The Diocese of Gibraltar in Europe, known simply as the Diocese in Europe (DiE), is a diocese of the Church of England. It was originally formed in 1842 as the Diocese of Gibraltar. It is geographically the largest diocese of the Church of England and the largest diocese in the Anglican Communion, covering some one-sixth of the Earth's landmass. Its jurisdiction includes all of Europe (excluding the British Isles), Morocco, Mongolia and the territory of the former Soviet Union.
The diocese is attached to the Church of England Province of Canterbury and is headed by the Bishop in Europe, who is assisted by the Suffragan Bishop in Europe. The present bishop, Robert Innes, was commissioned and consecrated on 20 July 2014,Diocese in Europe – New Diocesan Bishop Appointed (Accessed 7 May 2014) and the suffragan bishop, Andrew Norman, was consecrated on 27 February 2025.
The see cathedral is the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Gibraltar, and there are two pro-cathedrals: St Paul's Pro-Cathedral, Valletta, Malta, and the Pro-Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Brussels, Belgium. The diocese is divided into seven archdeaconries.
History Church of England churches and congregations were established in Continental European countries before the Reformation. In 1633, overseas churches of the Church of England were placed under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of London. In 1824, the British Foreign Secretary, George Canning, appointed Matthew Luscombe chaplain to the British embassy in Paris and to supervise all Church of England clergy on the continent. Unable to secure the support of the English bishops, Luscombe was consecrated a missionary bishop (i.e. without a See) by the Scottish bishops in 1825, and functioned as a sort of proto-Bishop of Fulham.
The Diocese of Gibraltar was created on 29 September 1842 and at that time covered all Anglican chaplaincies from Portugal to the Caspian Sea. In 1842 (shortly after the See was established), its jurisdiction was described as "Gibraltar, and the Congregations of the Church of England in the Islands and on the Coasts of the Mediterranean"; a map from the same year shows churches at Lisbon, Porto, Gibraltar, Málaga, Marseille, Nice, Tunis, Lucca, Livorno, Florence, Rome, Palermo, Trieste, Valletta, Messina, Naples, Corfu, Zante, Athens, Syra, Smyrna, and Constantinople. From 1926, Church of England parishes in northern Europe became part of the Jurisdiction of North and Central Europe, under the episcopal jurisdiction of the Bishop of London, delegated to the Suffragan Bishop of Fulham.
In 1970, John Satterthwaite was appointed as both Bishop of Fulham and Bishop of Gibraltar, and on 30 June 1980, the Gibraltar Diocese was officially amalgamated with the Jurisdiction of North and Central Europe by the (No. 2). The new united diocese was renamed as the Diocese of Gibraltar in Europe and brought under the authority of the Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe. It has since become commonly known as the Diocese in Europe.
Archdeaconries
Eastern Archdeaconry, consisting of: Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey and Ukraine. The previous archdeacon was Patrick Curran, who was based in Vienna, Austria and served 2002–2015. The archdeacon is assisted by two area deans (one in Greater Athens, Greece and one in Moscow, Russia). Colin Williams was full-time archdeacon 2015–2019, taking charge of both the Eastern archdeaconry and that of Germany and Northern Europe, and being based in Frankfurt, Germany;Diocese in Europe — First full time stipendiary archdeacon appointed (Accessed 29 May 2015) Leslie Nathaniel is Williams' successor full-time in both roles. Archdeaconry of Germany and Northern Europe, consisting of: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden. The archdeacon is assisted by two area deans; Nathaniel is also Archdeacon of Germany and Northern Europe. Archdeaconry of France (including Monaco). The archdeacon is Peter Hooper (2021) who is assisted by three area deans. Archdeaconry of Gibraltar, consisting of: Andorra, Gibraltar, Morocco, Portugal, and Spain. The archdeacon is David Waller; the archdeacon is assisted by two area deans. Archdeaconry of Italy and Malta. The archdeacon is David Waller. The previous archdeacon was based in Milan, Italy and assisted by one area dean. In Italy, the Archdeaconry operates through the association Chiesa d'Inghilterra, which in 2021 has signed an 'agreement' (Intesa) with the Italian Republic. Archdeaconry of North West Europe, consisting of: Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. The archdeacon is Sam Van Leer (2021). The archdeacon is assisted by two area deans. Archdeaconry of Switzerland. The archdeacon is Peter Hooper (2022).
