The Diocese of Portsmouth is an administrative division of the Church of England Province of Canterbury in England. The diocese covers south-east Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The see is based in the City of Portsmouth in Hampshire, where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of St Thomas of Canterbury.
Origin The Diocese of Portsmouth was created on 1 May 1927 under George V from the Diocese of Winchester. It consists of the three archdeaconries of: Portsdown (comprising the deaneries of Portsmouth and Havant); The Meon (comprising the deaneries of Fareham, Gosport, Petersfield and Bishop's Waltham); The Isle of Wight (comprising the deanery of the Isle of Wight).
Bishops The Bishop of Portsmouth leads the diocese as one of three diocesan bishops in the Church of England not assisted by a suffragan bishop, the others being the Bishop of Hereford and the Bishop of Sodor and Man
Alternative episcopal oversight (for parishes in the diocese which do not accept the ordination of women as priests) is provided by the provincial episcopal visitor, the Bishop suffragan of Richborough. On 10 December 2024, it was announced that the next Bishop suffragan of Richborough, Luke Irvine-Capel, will be "based" in the diocese. There are also two former bishops living in the diocese who are licensed as honorary assistant bishops: 2012–present: Timothy Bavin, oblate master at Alton Abbey, is a retired Bishop of Portsmouth.
2012–present: John Hind, retired Bishop of Chichester, lives in Emsworth, Hampshire.
Safeguarding The Anglican Diocese of Portsmouth had a number of sexual abuse convictions in the 1980s and 1990s. Timothy Bavin was the Bishop between 1985 and 1995 and during this time a number of serious safeguarding issues took place. For example, Bavin did not report Fr Terry Knight to the police when parents raised their concerns to him in 1985. Knight was allowed to continue in his position until he was later convicted for sexually abusing boys in 1996 and again in 2016. Bavin had also allowed a convicted paedophile Fr Michael Gover to resume working for the church on his release in 1990. Gover was convicted in 1985 at around the same time as parents raising their concerns about Knight. Bavin stood down in 1995 whilst Knight's police investigation and court case was taking place.Dedicates church in his last year
Archdeaconries and deaneries DioceseArchdeaconryDeaneryPaid clergyChurchesPopulationPeople/clergyPeople/churchChurches/clergyDiocese of PortsmouthArchdeaconry of PortsdownDeanery of Havant1626149,4269,3395,7471.63Deanery of Portsmouth23*26*202,0168,7837,7701.13Archdeaconry of the Isle of WightDeanery of the Isle of Wight2160138,2596,5842,3042.86Archdeaconry of the MeonDeanery of Bishop's Waltham71728,8444,1211,6972.43Deanery of Fareham1413117,8548,4189,0660.93Deanery of Gosport81082,62510,3288,2631.25Deanery of Petersfield122040,8083,4012,0401.67Total/average104170759,8327,3064,4701.63 *including Cathedral
List of churches
Not in a deanery BeneficeChurchLinkFounded (building)ClergyPop. servedCathedralCathedral of St Thomas of Canterbury, PortsmouthMedieval44,396
Deanery of Havant BeneficeChurchLinkFounded (building)ClergyPop. servedBedhampton (St Nicholas's Mission Church) (St Thomas)St Thomas, BedhamptonAncient (Medieval)19,874St Nicholas, Bedhampton1959Blendworth (Holy Trinity) with Chalton with IdsworthHoly Trinity, Blendworth185101,055St Michael & All Angels, ChaltonMedieval77St Hubert, IdsworthAncient150Catherington (All Saints) and ClanfieldAll Saints, CatheringtonMedieval09,086St James, ClanfieldMedieval (1875)3,745Cowplain (St Wilfrid)St Wilfrid, Cowplain1923213,421Westbrook ChurchCrookhorn (Good Shepherd)Good Shepherd, Crookhorn197812,989Portsdown (Christ Church)Christ Church, Portsdown187216,285Purbrook (St John the Baptist)St John the Baptist, Purbrook18588,426Denmead (All Saints)All Saints, Denmead188016,758Hartplain (Not Known)Hart Plain Church (CoE/Methodist)18,974Havant (St Faith)St Faith, HavantMedieval38,487St Nicholas' Chapel, Langstone1869Hayling Island (St Andrew) EastokeSt Andrew, Eastokec. 