Diocese of Exeter
Encyclopedia
The Diocese of Exeter is a Church of England
diocese
covering the county of Devon
. It is one of the largest dioceses in England. The Cathedral Church of Saint Peter in Exeter
is the seat of the diocesan bishop, the Right Reverend Michael Langrish
, Bishop of Exeter
. It is part of the Province of Canterbury
. The bishop is assisted in his duties by two suffragan bishops: the Bishop of Crediton
and the Bishop of Plymouth
.
and Cornwall
. Crediton
was chosen as the site for its cathedral, possibly due it having been the birthplace of Saint Boniface
and also the existence of a monastery there.
In 1046, Leofric
became the Bishop of Crediton: following his appointment he decided that the see should be moved to the larger, more culturally significant and defensible walled town of Exeter
. In 1050, King Edward the Confessor
authorised that Exeter was to be the seat of the bishop for Devon and Cornwall and that a cathedral was to be built there for the bishop's throne. Thus, Leofric became the last diocesan Bishop of Crediton and the first Bishop of Exeter
.
The diocese remained unchanged until 1876, when the former Archdeaconry of Cornwall became the independent Diocese of Truro
.
Archdeaconry of Exeter (Archdeacon: The Venerable Penny Driver)
Archdeaconry of Totnes (Archdeacon: The Venerable John Rawlings)
Archdeaconry of Barnstaple (Archdeacon: The Venerable David Gunn-Johnson)
Archdeaconry of Plymouth (Archdeacon: The Venerable Ian Chandler)
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
diocese
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...
covering the county of Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
. It is one of the largest dioceses in England. The Cathedral Church of Saint Peter in Exeter
Exeter Cathedral
Exeter Cathedral, the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter at Exeter, is an Anglican cathedral, and the seat of the Bishop of Exeter, in the city of Exeter, Devon in South West England....
is the seat of the diocesan bishop, the Right Reverend Michael Langrish
Michael Langrish
Michael Laurence Langrish is a British Anglican bishop and the current Bishop of Exeter.Born in Southampton, Hampshire, the son of Douglas Frank Langrish and Brenda Florence Passingham was educated at King Edward VI School, Southampton, and Birmingham University, where he received a Bachelor of...
, Bishop of Exeter
Bishop of Exeter
The Bishop of Exeter is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Exeter in the Province of Canterbury. The incumbent usually signs his name as Exon or incorporates this in his signature....
. It is part of the Province of Canterbury
Province of Canterbury
The Province of Canterbury, also called the Southern Province, is one of two ecclesiastical provinces making up the Church of England...
. The bishop is assisted in his duties by two suffragan bishops: the Bishop of Crediton
Bishop of Crediton
The Bishop of Crediton was originally a prelate who administered an Anglo-Saxon diocese in the 10th and 11th centuries, and is presently a suffragan bishop who assists the diocesan bishop.-Diocesan Bishops of Crediton:...
and the Bishop of Plymouth
Bishop of Plymouth (Anglican)
The Anglican Bishop of Plymouth is an episcopal title used by a suffragan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Exeter, in the Province of Canterbury, England. The title takes its name after the city of Plymouth in Devon....
.
History
The Diocese of Crediton was created out of the Diocese of Sherborne in AD 909 to cover the area of DevonDevon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
and Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
. Crediton
Crediton
Crediton is a town and civil parish in the Mid Devon district of Devon in England. It stands on the A377 Exeter to Barnstaple road at the junction with the A3072 road to Tiverton, about north west of Exeter. It has a population of 6,837...
was chosen as the site for its cathedral, possibly due it having been the birthplace of Saint Boniface
Saint Boniface
Saint Boniface , the Apostle of the Germans, born Winfrid, Wynfrith, or Wynfryth in the kingdom of Wessex, probably at Crediton , was a missionary who propagated Christianity in the Frankish Empire during the 8th century. He is the patron saint of Germany and the first archbishop of Mainz...
and also the existence of a monastery there.