Bishops The diocese is led by the diocesan Bishop in Europe, Robert Innes, and the Suffragan Bishop in Europe, Andrew Norman. The Bishop of Richborough, presently Luke Irvine-Capel, provides alternative episcopal oversight for those chaplaincies which uphold a traditional catholic understanding of Holy Orders (all male), and based on theological convictions, cannot accept the priestly and episcopal ministry of women.
The diocese also licences many honorary assistant bishops to fulfil some episcopal duties across the European diocese. Several of these are the current bishops of other churches in Europe in communion with the Church of England: Mark Edington has been the bishop-in-charge of the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe since 2019. He lives in Paris, France.Diocese in Europe — Bishop (Accessed 27 April 2020) Matthias Ring has been the bishop of the Catholic Diocese of the Old Catholics in Germany since 2010; the diocese is based in Bonn, Germany. Jorge de Pina Cabral has been the diocesan bishop of the Lusitanian Church since 2012; the diocese is based in Gaia, Portugal. Harald Rein has been bishop of the Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland since 2009.
The rest are retired Anglican bishops resident in England. The following are licensed according to the official diocesan website: 2001–present: Richard Garrard, retired Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome and Archbishop's Representative to the Holy See and former Bishop of Penrith, lives in Upper Stoke, Norfolk and is also licensed in the Diocese of Norwich. 2002–present: Edward Holland, retired Bishop of Colchester, lives in Hammersmith, Greater London and is licensed in the Diocese of London. 2002–present: David Smith, retired Bishop of Bradford, lives in Dunnington, North Yorkshire and is also licensed in York diocese. 2003–present: John Flack, retired director of the Anglican Centre in Rome and Archbishop's Representative to the Holy See and former Bishop of Huntingdon, lives in Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire. 2003–present: A retired former Bishop of Durham and Bishop of Rochester, Michael Turnbull, lives in Sandwich, Kent. 2011–present: retired Bishop of Salisbury David Stancliffe lives in Stanhope, County Durham (he is also licensed in Durham diocese.) 2011–present: Stephen Venner, retired Bishop of Dover, current Bishop for the Falkland Islands and Bishop to the Forces, lives in St Albans, Hertfordshire and is also licensed in the Diocese of Rochester. 2013–present: retired Bishop of Blackburn Nicholas Reade lives in Bexhill, East Sussex. 2014–present: Michael Colclough, retired Canon Pastor of St Paul's Cathedral and former Bishop of Kensington, lives in Chelsea, Greater London, and is also licensed in the Diocese of London. 19 October 2016present: Martin Wharton, retired Bishop of Newcastle 18 October 2017present: Richard Chartres, retired Bishop of London 22 November 2018present: Michael Langrish, retired Bishop of Exeter 16 January 2020present: Trevor Willmott, retired Bishop of Dover
Additionally, there were several more honorary assistant bishops listed Crockford's Clerical Directory :Crockford's Clerical Directory – Benefice: Honorary Assistant Bishops, Diocese: Gibraltar in Europe (Accessed 25 April 2014) Fernando da Luz Soares, retired bishop of the Lusitanian church, is listed as having been licensed since 1995; he retired in 2013 but remains bishop emeritus of that church and apparently remains in Gaia, Portugal.
Churches and clergy The diocese currently has 131 clergy occupying stipendiary or full-time posts. However, not every member of the clergy receives a stipend in the same way as clergy in the United Kingdom. Many ministers are entirely supported by their own congregation.
