The Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich is a Church of England diocese based in Ipswich, covering Suffolk (excluding Lowestoft). The cathedral is St Edmundsbury Cathedral, and the bishop is the Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich. It is part of the Province of Canterbury.
The diocese was formed on 23 January 1914 from parts of the Diocese of Norwich and the Diocese of Ely.
Though the diocesan offices, the bishops' offices and residences are all in Ipswich – only the cathedral (and its offices) are in Bury St Edmunds – the diocese is nonetheless often referred to as St Edmundsbury diocese. Both the dioceseSutton – Who's Who in the Church (Accessed 24 April 2014) and the diocesan bishopJeremy Fletcher: General Synod – Monday (Accessed 24 April 2014) are commonly called "(St) Eds and Ips."
Bishops Alongside the diocesan Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich (Joanne Grenfell), the Diocese has one suffragan bishop: the Bishop suffragan of Dunwich (vacant since 2024). There are also some retired bishops living in the diocese who are licensed as honorary assistant bishops: 2008–present: Gavin Reid, former Bishop of Maidstone, lives in Beccles. 2008–present: Jeremy Walsh, retired Bishop suffragan of Tewkesbury, lives in Martlesham. 2012–present: Retired Dean of St Paul's and former Bishop of Sodor and Man Graeme Knowles lives in Bury St Edmunds (and is also licensed in neighbouring Ely diocese.) 2012–present: Former vicar of HTB Sandy Millar lives in Aldeburgh and is also an honorary assistant bishop in London. 2015–present: Tim Stevens. retired Bishop of Leicester and former Bishop of Dunwich.
Alternative episcopal oversight (for parishes in the diocese which reject the ministry of priests who are women) is provided by the provincial episcopal visitor, Norman Banks, Bishop suffragan of Richborough, who is licensed as an honorary assistant bishop of the diocese in order to facilitate his work there.
Archdeaconries and deaneries
The Archdeacon of Ipswich now only has oversight of the Deanery of Ipswich and Inspiring Ipswich mission project. DioceseArchdeaconriesRural DeaneriesPaid clergy ChurchesPopulationPeople/clergyPeople/churchChurches/clergy Diocese of St Edmundsbury & Ipswich Archdeaconry of Ipswich Deanery of Bosmere 6 24 21,948 3,658 915 4Deanery of Colneys721 38,615 4,827 1,839 2.63 Deanery of Hadleigh 4 23 18,765 4,691 816 5.75 Deanery of Ipswich 22 25 161,868 7,358 6,475 1.14Deanery of Samford31920,0846,6951,0576.33Deanery of Stowmarket 5 18 31,761 6,3521,7653.6 Deanery of Woodbridge 8 35 25,128 3,141 718 4.38Archdeaconry of SudburyDeanery of Clare 4 29 41,514 10,3791,4327.25 Deanery of Ixworth 5 31 19,666 3,933 634 6.2Deanery of Lavenham10 30 19,0741,907 6363Deanery of Mildenhall82661,3357,6672,3593.25Deanery of Sudbury82239,2684,9091,7852.75Deanery of Thingoe10*25*54,898*5,4902,1962.5Archdeaconry of SuffolkDeanery of Hartismere42112,2943,0745855.25Deanery of Hoxne5218,8281,7664204.2Deanery of Loes73217,4922,4995474.57Deanery of Saxmundham52319,6113,9228534.6Deanery of Waveney & Blyth125439,6143,3017344.5Total/average134479651,7634,8641,3613.57 *including Cathedral
Archdeacon for Rural Mission On 11 January 2019, it was announced that Sally Gaze, the Diocese's "Dean of Rural Mission Consultancy" since 2017, would become "Archdeacon for Rural Mission". She was collated archdeacon and installed a Diocesan Canon Residentiary of St Edmundsbury Cathedral on 10 February 2019; the post is new and has no territorial archdeaconry attached.
