. 9.</ref> A sequence of five major boundary changes to the diocese began. In 1836, the deaneries of Boroughbridge, Catterick, and Richmond, and half of the deanery of Lonsdale were taken from Chester to form part of the newly created [[Diocese of Ripon]] which also had parts taken from the [[Diocese of York]]. In 1847, the deaneries of Amounderness, Blackburn, Leyland, and Manchester, together with another large part of the deanery of Lonsdale and roughly one third of the deanery of Kendal were taken to form the then new [[Anglican Diocese of Manchester|Diocese of Manchester]].<ref>Later changes to the [[Anglican Diocese of Manchester|Diocese of Manchester]] led to part of it forming the [[Diocese of Blackburn]]</ref> Additionally, part of the deanery of Warrington ([[Leigh, Greater Manchester|Leigh]])<ref>Elrington, C. R. (1980) (Ed.) p. 63.</ref> was also transferred to this new Diocese of Manchester. At the same time, the deanery of Bangor was transferred to the [[Diocese of St Asaph]]. This left the deaneries of Copeland, Furness, and the remaining parts of the deaneries of Kendal and Lonsdale detached from the main part of the diocese around Chester, provision was made to transfer these to the [[Diocese of Carlisle]], but this required the assent of the then [[Bishop of Carlisle]], or the appointment of a successor. In 1849, the part of the deanery of Chester that extended into [[Wales]] was transferred to the Diocese of St Asaph. The detached deaneries in the north of Lancashire and in the [[Lake District]] were eventually transferred to the Diocese of Carlisle in 1856, on the appointment of [[Henry Montagu Villiers]] to the See.<ref>Bishop Henry Montagu Villiers was the successor to Bishop Percy (Elrington, C. R. (1980) (Ed.) page 63.)</ref> Finally, in 1880, the remaining part of the deanery of Warrington was used to create the new [[Anglican Diocese of Liverpool|Diocese of Liverpool]]. At that point, the Diocese of Chester had been reduced to its present size.<ref>Dunn, F. I. (1987). pp. 8–9.</ref><ref>Elrington, C. R. (Ed.) (1980). pages 63–65.</ref><ref>[http://www.cofe.anglican.org/info/statistics/statsfiles/churchstatistics2002 Church of England Statistics 2002.] Retrieved 15 February 2008.</ref><ref>{{London Gazette|issue=19427|pages=1765–1768|date=7 October 1836}} Creation of the Diocese of Ripon</ref><ref>{{London Gazette|issue=20265|pages=3173–3174|date=29 September 1843}} Internal reorganisation of the Diocese of Chester prior to the creation of the Diocese of Manchester</ref><ref>{{London Gazette|issue=20769|pages=3157–3160|date=31 August 1847}} Creation of the Diocese of Manchester</ref>

==Present day==
The Bishop of Chester is assisted by two [[suffragan bishops]], the [[Bishop of Stockport]] and the [[Bishop of Birkenhead]].<ref name=whoswho>{{cite web |title=Who's who? Bishops, Archdeacons and the Dean |publisher=Chester Diocese |url=http://www.chester.anglican.org/diocese/whoswhobp.htm |access-date=14 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080229013200/http://www.chester.anglican.org/diocese/whoswhobp.htm |archive-date=29 February 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The suffragan See of Stockport was created in 1949 and was the sole suffragan bishopric in the diocese until the See of Birkenhead was created in 1965. Since 1994 the [[Bishop of Beverley]] (currently [[Glyn Webster]], consecrated in 2013) has provided "[[alternative episcopal oversight]]" in this diocese (among eleven others in the Province of York) to those parishes which cannot in conscience accept the sacramental ministry of bishops who have participated in the ordination of women.