Archdeaconry of France BeneficeChurchesLinkClergyRefNord-Pas-de-Calais Calais Anglican Church Boulogne-sur-Mer Anglican Church Hesdin Anglican Church Chaplain: Teena TwelvesBrittany Ploërmel Anglican Church Redon Anglican Church Huelgoat Anglican Church Rostrenen Anglican Church Acting Chaplain: Jeremy CrossCoutances (Christ Church in the Manche) Gratot Hommëel Anglican Church Virey Anglican Church Chaplain: Chris ProbertDunkerque Mission to Seafarers Dunkerque Mission to Seafarers Chaplain: Philip EdellLille (Christ Church) Christ Church, Lille Arras Anglican Church (?) Chaplain: vacantDinard (St Bartholomew) St Bartholomew, Dinard Chaplain: Patrick MaloneChantilly (St Peter) St Peter, Chantilly Chaplain: Ben EvansParis (St George) St George, Paris Chaplain: Mark Osborne Curate: Nicolas Razafindratsima Associate Chaplain: Jeffrey John Caen Anglican ChaplaincyParis (St Michael) St Michael, Paris Chaplain: James Colwill Asst Curate: Vivian SockettMaisons-Laffitte (Holy Trinity) Holy Trinity, Maisons-Laffitte Chaplain: Charlotte Sullivan Asst Curate: Claire SmithVersailles with Chevry St Mark, Versailles St Paul, Gif-sur-Yvette Chaplain: Stephen MarchFontainebleau St Luke, Fontainebleau Chaplain: Donald McFayden(Val de Loire) Val de Loire English Church Chaplain: VacantTouraine St Alcuin of York, Tours meeting St Alcuin of York, Savigny-en-Véron meeting Chaplain: John NealVendée All Saints (Puy-de-Serre, La Chapelle-Achard, & La Chapelle-Palluau) Puy-de-Serre Anglican Church La Chapelle-Achard Anglican Church La Chapelle-Palluau Anglican Church Chaplain: Hazel DoorPoitou-Charentes (Christ the Good Shepherd) with Ambernac, Barbezieux-Saint-Hilaire, Chef-Boutonne, Civray, Jarnac, La Rochefoucauld, Magné, Parthenay, Saint-Jean-d'Angély, Verteuil-sur-Charente and Villejésus) Ambernac Anglican Church Barbezieux-Saint-Hilaire Anglican Church Chef-Boutonne Anglican Church Civray Anglican Church Jarnac Anglican Church La Rochefoucauld Anglican Church Magné Anglican Church Parthenay Anglican Church Saint-Jean-d'Angély Anglican Church Verteui-sur-Charentel Anglican Church Villejésus Anglican Church Chaplain: Heather Aston Asst Chaplain: Florence RushtonStrasbourg St Alban, Strasbourg Chaplain: Mark BarwickAquitaine (Bordeaux, Chancelade, Cognac, Limeuil, Monteton, & Tocane-Saint-Apre) Bertric-Burée Anglican Church Bordeaux Anglican Church Limeuil Anglican Church Monteton Anglican Church Périgueux-Chancelade Anglican Church Négrondes Anglican Church Sainte-Nathalène Anglican Church Condom Anglican Church Doudrac Anglican Church Dondas Anglican Church St Médard Anglican Church Envals Home Church Eymet Church (partnered with Eglise Protestante) Chaplain: John Bavington(Biarritz) St Andrew, Biarritz Chaplain: VacantPau (St Andrew) St Andrew, Pau Chaplain: Christopher HarrisonGrenoble St Mark, Grenoble Chaplain: John GayLyon Trinity, Lyon Chaplain: Ben Harding Asst Chaplain: Craig TaylorMidi-Pyrénées & Aude (Cahors, Limoux, Puycelsi, Toulouse, Valence-d'Agen) Brens Anglican Church Cahors Anglican Church Carcassonne Anglican Church Caylus Anglican Church Toulouse Anglican Church