In 1046, Leofric
Leofric, Bishop of Exeter
-Early life:Little is known about Leofric, as his cathedral town was not a centre of historical writing, and he took little part in events outside his diocese. This led to little notice being taken of his life and activities, with only a few charters originating in his household and one listing of...
became the Bishop of Crediton: following his appointment he decided that the see should be moved to the larger, more culturally significant and defensible walled town of Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
. In 1050, King Edward the Confessor
Edward the Confessor
Edward the Confessor also known as St. Edward the Confessor , son of Æthelred the Unready and Emma of Normandy, was one of the last Anglo-Saxon kings of England and is usually regarded as the last king of the House of Wessex, ruling from 1042 to 1066....
authorised that Exeter was to be the seat of the bishop for Devon and Cornwall and that a cathedral was to be built there for the bishop's throne. Thus, Leofric became the last diocesan Bishop of Crediton and the first Bishop of Exeter
Bishop of Exeter
The Bishop of Exeter is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Exeter in the Province of Canterbury. The incumbent usually signs his name as Exon or incorporates this in his signature....
.
The diocese remained unchanged until 1876, when the former Archdeaconry of Cornwall became the independent Diocese of Truro
Diocese of Truro
The Diocese of Truro is a Church of England diocese in the Province of Canterbury.-Geography and history:The diocese's area is that of the county of Cornwall including the Isles of Scilly. It was formed on 15 December 1876 from the Archdeaconry of Cornwall in the Diocese of Exeter, it is thus one...
.
Organisation
The diocese is divided into four archdeaconries. The Bishop of Crediton oversees the Archdeaconries of Barnstaple and Exeter. The Bishop of Plymouth oversees the Archdeaconries of Plymouth and Totnes.Archdeaconry of Exeter (Archdeacon: The Venerable Penny Driver)
- Deanery of Aylesbeare
- Deanery of CadburyDeanery of CadburyThe Deanery of Cadbury represents the Church of England in mid Devon, within the Archdeaconry of Exeter and the Diocese of Exeter.Rural Dean: The Reverend Douglas Dettmer...
- Deanery of ChristianityDeanery of Christianity (Exeter)The Deanery of Christianity is a deanery in the Archdeaconry of Exeter, Diocese of Exeter. This deanery covers most of the city of Exeter. It takes the name "Christianity" because there is a tradition that a diocese and a deanery should not share the same name.-Benefice of Alphington :Parishes...
- Deanery of Cullompton
- Deanery of Honiton
- Deanery of Kenn
- Deanery of Ottery
- Deanery of Tiverton
Archdeaconry of Totnes (Archdeacon: The Venerable John Rawlings)
- Deanery of Moreton
- Deanery of Newton Abbot and Ipplepen
- Deanery of Okehampton
- Deanery of Torbay
- Deanery of Totnes
- Deanery of Woodleigh
Archdeaconry of Barnstaple (Archdeacon: The Venerable David Gunn-Johnson)
- Deanery of BarnstapleDeanery of BarnstapleRural Dean: The Reverend Giles King-Smith- Benefice of Barnstaple Team Ministry :Parishes:*Pilton with Ashford *Barnstaple *Barnstaple *Bishops Tawton...
- Deanery of HartlandDeanery of HartlandThe Deanery of Hartland represents the Church of England in the north west corner of Devon, within the Archdeaconry of Barnstaple and the Diocese of Exeter.Rural Dean of Hartland: The Reverend Andrew Richardson-Benefice of Hartland Coast:...
- Deanery of Holsworthy
- Deanery of Shirwell
- Deanery of South Molton
- Deanery of Torrington
Archdeaconry of Plymouth (Archdeacon: The Venerable Ian Chandler)
- Deanery of Ivybridge
- Deanery of Devonport
- Deanery of Moorside
- Deanery of Sutton
- Deanery of Tavistock
Coat of arms
The arms of the diocese are Gules two keys in saltire Or a sword hilt downwards in pale Argent with hilt Or surmounted by a mitre. The charges are emblems of Saints Peter (keys) and Paul (sword) who are the patron saints of the cathedral.Further reading
- Oliver, GeorgeGeorge Oliver (historian)George Oliver was an English Roman Catholic priest and historian of the Exeter area.-Life:He was born at Newington, Surrey, on 9 February 1781, and was educated, first at Sedgley Park School, Staffordshire, and afterwards at Stonyhurst College...
(1846) Monasticon Dioecesis Exoniensis: being a collection of records and instruments illustrating the ancient conventual, collegiate, and eleemosynary foundations, in the Counties of Cornwall and Devon, with historical notices, and a supplement, comprising a list of the dedications of churches in the Diocese, an amended edition of the taxation of Pope Nicholas, and an abstract of the Chantry Rolls; [with supplement and index]. Exeter: P. A. Hannaford, 1846, 1854, 1889
External links
- Diocese of Exeter
- Ancient Diocese of Exeter - From the Catholic Encyclopedia