Anglican Diocese of Arctic
Encyclopedia
The Diocese of the Arctic is a diocese
of the Ecclesiastical Province of Rupert's Land
of the Anglican Church of Canada
. It is by far the largest of the thirty dioceses in Canada
, comprising almost 4000000 km² (1,544,408.6 sq mi), or one-third the land mass of the country. As the name indicates, the diocese encompasses the Arctic
region of Canada including the entirety of the Northwest Territories
, Nunavut
, and the Nunavik
region of northern Quebec
. The See city
is Iqaluit, Nunavut, and its approximately 18,000 Anglicans (over one-third of the total population) are served by thirty-one parishes. The administrative offices of the diocese are located in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.
Originally, the region was part of the vast and sprawling Diocese of Rupert's Land
, which at the time encompassed all of present-day Canada west of Ontario
. Anglican
activity in the Far North
primarily took the form of missionary
work among the Aboriginal
First Nations
and Inuit
, undertaken for the most part by the evangelical
Church Mission Society
. In 1874, the Diocese of Rupert's Land was split into four dioceses one of which, Athabasca, included the present-day Diocese of the Arctic. In 1892, this territory was further divided into the Diocese of Selkirk
(coterminous with the Yukon
) and Mackenzie River (coterminous with the Northwest Territories
). The first Bishop of Mackenzie River was William Bompas, a legendary figure in the history of Christian
expansion in northern Canada. The Diocese of the Arctic subsumed the Diocese of Mackenzie River when it was created in 1933, also carving northern Quebec from the Diocese of Quebec
, where—like Nunavut and the Northwest Territories—the majority of the population is indigenous. The first constituted synod
was not convened, however, until 1972.
Both the missionary history of the diocese and its particular cultural context contributes to its theology
, which tends towards evangelicalism
and conservatism
. For instance, the diocese sparked controversy in 2005 when it banned the employment of "homosexuals, lesbians and bisexuals", as well as those who engage in sexual activity outside marriage, and its bishops have been outspokenly critical of what they perceive as the liberal tendencies of many southern dioceses.
The diocese is well-known for its igloo
-shaped cathedral
, St. Jude's, which was destroyed by fire in 2005. It maintains a theological school, the Arthur Turner Training School in Pangnirtung
. In 1996, Paul Idlout became the first Inuk bishop in the world (as suffragan bishop
).
In 2002, Rt Revd
Andrew Atagotaaluk
became the first Inuk diocesan bishop
in the world. He is the fifth Bishop of the Arctic, and is assisted in ministry to this vast diocese by two suffragans, Rt Revd Ben Arreak and another. The Dean of St. Jude's Cathedral is Very Revd
James Barlow.
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of the Ecclesiastical Province of Rupert's Land
Ecclesiastical Province of Rupert's Land
The Ecclesiastical Province of Rupert's Land was founded in 1875 and is one of four ecclesiastical provinces in the Anglican Church of Canada. The territory covered by the province is roughly coterminous with the western portion of the former Hudson's Bay Company concession of Rupert's Land, as...
of the Anglican Church of Canada
Anglican Church of Canada
The Anglican Church of Canada is the Province of the Anglican Communion in Canada. The official French name is l'Église Anglicane du Canada. The ACC is the third largest church in Canada after the Roman Catholic Church and the United Church of Canada, consisting of 800,000 registered members...
. It is by far the largest of the thirty dioceses in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, comprising almost 4000000 km² (1,544,408.6 sq mi), or one-third the land mass of the country. As the name indicates, the diocese encompasses the Arctic
Arctic
The Arctic is a region located at the northern-most part of the Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. The Arctic region consists of a vast, ice-covered ocean, surrounded by treeless permafrost...
region of Canada including the entirety of the Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
, Nunavut
Nunavut
Nunavut is the largest and newest federal territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, though the actual boundaries had been established in 1993...
, and the Nunavik
Nunavik
Nunavik comprises the northern third of the province of Quebec, Canada. Covering a land area of 443,684.71 km² north of the 55th parallel, it is the homeland of the Inuit of Quebec...
region of northern Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. The See city
Episcopal See
An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
is Iqaluit, Nunavut, and its approximately 18,000 Anglicans (over one-third of the total population) are served by thirty-one parishes. The administrative offices of the diocese are located in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.
Originally, the region was part of the vast and sprawling Diocese of Rupert's Land
Anglican Diocese of Rupert's Land
The Diocese of Rupert's Land is a diocese of the Ecclesiastical Province of Rupert's Land of the Anglican Church of Canada. It is named for the historical British North American territory of Rupert's Land, which was contained within the original diocesan boundaries.The diocese comprises 72,500...
, which at the time encompassed all of present-day Canada west of Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. Anglican
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
activity in the Far North
Northern Canada
Northern Canada, colloquially the North, is the vast northernmost region of Canada variously defined by geography and politics. Politically, the term refers to the three territories of Canada: Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut...
primarily took the form of missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
work among the Aboriginal
Aboriginal peoples in Canada
Aboriginal peoples in Canada comprise the First Nations, Inuit and Métis. The descriptors "Indian" and "Eskimo" have fallen into disuse in Canada and are commonly considered pejorative....
First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
and Inuit
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
, undertaken for the most part by the evangelical
Low church
Low church is a term of distinction in the Church of England or other Anglican churches initially designed to be pejorative. During the series of doctrinal and ecclesiastic challenges to the established church in the 16th and 17th centuries, commentators and others began to refer to those groups...
Church Mission Society
Church Mission Society
The Church Mission Society, also known as the Church Missionary Society, is a group of evangelistic societies working with the Anglican Communion and Protestant Christians around the world...
