Anglican Diocese of Portsmouth


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:
The Bishop of Portsmouth leads the diocese
Alternative episcopal oversight is provided by the provincial episcopal visitor, Norman Banks, Bishop suffragan of Richborough. There are also four former bishops living in the diocese who are licensed as honorary assistant bishops:
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, Bishop Timothy Bavin did not report Father Terry Knight to the police when parents raised their concerns to him in 1985. Father Terry Knight was allowed to carry on in his position until he was later convicted for sexually abusing boys in 1996 and again in 2016. Bishop Bavin had also allowed a convicted paedophile priest called Father Michael Gover to carry on working for the church on his release in 1990. Father Michael Gover was convicted in 1985 at around the same time as parents raising their concerns about Father Terry Knight. Bishop Bavin stood down in 1995 whilst Father Terry Knight's police investigation and court case was taking place.

Archdeaconries and deaneries

*including Cathedral

List of churches

Not in a deanery

Deanery of Havant

Deanery of Portsmouth

Deanery of the Isle of Wight

BeneficeChurchesLinkClergyPopulation servedRef
Chale
  • St Andrew, Chale
  • Rector: Nigel Porter
  • 3,331
    St Lawrence
  • St Lawrence, St Lawrence
  • Rector: Nigel Porter
  • 3,331
    Whitwell
  • SS Mary & Radegund, Whitwell
  • Rector: Nigel Porter
  • 3,331
    Niton
  • St John the Baptist, Niton
  • Rector: Nigel Porter
  • 3,331
    Cowes
  • Holy Trinity, Cowes
  • Vicar: Andrew Poppe
  • 5,835
    Cowes
  • St Mary the Virgin, Cowes
  • Vicar: Andrew Poppe
  • 5,835
    Gatten
  • St Paul, Gatten
  • Priest-in-Charge: Mark Williams
  • NSM : Tony Richards
  • 9,487
    Sandown
  • Christ Church, Sandown
  • Priest-in-Charge: Mark Williams
  • NSM : Tony Richards
  • 9,487
    Godshill
  • All Saints, Godshill
  • St Alban the Martyr, Ventnor
  • Vicar: John Ryder
  • NSM: Corinne Smith
  • 3,631
    Gurnard with Cowes St Faith
  • All Saints, Gurnard
  • Vicar/Rector: Amanda Collinson
  • Curate: Stephen Sutcliffe
  • NSM: Diana Netherway
  • 9,405
    Northwood
  • St John the Baptist, Northwood
  • Vicar/Rector: Amanda Collinson
  • Curate: Stephen Sutcliffe
  • NSM: Diana Netherway
  • 9,405
    Lake
  • Good Shepherd, Lake
  • Priest-in-Charge: David Lawrence-Marsh
  • NSM: Corinne Smith
  • 5,271
    Shanklin
  • St Saviour-on-the-Cliff, Shanklin
  • Priest-in-Charge: David Lawrence-Marsh
  • NSM: Corinne Smith
  • 5,271
    Newport
  • St John the Baptist, Newport
  • Priest-in-Charge: Alison Kerr
  • NSM: Janet Hallam
  • NSM: David Brown
  • 5,790
    Newport
  • SS Thomas Minster, Newport
  • Vicar: Kevin Arkell
  • NSM: Janet Hallam
  • 5,666
    Ryde
  • All Saints, Ryde
  • Priest-in-Charge: Vacant
  • 10,226
    Swanmore
  • St Michael & All Angels, Swanmore
  • Priest-in-Charge: Vacant
  • 10,226
    Ryde Proprietary Chapel
  • St James, Ryde
  • Curate-in-Charge: James Leggett
  • N/A
    Ryde Oakfield and Holy Trinity
  • St John, Oakfield
  • Holy Trinity, Ryde
  • Priest-in-Charge: Sue Theobald
  • 10,501
    Sandown, Lower
  • St John the Evangelist, Sandown
  • Priest-in-Charge: Vacant
  • Curate: Jonathan Hall
  • NSM : Tony Richards
  • 6,189
    Shanklin
  • St Blasius, Shanklin
  • Priest-in-Charge: Vacant
  • Curate: Jonathan Hall
  • NSM : Tony Richards
  • 6,189
    Seaview, St Helens, Brading and Yaverland
  • St Peter, Seaview
  • St Helen, St Helens
  • St Catherine's Chapel, St Helens
  • St Mary, Brading
  • St John the Baptist, Yaverland
  • Rector: Alison Morley
  • 6,148
    Whippingham with East Cowes
  • St Mildred, Whippingham
  • St James, East Cowes
  • Rector: Susan Paterson
  • 8,439
    Wroxall
  • St John the Evangelist, Wroxall
  • Hon. Priest-in-Charge: Vacant
  • 1,724

    Deanery of Bishop's Waltham

    Deanery of Fareham

    Deanery of Gosport

    Deanery of Petersfield