Anglican Diocese of Rockhampton


The Anglican Diocese of Rockhampton, also known as Anglican Church Central Queensland, is a diocese in the Province of Queensland and one of the 23 dioceses of the Anglican Church of Australia. The diocese covers an area of approximately 57 million hectares, roughly twice the size of New Zealand and four times the size of England and Wales. The diocese contains nearly the whole central regions of Queensland. The population of the diocese is 216,000 of whom approximately 48,000 indicate that they are Anglicans. The diocese has 20 parishes and ministry districts, with the largest parish bigger than the State of Victoria. The cathedral church of the diocese is St Paul's Cathedral in Rockhampton.
The office of Bishop of Rockhampton is currently vacant since the last holder, the Right Reverend David Robinson, retired in February 2020. On 18 July 2020 it was announced that the Very Reverend Peter Grice, the Dean of Geraldton since 2015 and vicar-general of the Anglican Diocese of North West Australia, was elected as the 13th Bishop of Rockhampton and will take up this role in 2021.

History

The Diocese of Rockhampton traces its history unbroken through the beginnings of the Anglican church in Australia back to the establishment of Christianity in England in the first and second centuries. The Rockhampton diocese was formed in 1892 from the Diocese of Brisbane and its first bishop was Bishop Nathaniel Dawes. The diocese celebrated its centenary in 1992.

Region

The diocese reaches across central Queensland, between the Diocese of Brisbane to the south and the Diocese of North Queensland to the north. It stretches from the east coast of Australia to the Northern Territory border, with its northern border being a straight line just north of the town of Moranbah and its southern region including the localities of Boyne Island, Biloela, Moura, Tambo and Blackall. Named after its main city of Rockhampton the diocese also includes the cities and towns of Gladstone, Yeppoon, Gracemere, Mt Morgan, Middlemount, Dysart, Blackwater, Springsure, Emerald, Clermont, Barcaldine, Longreach, Winton, Bedourie and Boulia.

Bishops of Rockhampton

Chaplaincies: hospital, correctional centre, police, Mission to Seafarers
Aboriginal and Islander Anglican Ministry: Woorabinda, Murri Wodja
Anglican Regional Ministry