The Diocese of Hereford is a Church of England diocese based in Hereford, covering Herefordshire, southern Shropshire and a few parishes within Worcestershire in England, and a few parishes within Powys and Monmouthshire in Wales. The cathedral is Hereford Cathedral and the bishop is the Bishop of Hereford. The diocese is one of the oldest in England (created in 676 and based on the minor sub-kingdom of the Magonsæte) and is part of the Province of Canterbury.
Bishops The diocesan Bishop of Hereford (Richard Jackson) was, until 2020, assisted by the Bishop suffragan of Ludlow (which see was created in 1981) — it has been announced that the suffragan See is not to be filled. The provincial episcopal visitor (for parishes in this diocese – among twelve others in the western part of the Province of Canterbury – who reject the ministry of priests who are women, since 1994) is the Bishop suffragan of Oswestry, who is licensed as an honorary assistant bishop of the diocese in order to facilitate his work there.
Three retired bishops are licensed as assistant bishops in the diocese:
Michael Westall (Bishop of South West Tanganyika) lives in Kingstone, Herefordshire.
David Thomson (Bishop of Huntingdon), lives in Hereford.
Michael Bourke (Bishop of Wolverhampton) also lives in the diocese at Little Stretton, Shropshire.‘BOURKE, Rt Rev. Michael Gay’, Who's Who 2012, A & C Black, 2012; online edition, Oxford University Press, December 2011 , accessed 2 July 2012
Statistics As reported in the Church of England's Statistics for Mission 2018, published in October 2019, the diocese had a population of 331,000, fewer than any other except Sodor and Man. With 402 churches, the population per church was 820, the lowest of any diocese and less than 60% of the 1420 in the next lowest, St Edmundsbury and Ipswich. Average weekly church attendance was 8,700, a new low, down from 9,300 in 2017. The total worshipping community was estimated at 13,300, up from 11,700 in 2014, and 44% of these were aged over 70 years.
Archdeaconries and deaneries The following deanery mergers have taken place:
Kington and Weobley before 1972 Ross and Archenfield before 1979
DioceseArchdeaconryDeaneryPaid clergyChurchesPopulationPeople/clergyPeople/churchChurches/clergyDiocese of HerefordArchdeaconry of HerefordDeanery of Abbeydore53512,0462,4093447Deanery of Bromyard52310,4652,0934554.6Deanery of Hereford18*44*79,7724,4321,8132.44Deanery of Kington and Weobley53014,1422,8284716Deanery of Ledbury52217,8843,5778134.4Deanery of Leominster73522,8083,2586525Deanery of Ross and Archenfield93928,3553,1517274.33Archdeaconry of LudlowDeanery of Bridgnorth103428,8512,8858493.4Deanery of Clun Forest52710,3832,0773855.4Deanery of Condover63620,0012,8575565.14Deanery of Ludlow64228,2384,7066727Deanery of Pontesbury52415,0913,0186294.8Deanery of Telford Severn Gorge5925,9525,1902,8841.8Total/average92400313,9883,4137854.35 *including Cathedral
Churches
Extra-parochial areas
Brockhampton Dingle (population 0) Dinmore (population 20) Dinmore Preceptory (population 18) Hampton Wafer (population 0) Hill End and Old Church Moor (population 6) Horderley Hall (population 0) Liberty of St John the Baptist (population 19): Hereford Cathedral of SS Mary the Virgin & Ethelbert the King Livers Ocle (population 42) Ludlow Castle (population 1) New Court (population 0) New Hampton (population 46) Treville (population 51) Woodhouse (population 0)
Archdeaconry of Hereford
Deanery of Abbeydore
