An overview...
A general introduction to the Diocese of Salisbury
The Diocese of Salisbury is the seventh largest in area in the Church of England, extending over 2000 square miles, with a population of about 850,000. The Diocese covers 95% of Dorset, 75% of Wiltshire, the unitary authority of Poole, 40% of the unitary authority of Bournemouth and small parts of Hampshire and Devon.
It is mainly rural with many small villages and a few areas of urban development. The Diocese has over 450 parishes under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Salisbury, assisted by the Bishop of Ramsbury and Bishop of Sherborne.
These parishes are grouped into 19 deaneries and four Archdeaconries.
The parishes look after 574 places of worship and the Diocese has one of the highest number of listed church buildings in the country.
The Diocese also contains one of the highest number of Church of England Schools in the country with 108 Voluntary Aided, 97 Voluntary Controlled and 2 Foundation Schools.
The affairs of the parishes are managed by Parochial Church Councils (PCCs). Members of the parishes meet together in the Deanery Synod. This body elects the members of the Diocesan Synod which sets the annual budget and approves the provision of the shared resources needed to support the parishes. The parishes contribute to the funding of these through a method called Fairer Share.
Members of the Diocesan Synod, in turn elect diocesan representatives to the General Synod of the Church of England.
Strong links exist with the Episcopal Church of the
The Diocese is committed to collaborative working and to developing the ministry of all the baptised.
Contact:
email: enquiries@salisbury.anglican.org
tel: 01722 411922
fax:
01722 411990
web: http://www.salisbury.anglican.org