There are two archdeaconries, Chester and Macclesfield, which are further divided into 18 deaneries.<ref name=deaneries>{{cite web |title=Chester Diocese: Links |publisher=Chester Diocese |url=http://www.chester.anglican.org/diocese/links/ |access-date=14 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080224175035/http://www.chester.anglican.org/diocese/links/ |archive-date=24 February 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> There are consequently two archdeacons: the [[Archdeacon of Chester]], Michael Gilbertson, and the Archdeacon of Macclesfield, Jane Proudfoot. There is also the [[Dean of Chester]], currently Tim Stratford, who is primarily responsible for the running of the cathedral.<ref name=whoswho />

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!'''Deanery'''
!'''Archdeaconry'''
!'''Parish Churches'''
!'''Notes and References'''
|-
|'''Birkenhead'''
|Chester
|
* [[St Oswald's Church, Bidston|St Oswald, Bidston]]
* [[Christ Church, Birkenhead]]
* Christ the King, Birkenhead
* [[Birkenhead Priory|Priory Chapel, Birkenhead]]
* St Bede, Birkenhead
* [[St James' Church, Birkenhead|St James, Birkenhead]]
* St Andrew, Noctorum
* [[St Saviour's Church, Oxton|St Saviour, Oxton]]
* St Stephen, Prenton
* St Peter, Rock Ferry
* St Catherine, Tranmere
* St Paul with St Luke, Tranmere
* [[Holy Cross Church, Woodchurch|Holy Cross, Woodchurch]]
|<ref name=deaneries />
|-
|'''Bowdon'''
|Macclesfield
|
* [[St George's Church, Altrincham|St George, Altrincham]]
* St Elizabeth, Ashley
* [[St Martin's Church, Ashton upon Mersey|St Martin, Ashton upon Mersey]]
* St Mary Magdalene, Ashton upon Mersey
* St Luke, Bowdon
* [[Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bowdon|St Mary the Virgin, Bowdon]]
* [[St Alban's Church, Broadheath|St Alban, Broadheath]]
* All Saints, Dunham Massey
* St Margaret, Dunham Massey
* St Mark, Dunham Massey
* St Peter, Hale
* All Saints, Hale Barns with Ringway
* [[St Peter's Church, Oughtrington|St Peter, Oughtrington]]
* St Mary, Partington
* St Anne, Sale
* St Paul, Sale
* Sale West Community Church
* Christ Church, Timperley
* Holy Cross, Timperley
* [[St Werburgh's Church, Warburton|St Werburgh, Warburton]]
|<ref name=deaneries />
|-
|'''Chadkirk'''
|Macclesfield
|
* St Barnabas, Bredbury
* St Mark, Bredbury
* [[St Mary's Church, Disley|St Mary the Virgin, Disley]]
* St John, Furness Vale
* St Thomas, High Lane
* St Martin, Low Marple
* [[All Saints Church, Marple|All Saints, Marple]]
* [[St Thomas' Church, Mellor|St Thomas, Mellor]]
* St Thomas, Norbury
* St Chad, Romiley
* St Paul, Strines
* St James, Taxal
* St Paul, Werneth
* Holy Trinity, Whaley Bridge
|<ref name=deaneries />
Chadkirk deanery was originally part of Stockport deanery at least as late as 1974.<ref name=phillandphill>Phillips, A. D. M. and Phillips, C. B. (2002). pp. 12–13.</ref>
|-
|'''Cheadle'''
|Macclesfield
|
* St Michael & All Angels, Bramhall
* All Hallows, Cheadle
* St Cuthbert, Cheadle
* [[St Mary's Church, Cheadle|St Mary, Cheadle]]
* St Philip's Mission Church, Cheadle
* All Saints, Cheadle Hulme
* St Andrew, Cheadle Hulme
* Emmanuel, Cheadle Hulme
* Christ Church, Colshaw
* St James, Gatley
* St Chad, Handforth
* St Catherine, Heald Green
* St Martin, Higher Poynton
* [[St George's Church, Poynton|St George, Poynton]]
|<ref name=deaneries />
Cheadle deanery was originally part of Stockport deanery at least as late as 1974.<ref name=phillandphill />
|-
|'''Chester'''
|Chester