1940 (1964)14,687Hayling, North (St Peter)St Peter, North HaylingMedieval1,798Hayling, South (St Mary)St Mary, South HaylingMedieval10,894Leigh Park (St Francis)St Francis, Leigh Park1963113,099Warren Park (St Clare)St Clare, Warren Park19703,278Leigh, West (St Alban)St Alban, West Leigh 1957 (1966)19,830Rowlands Castle (St John the Baptist)St John the Baptist, Rowlands Castle183802,357Warblington (St Thomas À Becket) with EmsworthSt Thomas à Becket, WarblingtonAncient (Medieval)210,709St James, Emsworth1840Waterlooville (St George the Martyr)St George, Waterlooville1831 (1970)113,447
Deanery of Portsmouth BeneficeChurchLinkFounded (building)ClergyPop. servedCosham (St Philip)St Philip, Cosham193814,266Wymering (St Peter and St Paul)SS Peter & Paul, WymeringMedieval6,608Farlington (St Andrew) (Church of the Resurrection)St Andrew, FarlingtonMedieval (1875)215,146The Resurrection, Farlington1930Milton (St James) (St Andrew's Church Centre) (St Patrick)St James, Milton1841 (1913)123,326Paulsgrove (St Michael and All Angels)St Michael & All Angels, Paulsgrove1957111,834Portsea (All Saints)All Saints, Portsea182805,236Portsea (St Mary) (St Faith and St Barnabas) (St Wilfrid)St Mary, PortseaAncient (1889)221,635St Faith, PortseaSt Wilfrid, PortseaSouthsea (St Luke) (St Peter)St Luke, Southsea1861113,431Portsea (St Alban)St Alban, Copnor191425,542Harbour Church Portsmouth2016Portsea (St George)St George, Portsea17534,567Portsea (St Cuthbert)St Cuthbert, Copnor1908 (1915)012,167St Aidan, Anchorage ParkPortsea (St Saviour)St Saviour, Portsea1901 (1913)36,261Portsea (The Ascension)Ascension, North End1908 (1913)7,882Portsea North End (St Mark)St Mark, North End1868 (1970)20,608St Nicholas, North End1930St Francis, Hilsea1930 (1936)Southsea (Holy Spirit)Holy Spirit, Southsea1858 (1958)213,462Southsea (St Jude)St Jude, Southsea185128,783Southsea (St Margaret of Scotland)St Margaret's Community Church, Southsea2017 (1903)07,554Southsea (St Simon)St Simon, Southsea185809,312
Deanery of the Isle of Wight BeneficeChurchLinkFounded (building)ClergyPop. servedArreton (St George)St George, ArretonMedieval1940Newchurch (All Saints)All Saints, NewchurchMedieval2,397Barton (St Paul)St Paul, Barton184405,184Bembridge (Holy Trinity) (St Luke's Mission Church)Holy Trinity, Bembridge1827 (1846)13,679St Luke's Chapel, BembridgeBinstead (Holy Cross)Holy Cross, BinsteadMedieval14,490Havenstreet (St Peter)St Peter, Havenstreet1852491Wootton (St Edmund)St Edmund, WoottonMedieval3,653St Mark, Wootton Bridge1909Bonchurch (St Boniface) (St Boniface Old Church)St Boniface, Bonchurch1848568Old St Boniface, BonchurchMedievalVentnor (Holy Trinity)Holy Trinity, Ventnor18621,291Ventnor (St Catherine)St Catherine, Ventnor18371,929Wight, West, Comprising Brighstone, Brook, Calbourne, Freshwater, Mottistone, Newtown, Shalfleet, Shorwell with Kingston, Thorley, Totland Bay, and YarmouthSt Mary, BrighstoneMedieval21,357St Mary, BrookMedieval (1864)135SS Peter & Paul, MottistoneMedieval81St Peter, ShorwellMedieval659St James, Kingston (?)Medieval (1892)All Saints, CalbourneMedieval355Holy Spirit, Newtown1835317St Michael the Archangel, ShalfleetMedieval1,573All Saints, FreshwaterMedieval5,428St Agnes, Freshwater (?)1908St James, YarmouthMedieval (c. 1626)591St Swithun, Thorley1871274Christ Church, Totland Bay1869 (1875)2,868Carisbrooke (St Mary the Virgin)St Mary, CarisbrookeMedieval1Carisbrooke (St Nicholas in the Castle)St Nicholas in Castro, CarisbrookeMedieval (1904)Gatcombe (St Olave)St Olave, GatcombeMedieval BeneficeChurchesLinkClergyPopulation servedRefChale (St Andrew)St Andrew, ChaleRector: Nigel Porter3,331St Lawrence (Old Church) (St Lawrence)St Lawrence, St LawrenceWhitwell (St Mary and St Rhadegunde)SS Mary & Radegund, WhitwellNiton (St John the Baptist)St John the Baptist, NitonCowes (Holy Trinity) (St