The Diocese of Newcastle is a Church of England diocese based in Newcastle upon Tyne, covering the historic county of Northumberland (and therefore including the part of Tyne and Wear north of the River Tyne), as well as the area of Alston Moor in Cumbria (historic Cumberland).
The diocese came into being on 23 May 1882, and was one of four created by the Bishoprics Act 1878 (41 & 42 Vict. c. 68) for industrial areas with rapidly expanding populations. The area of the diocese was taken from the part of the Diocese of Durham which was north of the River Tyne, and was defined in the legislation as comprising:
The cathedral is Newcastle Cathedral (until 1882 the Parish Church of St Nicholas) and the diocesan bishop is Helen-Ann Hartley, Bishop of Newcastle.
In 1966 the diocese appointed Northumberland Archives as its diocesan record office. The Woodhorn office of Northumberland Archives preserves and makes accessible the archival records of the diocese and its parishes.
Bishops The diocesan Bishop of Newcastle is the ordinary of the diocese and is assisted by the Bishop of Berwick. Alternative episcopal oversight (for parishes in the diocese who reject the ministry of priests who are women) is provided by the provincial episcopal visitor (PEV) the Bishop suffragan of Beverley, Stephen Race. He is licensed as an honorary assistant bishop of the diocese in order to facilitate his work there.
On 28 November 2015, Frank White, then the full-time assistant bishop, presented a proposal to the Diocesan Synod (within which diocese Berwick now lies) to revive the abeyant Suffragan See of Berwick.Newcastle Diocesan Synod, 28 November 2015 — Agenda (Accessed 19 January 2016)Newcastle Diocesan Synod, 28 November 2015 — Suffragan See of Berwick (Accessed 19 January 2016) The Dioceses Commission approved the petition to revive the SeeDiocese of Newcastle — Frank White to retire in September (Accessed 28 April 2016) and Mark Tanner was consecrated Bishop of Berwick on 18 October 2016; he later vacated the post upon his translation to Chester. Mark Wroe, formerly Archdeacon of Northumberland, was consecrated as Bishop of Berwick on 5 January 2021.
Besides Race, there are five retired honorary assistant bishops licensed in the diocese: 2003–present: A retired Bishop suffragan of Bedford, John Richardson, lives in Bewcastle, Cumbria and is also licensed in Carlisle diocese. 2005–20??: Stephen Pedley, retired Bishop suffragan of Lancaster, lived in Warden, Northumberland. 2014–present: Stephen Platten, Rector of St Michael Cornhill (Diocese of London) and retired Bishop of Wakefield (also in London and Southwark dioceses.) 2014–present: John Packer, Bishop of Ripon and Leeds and former Bishop suffragan of Warrington, retired in 2014 to Cullercoats. 2021–present: John Sentamu, former Archbishop of York
Archdeaconries and deaneries
Archdeacons On 8 November 2020, it was announced that the Archdeacon of Northumberland, Mark Wroe, was to become the Bishop of Berwick. Following his consecration 5 January 2021, Rachel Wood, vicar of St Mary's, Monkseaton, will also be the acting Archdeacon of Northumberland.
Catherine Sourbut Groves was collated as Archdeacon of Lindisfarne on 14 November 2020. Due to restrictions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the service was conducted online. ArchdeaconriesRural DeaneriesPaid clergyChurchesPopulationPeople/clergyPeople/churchChurches/clergyArchdeaconry of NorthumberlandDeanery of Bedlington1221134,40611,2016,4001.75Deanery of Newcastle Central*2122104,8974,9954,7681.05Deanery of Newcastle East101085,4858,5498,5491Deanery of Newcastle West1219126,83510,5706,6761.58Deanery of Tynemouth1220150,72212,5607,5361.67Archdeaconry of LindisfarneDeanery of Alnwick82836,4744,5591,3033.5Deanery of Bamburgh and Glendale3169,3863,1295875.33Deanery of Bellingham2197,1083,5543749.5Deanery of Corbridge72229,7624,2521,3533.14Deanery of Hexham52228,8165,7631,3104.4Deanery of Morpeth112767,0856,0992,4852.45Deanery of Norham41318,1554,5391,3973.25Total/average107239799,1317,4693,3442.23 *includes Cathedral