|[[St John the Evangelist's Church, Ashton Hayes|Ashton Hayes]], [[St Bartholomew's Church, Barrow|Barrow]], Chester [[St Peter's Church, Chester|St Peter]] with [[St John the Baptist's Church, Chester|St John]], [[St Thomas of Canterbury Church, Chester|Chester St Oswald and St Thomas of Canterbury]], Chester Holy Trinity Without-the-Walls (Blacon), [[St Mary's Church, Handbridge|Chester St Mary Without-the-Walls (Handbridge)]], Chester St Paul, [[St James' Church, Christleton|Christleton]], [[St Mary's Church, Dodleston|Dodleston]], [[St Mary's Church, Eccleston|Eccleston and Pulford]], [[St John the Baptist's Church, Guilden Sutton|Guilden Sutton]], Hoole, Huntington, Kelsall, Lache cum Saltney, [[St Peter's Church, Plemstall|Plemstall]], [[St Andrew's Church, Tarvin|Tarvin]], Upton-by-Chester, Plas Newton, Chester Christ Church
|<ref name=deaneries />
Chester College Chaplaincy (now [[University of Chester]] Chaplaincy) is also in this deanery.<ref name=deaneries />
|-
|'''Congleton'''
|Macclesfield
|Alsager St Mary Magdalene, [[Christ Church, Alsager|Alsager Christ Church]], [[St Mary's Church, Astbury|Astbury]], [[St Bertoline's Church, Barthomley|Barthomley]], [[St Oswald's Church, Brereton|Brereton]], [[St Luke's Church, Holmes Chapel|Church Hulme (or Holmes Chapel)]], Congleton St James, [[St Peter's Church, Congleton|Congleton Team]], [[Christ Church, Eaton|Eaton with Hulme Walfield]], Elworth, [[St Luke's Church, Goostrey|Goostrey]], [[All Saints Church, Church Lawton|Lawton (or Church Lawton)]], [[St James' and St Paul's Church, Marton|Marton]], Odd Rode, [[St Mary's Church, Sandbach|Sandbach]], [[St John the Evangelist's Church, Sandbach Heath|Sandbach Heath]], [[St John the Baptist's Church, Smallwood|Smallwood]], [[All Saints Church, Siddington|Siddington]] with Capesthorne, [[St Leonard's Church, Warmingham|Warmingham]], Wheelock, [[St Peter's Church, Swettenham|Swettenham]]
|<ref name=deaneries />
|-
|'''Frodsham'''
|Chester
|[[St John the Evangelist's Church, Alvanley|Alvanley]] and Manley, [[St Luke's Church, Dunham on the Hill|Dunham-on-the-Hill]], [[St Laurence's Church, Frodsham|Frodsham]], Grange, Hallwood, [[St Mary's Church, Halton|Halton]], [[St Paul's Church, Helsby|Helsby]], [[St John the Evangelist's Church, Kingsley|Kingsley]], [[St John the Evangelist's Church, Norley|Norley]], Norton, [[All Saints Church, Runcorn|Runcorn All Saints]], [[Holy Trinity Church, Runcorn|Runcorn Holy Trinity]], [[St John the Evangelist's Church, Weston|Runcorn Weston St John]], Runcorn St Michael and All Angels, [[St Mary's Church, Thornton-le-Moors|Thornton-le-Moors]] with [[St James' Church, Ince|Ince & Elton]], [[Christ Church, Crowton|Crowton]]
|<ref name=deaneries />
|-
|'''Great Budworth'''
|Chester
|[[St Mark's Church, Antrobus|Antrobus]], [[St Cross Church, Appleton Thorn|Appleton Thorn]], [[St Peter's Church, Aston-by-Sutton|Aston by Sutton]], [[Christ Church, Barnton|Barnton]], [[All Saints' Church, Daresbury|Daresbury]], [[St Wilfrid's Church, Grappenhall|Grappenhall]], [[St Mary and All Saints Church, Great Budworth|Great Budworth]], Latchford Christ Church, Latchford St James, [[St Michael and All Angels Church, Little Leigh|Little Leigh]], [[St Luke's Church, Lower Whitley|Lower (or Nether) Whitley]], [[St Mary's Church, Lymm|Lymm]], [[St Thomas' Church, Stockton Heath|Stockton Heath]], [[St Matthew's Church, Stretton|Stretton]], [[All Saints Church, Thelwall|Thelwall]], Walton
|<ref name=deaneries />
|-
|'''Knutsford'''
|Macclesfield
