The Diocese of Argyll and The Isles is in the west of Scotland, and is one of the seven dioceses of the Scottish Episcopal Church. It is perhaps the largest of the dioceses, but has the smallest number of church members. As a united diocese, Argyll and The Isles has two cathedrals: St John's in Oban and the Cathedral of The Isles in Millport, Isle of Cumbrae.
The Diocese of the Isles, by itself, was founded by Patrick in 900, and the Diocese of Argyll was founded by Bishop Harald in 1193. During the Scottish Reformation, most of the heritage and jurisdiction of the church was given to the Church of Scotland. However, the small Scottish Episcopal Church has maintained the line of bishops of both dioceses through to the present day. In the seventeenth century, the Diocese of the Isles was united with the dioceses of Caithness and Orkney, and, in 1819, it was separated from them to unite with the Diocese of Argyll. In 1847, the Scottish Episcopal Diocese of Argyll and The Isles was officially established with Alexander Ewing as the first Bishop of Argyll and The Isles. In 1878, the Roman Catholic Church created their own Diocese of Argyll and the Isles. The diocese is responsible for the only two Episcopalian retreat houses in Scotland (Bishop's House, Iona and the College of the Holy Spirit at the Cathedral of The Isles). Keith Riglin, Vice Dean of King's College London, was elected by an Electoral Synod on 30 January 2021; his consecration was on 1 May 2021. Bishop Keith died on 24 September 2023 leaving the diocesan seat vacant until the election and installation of David Railton in 2024.
The Diocese of Argyll and The Isles is twinned with the Anglican Diocese of Zanzibar (Anglican Church of Tanzania) and the Episcopal Diocese of Delaware (Episcopal Church in the United States of America).
Area and population The diocese covers the historic counties of Argyllshire (population 60,000) and Buteshire (population 12,500), the Hebridean parts of Inverness-shire and Ross and Cromarty (population 38,000), and the Lochaber area of Inverness-shire (population 16,500). This total population of approximately 127,000 makes it the smallest British Anglican diocese by population apart from the Diocese of Sodor and Man. It gives the diocese a ratio of one priest to every 18,100 inhabitants and one church to every 3,850 inhabitants.
Bishops of the diocese
Deans of the diocese
Churches The diocese currently has 8 stipendiary clergy (including the Bishop who is also the Provost of Cumbrae Cathedral) and 32 active churches. Benefice/parishChurchesFounded (building)Stipendiary clergyLewis and HarrisSt Peter, StornowayC18th (1838)Jody SzokeSt Moluag, Eoropaidh1912 (Medieval)Uist and BarraSt Brendan the Navigator, North Uist Sue NewbySkye and RaasaySt Columba, Portree1884Rosemary BungardSt Michael & All Angels, RaasaySt Mary, Kilmore, SleatKinlochmoidart with StrontianSt Finan, Kinlochmoidart1858Led by laypeopleStrontian CongregationNo buildingFort WilliamSt Andrew, Fort William1817 (1880)VacantMullSt Columba, Gruline1873Led by laypeopleWest Highland RegionSt John, Ballachulish1770 (1842)Amanda FaircloughSt Adamnan, DurorC18th (1848)St Mary, GlencoeC18th (1883)St Paul, Kinlochleven1908 (1954)St Bride, Onich1874Holy Cross (orig. St John), Portnacroish1809IonaSt Columba's Chapel, Bishop's House, Iona1894 Joyce Watson (Chaplain)Argyll Cathedral with Ardbrecknish & KilbrandonCathedral of St John the Divine, Oban1846 (1910)Margi Campbell (Dean & Provost) Tom Ebbens (Curate, Ardbrecknish)Easdale, Seil and Luing CongregationNo buildingSt James, Ardbrecknish1892Islay and JuraSt Columba, Bridgend, Islay1888 Led by laypeopleCampbeltownSt Kiaran, Campbeltown1848Led by laypeopleArran, Inveraray, Kilmartin and LochgilpheadSt Margaret of Scotland, Whiting Bay, Arran1902Simon MackenzieAll Saints, InverarayC19th (1886)St Columba, Poltalloch, Kilmartin1854Christ Church, Lochgilphead1842 (1851)Dunoon, Rothesay, Kames, Tighnabruaich & West CowalHoly Trinity, Dunoon1846 (1850)David RushtonSt Paul, Rothesayc. 1830 (1854)Isles CathedralCathedral of the Holy Spirit, Cumbrae1849Alastair Chisholm (Lay Chaplain)
Former congregation BeneficeChurchFounded (building)Seceded from SECHarris, Isle of (Christ Church)Christ Church, Harris1973 (1999)2018
On 24 November 2017 the congregation of Christ Church, Harris, a Scottish Episcopal church in the Outer Hebrides, announced that they could no longer remain under the oversight of their bishop, Kevin Pearson, owing to his support of the SEC's approval of same-sex marriage. They would instead be receiving the episcopal ministry of Andy Lines, the Missionary Bishop to Europe of the Anglican Church in North America. Daniel Davies, the priest-in-charge of Christ Church, resigned his SEC position on 22 January 2018.
Closed churches in the diocese area ChurchBuildingClosedSt Columba, Tighnabruaichc. 2011Holy Spirit, Ardchattan18862008St Moluag, Kentallen1868pre-2015St Mary, Strontian1875Holy Cross, North UistSt Kilda, Lochbuie (Mull)1876
See also Roman Catholic Diocese of Argyll and the Isles
References