List of churches
Outside a deanery BeneficeChurchLinkFounded (building)Stip. clergyPopulation servedCathedraCathedral of St Nicholas, NewcastleMedievalG. MillerC. MacLarenP. DobsonR. Saner-Haigh540
Deanery of Bedlington BeneficeChurchLinkFounded (building)Stip. clergyPopulation servedBedlington, Cambois and SleekburnSt Cuthbert, BedlingtonI. Hennebry18,650St Andrew, Cambois1898St John the Evangelist, SleekburnBlyth (St Cuthbert)St Cuthbert, Blyth1751 (1892)A. Tooby12,029Blyth (St Mary)St Mary, Blyth1864 -15,063CowpenSt Benedict, Cowpenearly C20th (1961)ChoppingtonSt Paul the Apostle, ChoppingtonT. Moat9,583Holy Family, StakefordCramlingtonSt Nicholas, CramlingtonW. DochertyD. GrayE. Hudson28,779St Andrew, CramlingtonSt Peter, CramlingtonDelavalOur Lady, DelavalMedievalD. Bowler5,003St Michael & All Angels, New Hartley1900St Paul, Seaton Sluice1886 (1961)KillingworthSt John the Evangelist, Killingworth1869S. Moon15,323Newsham and HortonSt Mary the Virgin, HortonMedieval (1827)I. Flintoft10,845St Bede, Newsham1892 (1957)SeghillHoly Trinity, Seghill1849P. HughesD. Bell10,438St Mary, Holywell1885WeetsladeSt Paul, Dudley1886A. Maughan8,693Good Shepherd, Burradon1979
Deanery of Newcastle Central BeneficeChurchLinkFounded (building)Stip. clergyPopulation servedChrist the King in the Diocese of NewcastleSt Cuthbert, Brunswick1905317,272St Aidan, Brunton Park1944 (1956)St Matthew, Dinnington1835 (1886)St Columba, North Gosforth??? (1983)Church in the Park 2014FawdonSt Mary the Virgin, Fawdon195914,850Gosforth (All Saints)All Saints, Gosforth 1887114,733Gosforth (St Hugh)St Hugh, GosforthGosforth (St Nicholas)St Nicholas, GosforthAncient (Medieval)19,355Jesmond (Clayton Memorial Church)Jesmond Parish Church186124,749Jesmond (Holy Trinity)Holy Trinity, Jesmond1905 (1922)15,857KentonAscension, Kenton112,490Kingston ParkSt John, Kingston Park11975 (1991)16,959Newcastle Upon Tyne (Christ Church) (St Ann)Christ Church, Shieldfield186116,757St Ann, Battlefield1768Newcastle Upon Tyne (St Andrew)St Andrew, NewcastleMedieval13,657Newcastle Upon Tyne (St Thomas) Proprietary ChapelChurch of St Thomas the Martyr, NewcastleMedieval1N/ANewcastle Upon Tyne (St George) (St Hilda)St George, Jesmond1888213,818St Hilda, Jesmond1905Newcastle Upon Tyne (St John the Baptist)St John the Baptist, NewcastleMedieval01,952Newcastle Upon Tyne (St Luke)St Luke, Newcastle 188611,908 1Local ecumenical partnership (CoE/Baptist/Methodist/URC)
Deanery of Newcastle East BeneficeChurchLinkFounded (building)Stip. clergyPopulation servedByker (St Anthony)St Anthony of Egypt, Byker210,484Byker (St Martin) Newcastle Upon TyneSt Martin, Byker1933Byker (St Michael with St Lawrence)St Michael, Byker1862114,699WalkerChrist Church, Walker1848Byker (St Silas)St Silas, Byker188616,263Byker St Mark and Walkergate (St Oswald)St Oswald, Walkergate17,219Long Benton (St Bartholomew)St Bartholomew, Long BentonMedieval114,106Long Benton (St Mary Magdalene)St Mary Magdalene, Long Benton17,095Newcastle Upon Tyne (St Francis) High HeatonSt Francis, High Heaton29,384Newcastle Upon Tyne (St Gabriel) HeatonSt Gabriel, Heaton1899116,235
Deanery of Newcastle West BeneficeChurchLinkFounded (building)Stip. clergyPopulation servedBenwell and The Scotswood TeamSt James, Benwell1833320,088Venerable Bede, Benwell1937St John the Baptist, Benwell Village1820s (1950s)St Margaret, Scotswood1915Chapel HouseHoly Nativity, Chapel House05,018CowgateSt Peter, Cowgate217,507Newbiggin HallSt Wilfrid, Newbiggin Hall1967DentonHoly Spirit, Denton011,716ElswickElswick Parish Church1840s15,372FenhamSS James & Basil, Fenham193119,584NewburnSt Michael & All Angels, NewburnAncient (Medieval)19,743St Mary the Virgin, Throckley1887Newcastle Upon Tyne (Holy Cross)Holy Cross, Fenham193607,650Newcastle Upon Tyne (St Philip) and St Augustine and (St Matthew with St Mary)SS Philip & Augustine, Newcastle19,954St Matthew, Newcastle1877PontelandSt Mary the Virgin, PontelandAncient (Medieval)111,077Holy Saviour, Milbourne1871SugleyHoly Saviour, Sugley183717,612WhorltonSt John the Evangelist, Whorlton1866111,514