Benefice of Black Mountains Parish of Clodock and Longtown (population 627) St Clydog's Church, Clodock (medieval parish church) St Peter's Church, Longtown (medieval chapel to Clodock, closed and converted to house C20th) Parish of Craswall (population 153): St Mary's Church (medieval chapel to Clydog) Parish of Llanveynoe (population 103): SS Beuno & Peter's Church (medieval chapel to Clydog) Parish of Michaelchurch Escley (population 169): St Michael's Church (medieval) Parish of Newton (population 126): St John the Baptist's Church (1842) Parish of St Margaret's (population 159): St Margaret's Church (medieval) Benefice of Borderlink Parish of Blakemere (population 77): St Leonard's Church (medieval) Parish of Bredwardine with Brobury (population 229) St Andrew's Church, Bredwardine (medieval) St Mary Magdalene's Church, Brobury (medieval, abandoned 1850s) Parish of Clifford (population 366): St Mary the Virgin's Church (medieval) Parish of Cusop (population 389): St Mary's Church (medieval) Parish of Dorstone (population 400): St Faith's Church (medieval, rebuilt 1826, 1890) Parish of Hardwicke (population 177): Holy Trinity Church (1851) Parish of Moccas (population 107): St Michael & All Angels' Church (medieval) Parish of Preston-on-Wye (population 194): St Lawrence's Church (medieval) Benefice of Cagebrook Parish of Allensmore (population 556): St Andrew's Church (medieval) Parish of Clehonger (population 1,571): All Saints' Church (medieval) Parish of Eaton Bishop (population 435): St Michael & All Angels' Church (medieval) Parish of Kingstone (population 1,499): St Michael & All Angels' Church (medieval) Parish of Thruxton (population 47): St Bartholomew's Church (medieval) Benefice of Ewyas Harold Parish of Abbeydore (population 283) St Mary's Church (medieval abbey, reconsecrated as parish church 1634) Cockyard Mission Hall (1920s, converted smithy) Parish of Bacton (population 60): St Faith's Church (medieval) Parish of Ewyas Harold and Dulas (population 904) St Michael & All Angels' Church, Ewyas Harold (medieval) St Michael's Church, Dulas (medieval, rebuilt 1866, redundant 2008) Parish of Kentchurch with Llangua (population 339) St Mary's Church, Kentchurch (medieval) St James's Church, Llangua (medieval, originally St Kew's, redundant 1950s) Parish of Kilpeck (population 258): SS Mary & David's Church (medieval, originally St David's Church) Parish of Rowlestone and Llancillo (population 110) St Peter's Church, Rowlestone (medieval) St Peter's or St Tysilio's Church, Llancillo (medieval, redundant 2006) Parish of St Devereux (population 93): St Dubricius' Church (medieval) Parish of Walterstone (population 97): St Mary's Church (medieval) Parish of Wormbridge (population 131): St Peter's Church (medieval) Benefice of Wyedore Parish of Madley with Tyberton (population 1,327) Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Madley (medieval) St Mary's Church, Tyberton (medieval, rebuilt 1721) Parish of Peterchurch (population 1,037): St Peter's Church (medieval) Parish of Vowchurch and Turnastone (population 206) St Bartholomew's Church, Vowchurch (medieval) St Mary Magdalene's Church, Turnastone (medieval)
Deanery of Bromyard
Benefice of Bredenbury Parish of Bredenbury with Grendon Bishop and Wacton St Andrew's New Church, Bredenbury (1877) St Andrew's Old Church, Bredenbury (medieval, abandoned 1877) St John the Baptist's Church, Grendon Bishop (medieval) St Andrew's Church, Wacton (medieval, abandoned 1881) Parish of Collington: St Mary's Church (medieval, rebuilt 1856) Parish of Edwyn Ralph: St Michael & All Angels' Church (medieval) Parish of Little Cowarne Parish of Pencombe with Marston Stannett Parish of Thornbury Parish of Ullingswick
BeneficeChurchesLinkClergyPopulation servedRef(St Andrew) St Michael, Edwyn Ralph St Guthlac, Little Cowarne St John, Pencombe St Anna, Thornbury St Luke, Ullingswick Rector: Elizabeth Sidwell1,526Bromyard (St Peter) and Stoke Lacy St Peter, Bromyard Brockhampton Chapel St Peter & St Paul, Stoke Lacy Vicar: Phillip Miller Curate: David Hall Licensed Lay Minister Michael Wild5,268Edvin Loach (St Mary) with Tedstone Delamere, Tedstone Wafer, Upper Sapey, Wolferlow and Whitbourne St Mary, Edvin Loach St James, Tedstone Delamere St Michael, Upper Sapey St John the Baptist, Whitbourne Priest-in-Charge: Vacant NSM: Dawn Hyett1,412Frome Valley Group of Parishes, The, Comprising Acton Beauchamp, Bishops Frome, Castle Frome and Fromes Hill, Evesbatch, Much Cowarne, Ocle Pychard, and Stanford Bishop St Giles, Acton Beauchamp St Mary the Virgin, Bishop's Frome St Michael, Castle Frome St Matthew, Fromes Hill St Andrew, Evesbatch St Mary the Virgin, Much Cowarne St James the Great, Ocle Pychard St James, Stanford Bishop Vicar: Steven Baggs NSM: Richard Allaway2,259