List of churches Not in a deanery BeneficeChurchesLinkClergyPopulation servedRefCathedral Cathedral of St James & Edmund, Bury St Edmunds Dean: Joe Hawes Canon: Philip Banks Canon: Matthew Vernon409
Deanery of Bosmere BeneficeChurchesLinkClergyPopulation servedRefBlakenham, Great (St Mary) and Little (St Mary) with Baylham and Nettlestead St Mary, Little Blakenham St Peter, Baylham St Mary, Nettlestead Curate: Carl Melville Curate (Blakenham etc): Julian Fennell5,488 St Mary, Great BlakenhamClaydon (No Church) and Barham St Mary and St Peter, BarhamCoddenham (St Mary) with Gosbeck and Hemingstone with Henley St Peter, Henley Priest-in-Charge: Philip Payne Curate (Coddenham): Carl Melville (see above) NSM (Coddenham, Crowfield): Helen Norris NSM (Coddenham): Catherine Austin4,958 St Mary, Coddenham St Mary, Gosbeck St Gregory, HemingstoneCreeting St Mary (St Mary), Creeting St Peter and Earl Stonham with Stonham Parva St Mary, Creeting St Mary St Peter, Creeting St Peter St Mary, Earl StonhamCrowfield (All Saints) with Stonham Aspal and Mickfield All Saints, Crowfield SS Mary & Lambert, Stonham AspalBramford (St Mary the Virgin) St Mary the Virgin, Bramford Priest-in-Charge: Jennifer Seggar Curate: Julian Fennell (see above)2,370Needham Market (St John the Baptist) with Badley St John the Baptist, Needham Market Priest-in-Charge: Diane Williams4,542Ringshall (St Catherine) with Battisford, Barking with Darmsden and Great Bricett St Catherine, Ringshall St Mary, Barking St Mary, Battisford SS Mary & Lawrence, Great Bricett Priest-in-Charge: David Harrison4,590Somersham (St Mary) with Flowton and Offton with Willisham St Mary, Somersham St Mary, Flowton St Mary, Offton St Mary, Willisham
Deanery of Colneys BeneficeChurchesLinkClergyPopulation servedRefFelixstowe (Christ Church) Christ Church Felixstowe (1989) Vicar: Vacant5,797Felixstowe (St John the Baptist with St Edmund) St John the Baptist, Felixstowe St Edmund, Felixstowe Vicar: Andrew Dotchin NSM: Penny Brinkley Associate Priest Elizabeth Corker Associate Priest Philip Young Associate Priest Derick Brown Associate Priest Catherine Bond Associate Priest Jane Pearse4,347Felixstowe (St Peter and St Paul) (St Andrew) (St Nicholas) SS Peter & Paul, Felixstowe St Andrew, Felixstowe St Nicholas, Felixstowe Vicar: Chris Hood7,369Martlesham (St Mary the Virgin) with Brightwell St Mary the Virgin, Martlesham St Michael & All Angels, Martlesham Heath St John the Baptist, Brightwell Priest-in-Charge: Toby Tate Curate: Christine Pinder NSM: Margaret Rittman5,598Nacton (St Martin) and Levington with Bucklesham and Foxhall with Kirton and Falkenham St Martin, Nacton St Mary, Bucklesham St Ethelbert, Falkenham SS Mary & Martin, Kirton St Peter, Levington Priest-in-Charge: Ian Wilson Curate: Sarah Jenkins3,716Waldringfield (All Saints) with Hemley and Newbourne All Saints, Waldringfield All Saints, Hemley St Mary the Virgin, NewbourneWalton (St Mary) (St Philip) and Trimley St Mary the Virgin, Walton St Philip, Felixstowe Rector: Caroline Allen Curate: Charlotte Cook NSM: Wendy Smith11,788 St Martin, Trimley St Martin St Mary the Virgin, Trimley St Mary
Deanery of Hadleigh BeneficeChurchesLinkClergyPopulation servedRefBildeston (St Mary Magdalene) with Wattisham and Lindsey, Whatfield with Semer, Nedging and Naughton St Mary Magdalene, Bildeston St Peter, Lindsey St Mary, Naughton St Mary, Nedging All Saints, Semer St Margaret, Whatfield Hon. Curate: Vacant2,214Elmsett (St Peter) with Aldham, Hintlesham, Chattisham and Kersey St Peter, Elmsett St Mary, Aldham All Saints & St Margaret, Chattisham St Nicholas, Hintlesham St Mary, Kersey Priest-in-Charge: Simon Battersby2,094Hadleigh (St Mary), Layham and Shelley St Mary, Hadleigh St Andrew, Layham All Saints, Shelley Vicar: Jo Delfgou Curate: Susan Foster NSM: Simon White8,938Higham (St Mary), Holton St Mary, Raydon and Stratford St Mary St Mary, Higham St Mary, Holton St Mary St Mary, Raydon St Mary, Stratford St Mary Rector: Rosalind Paul1,562Nayland (St James) with Wiston St James, Nayland St Mary the Virgin, Wissington Rector: Stéphane Javelle3,957Stoke By Nayland (St Mary) with Leavenheath and Polstead St Mary, Stoke-by-Nayland St Mary, Polstead St Matthew, Leavenheath