Mary the Virgin)Holy Trinity, CowesVicar: Andrew Poppe5,835St Mary the Virgin, CowesGatten (St Paul)St Paul, GattenPriest-in-Charge: Mark Williams NSM (Sandown): Tony Richards9,487Sandown (Christ Church)Christ Church, SandownGodshill (All Saints)All Saints, Godshill St Alban the Martyr, VentnorVicar: John Ryder NSM: Corinne Smith3,631Gurnard (All Saints) with Cowes St FaithAll Saints, GurnardVicar/Rector: Amanda Collinson Curate: Stephen Sutcliffe NSM: Diana Netherway9,405Northwood (St John the Baptist)St John the Baptist, NorthwoodLake (Good Shepherd)Good Shepherd, LakePriest-in-Charge: David Lawrence-Marsh NSM: Corinne Smith (see above)5,271Shanklin (St Saviour On the Cliff)St Saviour-on-the-Cliff, ShanklinNewport (St John the Baptist)St John the Baptist, NewportPriest-in-Charge: Alison Kerr NSM: Janet Hallam NSM: David Brown5,790Newport (St Thomas)SS Thomas Minster, NewportVicar: Kevin Arkell NSM: Janet Hallam (see above)5,666Ryde (All Saints)All Saints, RydePriest-in-Charge: Vacant10,226Swanmore (St Michael and All Angels)St Michael & All Angels, SwanmoreRyde (St James) Proprietary ChapelSt James, RydeCurate-in-Charge: James LeggettN/ARyde (St John the Baptist) Oakfield and Holy TrinitySt John, Oakfield Holy Trinity, RydePriest-in-Charge: Sue Theobald10,501Sandown, Lower (St John the Evangelist)St John the Evangelist, SandownPriest-in-Charge: Vacant Curate: Jonathan Hall NSM (Sandown): Tony Richards (see above)6,189Shanklin (St Blasius)St Blasius, ShanklinSeaview (St Peter), St Helens, Brading and YaverlandSt Peter, Seaview St Helen, St Helens St Catherine's Chapel, St Helens St Mary, Brading St John the Baptist, YaverlandRector: Alison Morley6,148Whippingham (St Mildred) with East CowesSt Mildred, Whippingham St James, East CowesRector: Susan Paterson8,439Wroxall (St John the Evangelist)St John the Evangelist, WroxallHon. Priest-in-Charge: Vacant1,724
Deanery of Bishop's Waltham BeneficeChurchesLinkClergyPopulation servedRefBishop's Waltham (St Peter) St Peter, Bishop's Waltham Rector: James Hunt NSM: Jane Beloe NSM: Keith Wickert7,324Upham (All Saints) (Blessed Mary of Upham) Blessed Mary of Upham, UphamBotley (All Saints) All Saints, Botley Rector: Gregg Mensingh6,371Curdridge (St Peter) St Peter, CurdridgeDurley (Holy Cross) Holy Cross, DurleyMeon Bridge, Comprising Droxford, Exton, and Meonstoke with Corhampton St Mary & All Saints, Droxford SS Peter & Paul, Exton Corhampton Church St Andrew, Meonstoke Rector: Antony Forrest Curate: Samantha Martell1,739Shedfield (St John the Baptist) and Wickham St John the Baptist, Shedfield Rector: Jane Isaac NSM: Brian McHugh Hon. Curate: Juliet Montague6,308 St Nicholas, WickhamSoberton (St Peter), Newtown and Hambledon SS Peter & Paul, Hambledon Priest-in-Charge: Vacant2,715 St Peter, Soberton Holy Trinity, NewtownSouthwick (St James) with Boarhunt St James, Southwick St Nicholas, Boarhunt Priest-in-Charge: Simon Brocklehurst1,456Swanmore (St Barnabas)St Barnabas, SwanmoreVicar: Claire Towns2,931
Deanery of Fareham BeneficeChurchesLinkClergyPopulation servedRefCrofton (Holy Rood) (St Edmund) Holy Rood, Crofton St Edmund, Crofton Vicar: Richard England Curate: Judith Greenfield Curate: Dan Greenfield NSM: Colin Prestidge14,947Fareham (Holy Trinity) (St Columba) Holy Trinity, Fareham St Columba, Fareham Team Rector: Sally Davenport Curate: Wendy May Jacobs19,250Fareham (St John the Evangelist) St John the Evangelist, Fareham Priest-in-Charge: Bruce Deans9,746Fareham (St Peter and St Paul) SS Peter & Paul, Fareham St Francis, Funtley Priest-in-Charge: Roger Jackson14,251Hook (St Mary) with Warsash St Mary, Warsash Vicars (NSM): Mike and Nicky-Sue Terry9,843Locks Heath (St John the Baptist) St John the Baptist, Locks Heath Vicar: Gavin Foster Curate: Amy Webb11,658Portchester (St Mary) St Mary, Portchester Priest-in-Charge: Ian Meredith15,618Sarisbury (St Paul) St Paul, Sarisbury Green Vicar/Priest-in-Charge: Sandy Matheson Curate-in-Charge (Whiteley): Philippa Mills