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Anglican Diocese of Birmingham

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Diocese of Birmingham

Dioecesis Birminghamiensis
Coat of arms of the Diocese of Birmingham
Coat of arms
Flag of the Diocese of Birmingham
Flag
Location
Ecclesiastical provinceCanterbury
ArchdeaconriesAston, Birmingham
Statistics
Parishes162
Churches195
Information
DenominationChurch of England
Established1905
CathedralCathedral Church of Saint Philip
LanguageEnglish
Current leadership
BishopMichael Volland, Bishop of Birmingham
SuffraganBishop of Aston (vacant)
ArchdeaconsJenny Tomlinson, Archdeacon of Birmingham
Phelim O'Hare, Archdeacon of Aston
Website
birmingham.anglican.org

The Diocese of Birmingham is a diocese founded in 1905 in the Church of England's Province of Canterbury, covering the north-west of the traditional county of Warwickshire, the south-east of the traditional county of Staffordshire and the north-east of the traditional county of Worcestershire (now the central section of the West Midlands and small parts of south Staffordshire, north Warwickshire and north Worcestershire) in England.

Cathedral

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The see is in the centre of the City of Birmingham, where the seat of the diocese is located at the Cathedral Church of Saint Philip.

The 18th-century parish church of Saint Philip in Birmingham was elevated to cathedral status in 1905 when the see was founded, on 13 January 1905.[1] Previously the area had been part of the Diocese of Worcester.

Bishops

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Besides the diocesan Bishop of Birmingham (Michael Volland) and the Bishop suffragan of Aston (vacant; which see was created in 1954), there are two retired bishops resident in (or near) the diocese who are licensed to serve as honorary assistant bishops:[2][dead link]

From 2023, alternative episcopal oversight (for parishes in the diocese who reject the ministry of women priests) was provided by the provincial episcopal visitor, the Bishop suffragan of Oswestry (since 2023 Paul Thomas), who is licensed as an honorary assistant bishop of the diocese in order to facilitate his work there.

Archdeaconries and deaneries

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The former deaneries of Yardley and Bordesley were merged in 2000.[5] Central Birmingham was known as Birmingham City until 1996 and then Birmingham City Centre until 2004.[6]

Diocese Archdeaconries Rural Deaneries Churches Population People/church
Diocese of Birmingham Archdeaconry of Aston Deanery of Aston 10 94,960 9,496
Deanery of Coleshill 18 137,541 7,641
Deanery of Polesworth 18 39,549 2,197
Deanery of Solihull 13 77,632 5,972
Deanery of Sutton Coldfield 14 102,817 7,344
Deanery of Yardley & Bordesley 16 206,603 12,913
Archdeaconry of Birmingham Deanery of Central Birmingham 9* 51,631* 5,737
Deanery of Edgbaston 13 129,568 9,967
Deanery of Handsworth 14 164,792 11,771
Deanery of King's Norton 17 125,538 7,385
Deanery of Moseley 16 134,813 8,426
Deanery of Shirley 15 112,341 7,489
Deanery of Warley 11 121,861 11,078
Total/average 184 1,499,646 8,150

*including Cathedral

Churches

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APC = ancient parish church.

Not in a deanery

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Benefice Churches Founded (building) Population served[7]
Cathedra Cathedral of St Philip, Birmingham 1715 5,310

Deanery of Aston

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Benefice Churches Founded (building) Population served[7]
Aston (St James) (St Peter and St Paul) and Nechells SS Peter & Paul, Aston APC 23,808
St James, Aston 1891
St Matthew, Nechells 1839
Erdington (St Barnabas) St Barnabas, Erdington 1822 17,167
Erdington (St Chad) St Chad, Erdington 1914 7,232
Erdington Christ the King St Martin, Perry Common 19,137
St Margaret, Short Heath
Gravelly Hill (All Saints) All Saints, Gravelly Hill 1900 17,313
Stockland Green (St Mark) St Mark, Stockland Green 1908
Pype Hayes (St Mary the Virgin) St Mary the Virgin, Pype Hayes 1929 10,303