Deanery of Ipswich BeneficeChurchesLinkClergyPopulation servedRefRiver Church Ipswich (BMO) River Church IpswichChurch Leader: Amy Key Church Leader: Matt KeyN/AIpswich (All Hallows) All Hallows, Ipswich Priest-in-Charge: Emma Haggar12,311MIE (Mission Ipswich East) St Andrew, Ipswich St John the Baptist, Ipswich Bixley Hall Priest-in-Charge: Mark Prentice NSM: Jagit Bachu19,163Ipswich (St Augustine of Hippo) St Augustine of Hippo, Ipswich Vicar: Trevor Golding NSM: Ian Daniels Curate Amy Key11,213Ipswich (St Bartholomew) St Bartholomew, Ipswich Vicar: Paul Carter4,375Ipswich (St Helen) (Holy Trinity) (St Clement with St Luke) Holy Trinity, Ipswich St Helen's, Ipswich St Luke, Ipswich Priest-in-Charge: Tom Rout12,107Ipswich (St Margaret) St Margaret, Ipswich Vicar: 7,556St Mary's At Stoke St Mary at Stoke, Ipswich Priest in Charge: Sophie Cowan Associate Priest: Kay PalmerIpswich (St Peter)St Peter, Ipswich. Priest-in-Charge: Emily Swinerd
Associate priest:
Mervyn DyeIpswich (St Francis, with St Clare)St Francis, Ipswich. Priest-in-Charge: Heather Livingstone Associate Minister: David CuttsIpswich (St Mary At the Elms) St Mary at the Elms, Ipswich Priest-in-Charge: John Thackray268Ipswich (St Mary-Le-Tower) (St Nicholas) Ipswich Minster Vicar: Tom Mumford Associate Priest: Pippa Scott Assistant Curate: Gregor Purdie1,256Ipswich (St Thomas) St Thomas, Ipswich Priest-in-Charge: Rachel Revely10,701Kesgrave (All Saints) All Saints, Kesgrave Vicar: Robin Spittle Curate: Gary Jones NSM: Paul Darbyshire14,134Rushmere (St Andrew) St Andrew, Rushmere Vicar: Caroline Wilson7,301Triangle (All Saints) (St Matthew) (Community Centre) Ipswich Triangle Church, Ipswich St Matthew, Ipswich All Saints, Ipswich Rector: Nicholas Atkins Curate: Daniel Morrison Curate: Andrew Buttress Curate: Lawrence Carey NSM: Ruth Best15,684Westerfield (St Mary Magdalene) and Tuddenham with Witnesham St Mary Magdalene, Westerfield St Martin, Tuddenham St Mary, Witnesham Priest-in-Charge: Charlotte Cook NSM: Simon Ramacci1,650Whitton (St Mary and St Botolph) and Thurleston with Akenham SS Mary & Botolph, Whitton Ascension, Castle Hill Priest-in-Charge: Mary Sofanovic Curate: Eric Falla12,753
Deanery of Samford BeneficeChurchesLinkClergyPopulationservedRefConstable Country Benefice St Mary, Bentley St Mary the Virgin, East Bergholt St Michael the Archangel, Brantham St Mary the Virgin, TattingstoneConstable Country Churches Rector Designate: Christopher Willis5,315The Benefice Capel St Mary with Little Wenham and Great Wenham St Mary, Capel St Mary St John, Great Wenham All Saints, Little Wenham (redundant)Benefice of Capel St Mary with Little Wenham and Great Wenham Rector: Sally Letman3,034Two Rivers Benefice All Saints, Holbrook St Peter, Freston St Peter, Stutton St Mary, Wherstead St Michael & All Angels, WoolverstoneTwo Rivers Benefice Rector: Jenny Seggar3,728The Shoreline Benefice St Andrew, Chelmondiston St Mary the Virgin, Erwarton St Mary, Harkstead St Mary, ShotleyThe Shoreline Benefice Rector: Liesbeth Oosterhof3,809North Samford Benefice St Mary the Virgin, Belstead St Mary the Virgin, Burstall St Peter with St Mary, Copdock with Washbrook All Saints, SproughtonNorth Samford Benefice Rector: Tony Wilcox4,198
Deanery of Stowmarket BeneficeChurchesLinkClergyPopulation servedRefBacton (St Mary the Virgin) with Wyverstone, Cotton and Old Newton, and Wickham Skeith St Mary the Virgin, Bacton St Andrew, Cotton St Nicholas' Chapel, Gipping St Mary, Old Newton St Andrew, Wickham Skeith St George, Wyverstone Priest-in-Charge: Val White NSM: David White3,675Combs (St Mary) and Little Finborough St Mary, Combs Priest-in-Charge: Christopher Childs Hon. Curate: Pauline Higham8,206 St Mary, Little FinboroughFinborough, Great (St Andrew) with Onehouse, Harleston, Buxhall and Shelland St Andrew, Great Finborough St Mary, Buxhall St Augustine of Canterbury, Harleston St John the Baptist, Onehouse King Charles the Martyr, ShellandHaughley (St Mary the Virgin) with Wetherden and Stowupland Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Haughley Holy Trinity, Stowupland