Diocese of Winchester facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Diocese of Winchester Dioecesis Wintoniensis
Coat of arms
Flag
Location
Ecclesiastical province	Canterbury
Archdeaconries	Bournemouth, Winchester
Statistics
Parishes	306
Churches	410
Information
Cathedral	Winchester Cathedral
Language	English
Current leadership
Bishop	vacant (bishop-designate: Philip Mounstephen)
Suffragans	David Williams, Bishop of Basingstoke (on leave) Debbie Sellin, Bishop of Southampton and acting Bishop of Winchester
Archdeacons	Richard Brand, Archdeacon of Winchester Jean Burgess, Archdeacon of Bournemouth

The Diocese of Winchester is a special area within the Church of England. It's like a region for churches and their leaders. It was started way back in 676, making it one of England's oldest church regions. This diocese is part of the larger Province of Canterbury. Long ago, it covered a huge area called Wessex. Today, it mainly covers most of Hampshire.

What Area Does the Diocese Cover?

The Diocese of Winchester covers most of modern Hampshire. It also includes a small part of eastern Dorset. The important city of Southampton is within its boundaries.

However, there are a few parts of Hampshire that are not in this diocese:

• The south-eastern part of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight belong to the Diocese of Portsmouth.
• A section in the north-east is part of the Diocese of Guildford.
• A small area in the west is in the Diocese of Salisbury.
• One parish in the north belongs to the Diocese of Oxford.

Historically, the diocese was much bigger. In 1927, some areas were moved. The Archdeaconry of Surrey became the new Diocese of Guildford. Also, south-eastern Hampshire and the Isle of Wight formed the Diocese of Portsmouth.

The Bishop of Winchester has a special role. They are one of five church leaders who automatically get a seat in the Westminster Parliament. This means they help make laws for the country. The bishop is also the Prelate of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. This is a very old and important group of knights.

Who Leads the Diocese?

The Bishop of Winchester is the main leader of the diocese. The current bishop-designate is Philip Mounstephen. Two other bishops help them. These are called suffragan bishops. They are the Bishop of Southampton (Debbie Sellin) and the Bishop of Basingstoke (David Williams).

These two bishops usually look after different parts of the diocese. The Bishop of Southampton often helps with the southern areas. The Bishop of Basingstoke helps with the northern areas. Before 1973, only the Bishop of Southampton helped the main bishop.

Other retired bishops who live in the area can also help. They are called honorary assistant bishops. For example, Christopher Herbert and Timothy Bavin have helped out.

The Channel Islands used to be part of the Winchester Diocese. However, after some discussions, they were moved. In January 2021, the Channel Islands officially became part of the Diocese of Salisbury.

Recent Leadership Changes

In 2021, there were some changes in leadership. Bishop Tim Dakin stepped back from his role. This was due to concerns about his leadership. Bishop Williams also stepped back. Bishop Sellin then became the acting Bishop of Winchester. Bishop Dakin later resigned in 2022.

A Look at History

Remains of the great hall of Winchester Palace, yards from London Bridge in Southwark showing the Rose Window and underneath the traditional arrangement of three doors from the screens passage to the buttery, pantry and kitchen. Until 1877 all of Surrey (including Southwark) was part of the diocese.

The Diocese of Winchester is one of England's oldest and most important church regions. It began as the church area for the kingdom of Wessex. The first main church, or cathedra, was in Dorchester. Saints Birinus and Agilbert were early leaders.

The bishop's main seat moved to Winchester in AD 660. It was first at the Old Minster, Winchester. Over time, the diocese changed its size. In 704–705, new dioceses were created in the southwest. Later, in AD 909, more areas like Wiltshire and Berkshire formed the See of Ramsbury.

The Bishop of Winchester's area once stretched far. It went from the Isle of Wight all the way to the River Thames in Southwark. There, near London Bridge, you can still see parts of the old Winchester Palace. This diocese was very rich and powerful in the Middle Ages. Its bishops were often important political figures. Famous bishops included Saint Swithun and William of Wykeham.

In the 1530s, the diocese lost much of its wealth. This happened during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Later, in the 19th century, church leaders worked hard to end the slave trade. They spoke out in the House of Lords and through their missionaries. They also preached against it in churches across the diocese.

A report in 1835 showed that Winchester was the third wealthiest church area in England. It had a large income each year. Over time, many church buildings and lands were sold. This helped build new churches in cities. Many schools started by the diocese also became state schools. However, the diocese still supports many schools today.

The Channel Islands Connection

The Channel Islands became part of the Diocese of Winchester in 1500. This was decided by the Pope. Later, Queen Elizabeth I confirmed this. The islands have had their own church rules for centuries.

In 2014, the islands decided to have a different bishop oversee their churches. This was due to a disagreement with Bishop Dakin. So, the Archbishop of Canterbury arranged for Trevor Willmott, the Bishop of Dover, to look after them. Bishop Willmott knew the islands well. In January 2021, the Channel Islands were permanently moved to the Diocese of Salisbury.

The Liberty of the Clink

A small area in Southwark, called the Liberty of the Clink, was special for many years. It was outside the usual rules of London. This meant some activities that were not allowed elsewhere were permitted there.

For example, theatres and playhouses were allowed in the Clink. The famous Globe Theatre, where William Shakespeare performed, was located there. Another theatre was The Rose, where Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe first showed their plays. Animal sports like bull and bear baiting were also permitted in this area.

Church Areas and Leaders

The Diocese of Winchester is divided into smaller areas. These are called archdeaconries and deaneries. Each area has its own churches and clergy.

*including Cathedral

An "Archdeacon for Mission Development" was also appointed for a time. This role was about helping the church reach out to more people.

Images for kids

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  This map shows the different deaneries, or church areas, within the Diocese of Winchester.