|[[St Mary's Church, Nether Alderley|Alderley]], [[St Catherine's Church, Over Alderley|Birtles]], [[St John the Evangelist's Church, Chelford|Chelford]], [[St Philip's Church, Alderley Edge|Alderley Edge]], [[St John's Church, High Legh|High Legh]], [[St Cross Church, Knutsford|Knutsford St Cross]], [[St John the Baptist's Church, Knutsford|Knutsford St John the Baptist]], Lindow, [[St Oswald's Church, Lower Peover|Lower Peover]], Marthall, [[St Wilfrid's Church, Mobberley|Mobberley]], [[St Lawrence's Church, Over Peover|Over Peover]], [[St Paul's Church, Over Tabley|Over Tabley]], [[St Mary's Church, Rostherne|Rostherne with Bollington]], [[St John the Evangelist's Church, Toft|Toft]], [[St Bartholomew's Church, Wilmslow|Wilmslow]], Woodford
|<ref name=deaneries />
|-
|'''Macclesfield'''
|Macclesfield
|[[St Oswald's Church, Bollington|Bollington]], [[Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bosley|Bosley]], [[St James' Church, Gawsworth|Gawsworth]], [[St Thomas' Church, Henbury|Henbury]], [[Holy Trinity Church, Hurdsfield|Hurdsfield]], Macclesfield Team (All Saints, St Barnabas, [[St Michael's Church, Macclesfield|St Michael's]], [[St Peter's Church, Macclesfield|St Peter's]]), Macclesfield St John, [[St Paul's Church, Macclesfield|Macclesfield St Paul]], [[St Michael's Church, North Rode|North Rode]], [[St Christopher's Church, Pott Shrigley|Pott Shrigley]], [[St Peter's Church, Prestbury|Prestbury]], [[Holy Trinity Church, Rainow|Rainow]] with [[Jenkin Chapel, Saltersford|Saltersford]] and [[Forest Chapel|Forest]], Sutton St James, Upton Priory, [[St Saviour's Church, Wildboarclough|Wildboarclough]], [[St Michael's Church, Wincle|Wincle]]
|<ref name=deaneries />
|-
|'''Malpas'''
|Chester
|[[St John the Baptist's Church, Aldford|Aldford]], [[Holy Trinity Church, Bickerton|Bickerton]], [[St Wenefrede's Church, Bickley|Bickley]], [[St Mary's Church, Bruera|Bruera]], [[St Boniface's Church, Bunbury|Bunbury]], [[St John's Church, Burwardsley|Burwardsley]], [[St Mary's Church, Coddington|Coddington]], [[St Chad's Church, Farndon|Farndon]], [[All Saints Church, Handley|Handley]], [[St Peter's Church, Hargrave|Hargrave]], Harthill, [[St Oswald's Church, Malpas|Malpas]] and [[St John's Church, Threapwood|Threapwood]], [[St Michael's Church, Marbury|Marbury]], [[St Edith's Church, Shocklach|Shocklach]], [[St Helen's Church, Tarporley|Tarporley]], [[St Alban's Church, Tattenhall|Tattenhall]], [[St Jude's Church, Tilstone Fearnall|Tilstone Fearnall]], [[St Mary's Church, Tilston|Tilston]], [[St Chad's Church, Tushingham|Tushingham]], [[St Peter's Church, Waverton|Waverton]], Whitewell
|<ref name=deaneries />
|-
|'''Middlewich'''
|Chester
|[[St John the Evangelist's Church, Byley|Byley-cum-Lees]], [[St Wilfrid's Church, Davenham|Davenham]], [[St Peter's Church, Delamere|Delamere]], [[St John the Baptist's Church, Hartford|Hartford]], [[St Peter's Church, Little Budworth|Little Budworth]], Lostock Gralam, [[St Michael and All Angels, Middlewich|Middlewich]], [[St Stephen's Church, Moulton|Moulton]], [[Holy Trinity Church, Northwich|Northwich (Castle) Holy Trinity]], Northwich (Winnington) St Luke, [[St Chad's Church, Over|Over St Chad]], [[St John the Evangelist's Church, Winsford|Over St John]], [[St John the Evangelist's Church, Sandiway|Sandiway]], [[St Mary's Church, Weaverham|Weaverham]], Wharton, [[St Mary's Church, Whitegate|Whitegate]], [[St Helen Witton Church, Northwich|Witton (Northwich)]], [[Christ Church, Wharton]]
|<ref name=deaneries />
|-
|'''Mottram'''
|Macclesfield