Deanery of Coleshill

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Benefice Churches Founded (building) Population served[7]
Castle Bromwich (St Clement) St Clement of Alexandria, Castle Bromwich 12,593
Castle Bromwich (St Mary and St Margaret) SS Mary & Margaret, Castle Bromwich 7,559
Chelmsley Wood (St Andrew) St Andrew, Chelmsley Wood 16,194
Garretts Green (St Thomas) and Tile Cross St Thomas, Garretts Green 19,423
St Peter, Tile Cross
Hodge Hill (St Philip and St James) SS Philip & James, Hodge Hill 19,008
Kingshurst (St Barnabas) St Barnabas, Kingshurst 8,882
Lea Hall (St Richard) St Richard, Lea Hall 8,389
Marston Green (St Leonard) St Leonard, Marston Green 6,793
Coleshill (St Peter and St Paul) SS Peter & Paul, Coleshill 6,717
Maxstoke (St Michael and All Angels) St Michael & All Angels, Maxstoke
Shard End (All Saints) All Saints, Shard End 1954 11,532
Sheldon (St Giles) St Giles, Sheldon APC 14,906
Water Orton (St Peter and St Paul) SS Peter & Paul, Water Orton APC 3,444
The Whitacres, Lea Marston, and Shustoke St John the Baptist, Lea Marton 2,101
St Cuthbert, Shustoke
St Giles, Nether Whitacre
St Leonard, Over Whitacre

Deanery of Polesworth

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Benefice Churches Founded (building) Population served[7]
All Souls, North Warwickshire, Comprising Austrey, Newton Regis, Seckington, Shuttington, and Warton St Nicholas, Austrey 3,360
St Mary, Newton Regis
All Saints, Seckington
St Matthew, Shuttington
Holy Trinity, Warton
Amington (St Editha) St Editha, Amington APC 8,250
Baddesley Ensor (St Nicholas) with Grendon St Nicholas, Baddesley Ensor 3,537
All Saints, Grendon
Baxterley (Not Known) with Hurley and Wood End and Merevale with Bentley Baxterley Parish Church APC 8,055
Resurrection, Hurley 1861
St Michael & All Angels, Wood End 1906
St Mary the Virgin, Merevale APC
Kingsbury (St Peter and St Paul) SS Peter & Paul, Kingsbury APC
Dordon (St Leonard) St Leonard, Dordon 3,192
St Mary, Freasley
Dosthill (St Paul) St Paul, Dosthill 1870 6,158
Polesworth (St Editha) Abbey Church of St Editha, Polesworth APC 6,997
St John, Birchmoor

Deanery of Solihull

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Benefice Churches Population served[7]
Balsall Common (St Peter)
  • St Peter, Balsall Common
5,459
Barston (St Swithin)
  • St Swithin, Barston
3,061
Hampton-In-Arden (St Mary and St Bartholomew) with Bickenhill St Peter
  • SS Mary & Bartholomew, Hampton-in-Arden
  • St Peter, Bickenhill (MED)
Elmdon (St Nicholas) (St Stephen's Church Centre) (Valley Church Centre) 8,887
Hobs Moat (St Mary)
  • St Mary, Hobs Moat
10,508
Knowle (St John the Baptist) (St Lawrence & St Anne) 9,165
Olton (St Margaret)
  • St Margaret, Olton
11,019
Solihull (Catherine De Barnes) (St Alphege) (St Helen) (St Michael) 28,526
Temple Balsall (St Mary) 1,007