Deanery of Tynemouth BeneficeChurchLinkFounded (building)Stip. clergyPopulation servedBalkwellSt Peter, BalkwellL. Cleminson17,210Tynemouth (St John Percy)St John Percy, Tynemouth1862Billy MillSt Aidan, Billy Mill -14,241Marden with Preston GrangeSt Hilda, Marden with Preston Grange1966CullercoatsSt George, Cullercoats1884A. Hughes6,528Earsdon and BackworthSt Alban, EarsdonMedieval (1837)T. Mayfield5,630St John the Baptist, Backworth1886Monkseaton (St Mary)St Mary, MonkseatonR. WoodB. Jarvis8,467Monkseaton (St Peter)St Peter, Monkseaton1886 (1938) -14,811North ShieldsSt Augustin, North Shields1884G. Evans14,781Christ Church, North ShieldsC16th (1793)ShiremoorSt Mark, Shiremoor -9,618Tynemouth Cullercoats (St Paul)St Paul, Whitley Bay1864J. Vilaseca-Bruch9,407Tynemouth Priory (Holy Saviour)Holy Saviour, Tynemouth Priory1841S. Dixon5,914Wallsend (St John the Evangelist)St John the Evangelist, WallsendE. Duff11,159Wallsend (St Peter) (St Luke)St Peter, Wallsend1809E. Kormos9,256St Luke, Wallsend1887The Willington TeamSt Mary the Virgin, WillingtonS. McCormackJ. Mooney23,700Good Shepherd, Battle Hill (LEP)St Paul, Willington Quay1859 (1876)
Deanery of Alnwick BeneficeChurchLinkFounded (building)Stip. clergyPopulation servedAlnwickSS Michael & Paul, AlnwickMedievalP. ScottG. Rundell8,349Denwick Chapel1876AmbleSt Cuthbert, Amble1870J. McDermott6,321ChevingtonSt John the Divine, Chevington -4,200Upper CoquetdaleSt Michael & All Angels, Alnham MedievalJ. Sinclair3,961St Michael & All Angels, AlwintonMedievalChrist Church, Hepple1897St Mary the Virgin, HolystoneMedieval (1848)All Saints, RothburyMedievalSt Andrew, Thropton1902Embleton with Rennington and RockHoly Trinity, EmbletonMedievalA. Hardy1,487Craster Mission ChurchNewton Mission ChurchAll Saints, RenningtonSS Philip & James, RockFeltonSt Michael & All Angels, FeltonMedievalT. Harvey3,298Longframlington with BrinkburnSt Mary the Virgin, LongframlingtonMedievalSS Peter & Paul, BrinkburnLesbury with AlnmouthSt Mary, LesburyMedievalI. Mackarill3,378St John the Baptist, AlnmouthMedieval (1876)Longhoughton (Including Boulmer) with HowickSS Peter & Paul, LonghoughtonMedievalSt Michael & All Angels, HowickMedieval (1764)Warkworth, Acklington and ShilbottleSt Lawrence, WarkworthAncient (Medieval)H. O'Sullivan4,245St John the Divine, AcklingtonSt James, ShilbottleMedieval (1885)Whittingham and Edlingham with Bolton ChapelSt Bartholomew, WhittinghamMedieval -1,235St John the Baptist, EdlinghamMedievalBolton Chapel, EdlinghamMedieval
Deanery of Bamburgh and Glendale BeneficeChurchLinkFounded (building)Stip. clergyPopulation servedBamburgh, Belford and LuckerSt Aidan, BamburghAncient (Medieval)L. Taylor-Kenyon2,251St Mary, BelfordMedieval (1615)St Hilda, Luckerlate C18th (1874)Beadnell, Ellingham and North SunderlandSt Ebba, BeadnellC18th (1860)A. Macpherson2,808St Maurice, Ellinghampre-C17th (1862)St Paul, North Sunderland1834Chatton with Chillingham, Eglingham and South Charlton and IngramHoly Cross, ChattonMedieval (1770) -1,264St Peter, ChillinghamMedievalHoly Trinity, Old BewickMedievalSt Maurice, EglinghamMedievalSt Michael, IngramMedievalSt James, South Charlton1862Doddington, Ilderton, Kirknewton and WoolerSS Mary & Michael, DoddingtonMedievalS. Cooke3,063St Michael & All Angels, IldertonMedievalSt Gregory the Great, KirknewtonMedievalSt Mary, WoolerMedieval (1764)
Deanery of Bellingham