Church of England closer to creating a single Yorkshire diocese
The Church of England is one step closer to creating a single diocese out of the three existing ones of Wakefield, Bradford, Leeds and Ripon.
The Dioceses Commission has just published its formal draft scheme to dissolve these three existing Yorkshire dioceses – first mooted last December - and create a new one more aligned to today’s communities, with five new Episcopal areas of Wakefield, Leeds, Bradford, Ripon and Huddersfield and a more streamlined administration.
It has taken into consideration over 140 written responses and accepted the consensus view that the new diocese should be called Leeds (rather than Wakefield) and that it may also be known informally as the Diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales.
The three cathedrals of Bradford, Ripon and Wakefield will be retained with equal status; but the formal scheme leaves open the possibility of a future Bishop of Leeds giving Leeds Parish Church ‘Pro-cathedral’ status.
Some parishes not in West or North Yorkshire that might have moved to neighbouring dioceses - such as Barnsley - will now definitely remain in the new diocese.
A spokesperson for Wakefield Diocese said: “These are interesting and challenging times for the Church in this part of Yorkshire and it is clear that the Commission is listening to the views of those working closest in our parishes and our church communities.
“As part of the next stage in this vital debate, we must now take the time and the opportunity to reflect further upon how best we can effectively engage with this process and inform and shape the future of the kingdom of God here together.”
Alongside this draft scheme, the Commission has published a number of reports including its latest explanatory report; a statement of the effect of the proposals on the mission of the Church of England; and a financial estimate for the changes.
The financial estimate indicates that the new diocese could, within five years, cost about £0.8 million a year less than keeping the current diocesan structure. The Commission insists that its workis mission-led and not finance-driven.
This draft is now open to a formal consultation period which will run for six months until 30 April 2012 for anyone to comment. The Commission will then produce a final draft scheme for consideration by the relevant diocesan synods before it is debated by General Synod. The earliest the scheme could come into effect would be late 2013 to early 2014.
To see the report in full and read the accompanying papers go to the Church of England website at www.churchofengland.org.