|[[St John's Church, Dukinfield|Dukinfield St John]], Dukinfield St Luke, Dukinfield St Mark, Gee Cross, Godley cum Newton Green, Hattersley, Hollingworth, [[St George's Church, Hyde|Hyde St George]], Hyde St Thomas, Micklehurst, Millbrook, [[St Michael and All Angels Church, Mottram|Mottram-in-Longendale]], Newton with Flowery Field, Stalybridge Holy Trinity & Christchurch, Stalybridge St Paul, Tintwistle
|<ref name=deaneries />
|-
|'''Nantwich'''
|Macclesfield
|[[St Mary's Church, Acton|Acton]], [[St James' Church, Audlem|Audlem]], [[St Michael's Church, Baddiley|Baddiley]], [[St Mary's and St Michael's Church, Burleydam|Burleydam]], [[St Bartholomew's Church, Church Minshull|Church Minshull]], [[St Michael's Church, Coppenhall|Coppenhall]], Crewe All Saints and St Paul, Crewe St Andrew with St John the Baptist, [[St Barnabas' Church, Crewe|Crewe St Barnabas]], Crewe Christ Church, [[St Peter's Church, Crewe|Crewe St Peter]], [[St Michael and All Angels Church, Crewe Green|Crewe Green]], [[St John's Church, Doddington|Doddington]], [[St Matthew's Church, Haslington|Haslington]], [[St Peter's Church, Minshull Vernon|Leighton-cum-Minshull Vernon]], [[St Mary's Church, Nantwich|Nantwich]], [[All Saints' Church, Weston, Cheshire|Weston]], Wettenhall, [[Church of St Mary the Virgin, Wistaston|Wistaston]], Worleston, [[St Margaret's Church, Wrenbury|Wrenbury]], Wybunbury
|<ref name=deaneries />
|-
|'''Stockport'''
|Macclesfield
|Brinnington with Portwood, Offerton, Cheadle Heath and Edgeley, [[St Mary's Church, Stockport|Stockport St Mary]], [[St Peter's Church, Stockport|Stockport St Peter]], Stockport St Saviour, Stockport St Thomas, [[St George's Church, Heaviley]]
|<ref name=deaneries />
Stockport deanery originally included Chadkirk and Cheadle deaneries at least as late as 1974.<ref name=phillandphill />
|-
|'''Wallasey'''
|Chester
|Leasowe, [[Church of the Resurrection and All Saints, Caldy|The Parish of the Resurrection]], Liscard St Thomas, New Brighton St James with Emmanuel, New Brighton All Saints, Poulton, Seacombe, [[St Hilary's Church, Wallasey|Wallasey St Hilary]], Wallasey St Nicholas, Moreton
|<ref name=deaneries />
|-
|'''Wirral North'''
|Chester
|Barnston, [[St Andrew's Church, Bebington|Bebington St Andrew]], Bebington Townfield Church, Frankby with Greasby, Great Meols, [[St Peter's Church, Heswall|Heswall]], [[Christ Church, Higher Bebington|Higher Bebington]], Hoylake, New Ferry, Newton West Kirby, [[St Bartholomew's Church, Thurstaston|Thurstaston]], Upton (Overchurch), [[St Andrew's Church, West Kirby|West Kirby St Andrew]], [[St Bridget's Church, West Kirby|West Kirby St Bridget]], Poulton Lancelyn
|<ref name=deaneries />
|-
|'''Wirral South'''
|Chester
|[[St Oswald's Church, Backford|Backford]], [[St Barnabas' Church, Bromborough|Bromborough]], [[St Nicholas' Church, Burton|Burton]], [[Holy Trinity Church, Capenhurst|Capenhurst]], [[St Mary's Church, Eastham|Eastham]], Ellesmere Port Team, [[All Saints Church, Great Saughall|Great Saughall]], Great Sutton, [[St Paul's Church, Hooton|Hooton]], [[St Mary's and St Helen's Church, Neston|Neston]], [[St Thomas' Church, Parkgate|Neston Parkgate]], [[St Michael's Church, Shotwick|Shotwick]], [[All Saints Church, Thornton Hough|Thornton Hough]], [[Christ Church, Willaston|Willaston]]
|<ref name=deaneries />
|}

==Bishops==
[[File:Bishops and readers (52415124747) (bishops cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Bishops of the diocese in 2022 (L to R: [[Sam Corley|Corley]], [[Mark Tanner|Tanner]], [[Julie Conalty|Conalty]])]]