Deanery of Hereford BeneficeChurchesLinkClergyPopulation servedRefBartestree Cross Group St Peter, Dormington St Peter, Lugwardine St John the Baptist, Weston Beggard St Bartholomew, Westhide St Peter, Withington Rector: Tiffany Jackson4,051Pipe-Cum-Lyde (St Peter) and Moreton-On-Lugg St Peter, Pipe-Cum-Lyde St Andrew, Moreton-on-LuggStretton Sugwas (St Mary Magdalene) St Mary Magdalene, Stretton SugwasCredenhill (St Mary) Brinsop and Wormsley, Mansel Lacy and Yazor, Kenchester, Bridge Sollers and Bishopstone St Mary, Credenhill St Lawrence, Bishopstone St Andrew, Bridge Sollars St George, Brinsop St Michael, Kenchester St Michael, Mansel Lacy Priest-in-Charge: Rana James NSM: Angie Deane2,978Fownhope Group St Mary, Fownhope All Saints, Brockhampton Holy Rood, Mordiford St George, Woolhope St Nicholas, Checkley Rector: Owen Pembrey2,296Hereford (St Peter with St Owen) (St James) St Peter with St Owen, Hereford St James, Hereford St Giles' Chapel, Hereford Vicar: Andy Morgan Associate Vicar: Curate: Elliot Swattridge Curate: Luke Aylen OLM: Sharon Elson5,796Hereford South Wye (St Francis) (St Martin) St Martin, Hereford St Peter, Upper BullinghopeTeam Rector: Anne Dowdeswell Curate: Lauren Bell22,894Wye, South Rural Parishes, Including Ballingham, Dinedor, Holme Lacy, and Little Dewchurch St David, Little Dewchurch Vicar: Vacant1,449 St Andrew, DinedorHereford, West Team Ministry (All Saints) (Holy Trinity) (St Michael) (St Nicholas) All Saints, Hereford Holy Trinity, Hereford St Nicholas, Hereford St Michael, Breinton Team Rector: Ruth Hulse Team Vicar: Vacant Curate: Joanna Burden Curate: Louis Benyon13,710Tupsley (St Paul) with Hampton Bishop St Paul, Tupsley St Andrew, Hampton Bishop Vicar: Curate:11,308Holmer (St Bartholomew) (St Mary) with Huntington St Mary Magdalene, Huntington St Bartholomew, Holmer St Mary, Holmer Vicar: Steven Lee Assistant Vicar: Rob Oram Curate: Erin Butler8,321
Deanery of Kington and Weobley BeneficeChurchesLinkClergyPopulation servedRefEardisley (St Mary Magdalene) with Bollingham, Willersley, Brilley, Michaelchurch, Whitney, Winforton, Almeley and Kinnersley St Mary, Almeley Rector: Marcus Small2,221 St Mary Magdalene, Eardisley St Mary, Brilley St Silas, Bollingham St James, Kinnersley SS Peter & Paul, Whitney St Michael & All Angels, WinfortonKington (St Mary) with Huntington, Old Radnor, Kinnerton and Titley St Mary, Kington St Thomas a Becket, Huntington St Mary the Virgin, Kinnerton St Stephen, Old Radnor St Peter, Titley Rector: Ben Griffith Curate: Linda McDermott NSM: Paul Buckingham4,004Letton (St John the Baptist) with Staunton, Byford, Mansel Gamage and Monnington St John the Baptist, Letton St John the Baptist, Byford St Mary, Monnington-on-Wye St Mary, Staunton-on-Wye Vicar (Weobley): Philip Harvey2,245Weobley (St Peter and St Paul) with Sarnesfield and Norton Canon SS Peter & Paul, Weobley St Nicholas, Norton Canon St Mary, SarnesfieldArrowvale Group St Mary the Virgin, Pembridge St Mary, Byton St Michael & All Angels, Lyonshall St Mary's Chapel, Moorcourt St John the Evangelist, Shobdon St Peter, Staunton-on-Arrow Rector: Anna Branston2,868Presteigne (St Andrew) with Discoed, Kinsham, Lingen and Knill St Andrew, Presteigne All Saints, Kinsham St Michael & All Angels, Knill St Michael & All Angels, Lingen St Michael, Discoed Rector: Stephen Hollingshurst NSM: Debbie Venables2,804
Closed churches in the area ChurchLocationFounded (building)ClosedSt Michael, Michaelchurch-on-ArrowBrilleyMedieval