. In 1874, the Diocese of Rupert's Land was split into four dioceses one of which, Athabasca, included the present-day Diocese of the Arctic. In 1892, this territory was further divided into the Diocese of Selkirk
Anglican Diocese of Yukon
The Anglican Diocese of Yukon is a diocese of the Ecclesiastical Province of British Columbia and Yukon of the Anglican Church of Canada. It comprises 15 congregations serving 24 communities in the Yukon and parts of northern British Columbia....
(coterminous with the Yukon
Yukon
Yukon is the westernmost and smallest of Canada's three federal territories. It was named after the Yukon River. The word Yukon means "Great River" in Gwich’in....
) and Mackenzie River (coterminous with the Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
). The first Bishop of Mackenzie River was William Bompas, a legendary figure in the history of Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
expansion in northern Canada. The Diocese of the Arctic subsumed the Diocese of Mackenzie River when it was created in 1933, also carving northern Quebec from the Diocese of Quebec
Anglican Diocese of Quebec
The Anglican Diocese of Quebec was founded by Letters Patent in 1793, and is a part of the Ecclesiastical Province of Canada of the Anglican Church of Canada, in turn a province of the Anglican Communion...
, where—like Nunavut and the Northwest Territories—the majority of the population is indigenous. The first constituted synod
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
was not convened, however, until 1972.
Both the missionary history of the diocese and its particular cultural context contributes to its theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
, which tends towards evangelicalism
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
and conservatism
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
. For instance, the diocese sparked controversy in 2005 when it banned the employment of "homosexuals, lesbians and bisexuals", as well as those who engage in sexual activity outside marriage, and its bishops have been outspokenly critical of what they perceive as the liberal tendencies of many southern dioceses.
The diocese is well-known for its igloo
Igloo
An igloo or snowhouse is a type of shelter built of snow, originally built by the Inuit....
-shaped cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
, St. Jude's, which was destroyed by fire in 2005. It maintains a theological school, the Arthur Turner Training School in Pangnirtung
Pangnirtung, Nunavut
Pangnirtung is an Inuit hamlet, Qikiqtaaluk Region, in the Canadian territory of Nunavut, located on Baffin Island. As of the 2006 census the population was 1,325, an increase of 3.8% from the 2001 census...
. In 1996, Paul Idlout became the first Inuk bishop in the world (as suffragan bishop
Suffragan bishop
A suffragan bishop is a bishop subordinate to a metropolitan bishop or diocesan bishop. He or she may be assigned to an area which does not have a cathedral of its own.-Anglican Communion:...
).
In 2002, Rt Revd
Right Reverend
The Right Reverend is a style applied to certain religious figures.*In the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church in Great Britain it applies to bishops except that The Most Reverend is used for archbishops .*In some churches with a...
Andrew Atagotaaluk
Andrew Atagotaaluk
The Rt Rev.Andrew Atagotaaluk is the current Bishop of The Arctic and the first Inuk Bishop in the Anglican Communion.-Notes:...
became the first Inuk diocesan bishop
Diocesan bishop
A diocesan bishop — in general — is a bishop in charge of a diocese. These are to be distinguished from suffragan bishops, assistant bishops, coadjutor bishops, auxiliary bishops, metropolitans, and primates....
in the world. He is the fifth Bishop of the Arctic, and is assisted in ministry to this vast diocese by two suffragans, Rt Revd Ben Arreak and another. The Dean of St. Jude's Cathedral is Very Revd
Very Reverend
The Very Reverend is a style given to certain religious figures.*In the Roman Catholic Church, by custom, priests who hold positions of particular note: e.g...
James Barlow.
List of bishops of the Arctic
| Bishops of the Arctic | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| From | Until | Incumbent | Notes |
| 1933 | 1949 | Archibald Fleming | |
| 1950 | 1973 | Donald Marsh | Died in office. |
| 1974 | 1990 | John Sperry | |
| 1991 | 2002 | Chris Williams | Suffragan bishop Suffragan bishop A suffragan bishop is a bishop subordinate to a metropolitan bishop or diocesan bishop. He or she may be assigned to an area which does not have a cathedral of its own.-Anglican Communion:... since 1987; coadjutor bishop Coadjutor bishop A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese... since 1990. |
| 2002 | present | Andrew Atagotaaluk Andrew Atagotaaluk The Rt Rev.Andrew Atagotaaluk is the current Bishop of The Arctic and the first Inuk Bishop in the Anglican Communion.-Notes:... |
First Inuit Inuit The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language... diocesan bishop. |
List of suffragan bishops
| Suffragan bishops in the Arctic Diocese | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| From | Until | Incumbent | Notes |
| c. 1976 | 2010 | Larry Robertson Larry Robertson Larry Robertson is the current Bishop of Yukon. He had previously served in the Diocese of The Arctic for 34 years.-References:... |
Translated Translation (ecclesiastical) Translation is the technical term when a Bishop is transferred from one diocese to another.This can be* From Suffragan Bishop status to Diocesan Bishop*From Coadjutor bishop to Diocesan Bishop*From one country's Episcopate to another... to Yukon Anglican Diocese of Yukon The Anglican Diocese of Yukon is a diocese of the Ecclesiastical Province of British Columbia and Yukon of the Anglican Church of Canada. It comprises 15 congregations serving 24 communities in the Yukon and parts of northern British Columbia.... . |
| 1987 | 1991 | Chris Williams | Coadjutor bishop Coadjutor bishop A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese... from 1990; diocesan bishop Diocesan bishop A diocesan bishop — in general — is a bishop in charge of a diocese. These are to be distinguished from suffragan bishops, assistant bishops, coadjutor bishops, auxiliary bishops, metropolitans, and primates.... , 1991–2002 |
| 1996 | ? | Paul Idlout | First Inuk Inuit The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language... to become a bishop. |
| ? | present | Ben Arreak | |