The diocesan Bishop of Chester [[Mark Tanner]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Diocese of Chester {{!}} Bishops |url=https://www.chester.anglican.org/diocese/bishops/ |access-date=5 November 2020 |website=www.chester.anglican.org }}</ref> is supported by two suffragan bishops: the [[Bishop of Birkenhead|Bishop suffragan of Birkenhead]] ([[Julie Conalty]]) and the [[Bishop of Stockport|Bishop suffragan of Stockport]] ([[Sam Corley]]). [[Alternative episcopal oversight]] (AEO) for parishes in the diocese which do not accept ordination of women as priests or bishops is provided by the [[Bishop of Beverley|Bishop suffragan of Beverley]] (currently [[Stephen Race]]), while AEO for conservative evangelical parishes is provided by the [[Bishop of Ebbsfleet|Bishop suffragan of Ebbsfleet]] (currently [[Rob Munro (bishop)|Rob Munro]]). Besides the PEVs, there are five retired honorary assistant bishops licensed in the diocese:

* 1997–present: [[Willie Pwaisiho]], a former [[Bishop of Malaita]], is now Rector of [[Gawsworth]].<ref>{{Crockford
| surname = Pwaisiho
| forenames = William Alaha
| id = 22719
| accessed = 18 June 2016
}}</ref>
* 2000–present: [[Colin Bazley]], retired [[Bishop of Chile]], lives in [[Higher Bebington]]<ref>{{Crockford
| surname = Bazley
| forenames = Colin Frederick
| id = 39599
| accessed = 18 June 2016
}}</ref>
* 2002–present: [[Geoffrey Turner (bishop)|Geoffrey Turner]] is a former Bishop suffragan of Stockport who lives in [[West Kirby]]<ref>{{Crockford
| surname = Turner
| initials = Geoffrey Martin
| id = 37960
| accessed = 18 June 2016
}}</ref>
* 2008–present: [[John Hayden (bishop)|John Hayden]] was an assistant bishop for [[Kiteto]] in the [[Diocese of Mount Kilimanjaro]]; he now lives in [[Hoylake]]<ref>{{Crockford
| surname = Hayden
| initials = John Donald
| id = 26374
| accessed = 18 June 2016
}}</ref>
* 2009–present: [[Graham Dow]], a retired [[Bishop of Carlisle]], lives in [[Romiley]] and is also licensed as an honorary assistant bishop in the neighbouring [[Anglican Diocese of Manchester|Diocese of Manchester]]<ref>{{Crockford
| surname = Dow
| initials = Geoffrey Graham
| id = 27463
| accessed = 18 June 2016
}}</ref>

==See also==
{{portal|Cheshire}}
* [[Bishoprics of Chester and Man Act 1541]]

==References==
===Notes===
{{Reflist|2}}

===Bibliography===
* {{cite book |last=Dunn |first=F. I. |year=1987 |title=The ancient parishes, townships and chapelries of Cheshire |publisher=Cheshire Record Office and Cheshire Diocesan Record Office |location=Chester |isbn=0-906758-14-9 }}
* {{cite book |editor-last=Elrington |editor-first=C. R. |year=1980 |title=The Victoria history of the county of Chester, Volume III |publisher=The University of London Institute of Historical Research (Oxford University Press) |location=Oxford |isbn=0-19-722754-6 }}
* {{cite book |last=Phillips |first=A. D. M. |author2=Phillips, C. B. |year=2002 |title=A new historical atlas of Cheshire |location=Chester, UK |publisher=Cheshire County Council and Cheshire Community Council Publications Trust |isbn=0-904532-46-1 }}
* {{CE1913 |wstitle=Chester }}

{{Province of York}}
{{Diocese of Chester}}

{{authority control}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Diocese Of Chester}}
[[Category:Diocese of Chester| ]]
[[Category:1541 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Dioceses established in the 16th century]]
[[Category:Dioceses of the Church of England|Chester]]
[[Category:Religion in Cheshire]]
[[Category:Religious organizations established in the 1540s]]