Deanery of Sutton Coldfield

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Benefice Churches Population served[7]
Boldmere (St Michael)
  • St Michael, Boldmere
14,291
Castle Vale (St Cuthbert of Lindisfarne) with Minworth
  • St Cuthbert of Lindisfarne, Castle Vale (1973)
  • St George the Martyr, Minworth (1909)
11,470
Curdworth (St Nicholas and St Peter Ad Vincula) (St George), Middleton and Wishaw 1,981
Four Oaks (All Saints) 6,498
Hill (St James) 12,269
Maney (St Peter)
  • St Peter, Maney (1877)
6,003
Sutton Coldfield (Holy Trinity) 10,736
Sutton Coldfield (St Chad)
  • St Chad, Sutton Coldfield (pre-1927)
14,461
Sutton Coldfield (St Columba)
  • St Columba, Sutton Coldfield
6,767
Walmley (St John the Evangelist)
  • St John the Evangelist, Walmley
13,340
Wylde Green (Emmanuel) 5,001

Deanery of Yardley and Bordesley

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Benefice Churches Population served[7]
Acocks Green (St Mary) 15,747
Bordesley (St Benedict) 10,850
Saltley (St Saviour) and Washwood Heath 28,747
Small Heath (All Saints) 25,580
Sparkbrook (Christ Church)
  • Christ Church, Sparkbrook (1867)
7,000
Sparkhill (St John the Evangelist) 20,694
Springfield (St Christopher) 7,638
Stechford (All Saints) (St Andrew)
  • All Saints, Stechford (1897)
12,616
Tyseley (St Edmund)
  • St Edmund, Tyseley
11,048
Ward End Holy Trinity (St Margaret) with Bordesley Green 27,753
Yardley (St Cyprian) Hay Mill 21,470
Yardley, South (St Michael and All Angels)
  • St Michael & All Angels, South Yardley
Yardley (St Edburgha) 17,460

Deanery of Central Birmingham

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Benefice Churches Population served[7]
Birmingham (St George)
  • St George, Newtown
6,837
Birmingham (St Luke)
  • St Luke, Gas Street
10,839
Birmingham (St Martin-In-The-Bull-Ring) with Bordesley St Andrew 4,083
Birmingham (St Paul) 4,565
Highgate (St Alban the Martyr and St Patrick) 4,481
Ladywood (St John the Evangelist) (St Peter) 11,030
Sparkbrook (St Agatha) with Balsall Heath St Barnabas 4,486

Deanery of Edgbaston

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Benefice Churches Population served[7]
Bartley Green (St Michael and All Angels) 14,906
Edgbaston (St Augustine) 8,843
Edgbaston (St Bartholomew) 9,260
Edgbaston (St George with St Michael) (St Michael's Hall) 3,807
Edgbaston (St Germain) 6,650
Harborne (St Faith and St Laurence) 8,784
Harborne (St Peter) 10,825
Harborne Heath (St John the Baptist)
  • St John the Baptist, Harborne
7,080
Quinton Road West (St Boniface)
  • St Boniface, Quinton
10,198
Quinton, the (Christ Church) 17,361
Selly Oak (St Mary) 10,893
Summerfield (Christ Church) (Cavendish Road Hall) 10,745
Weoley Castle (St Gabriel) 10,216

Deanery of Handsworth

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Benefice Churches Population served[7]
Birchfield (Holy Trinity) 17,809
Hamstead (St Bernard)
  • St Bernard, Hamstead
6,136
Hamstead (St Paul) 14,970
Handsworth (St Andrew) 31,328
Handsworth (St James)
Handsworth (Good News Asian Church) Proprietary Chapel
  • Good News Asian Church, Handsworth
Birmingham (Bishop Latimer with All Saints) 19,786
Handsworth (St Michael) (St Peter)
Handsworth (St Mary) Epiphany 14,834
Kingstanding (St Luke)
  • St Luke, Kingstanding
16,156
Kingstanding (St Mark)
  • St Mark, Kingstanding (1952)
8,921
Perry Barr (St John the Evangelist) 12,242
Perry Beeches (St Matthew)
  • St Matthew, Perry Beeches (1939)
14,568
Lozells (St Paul and St Silas)
  • SS Paul & Silas, Lozells
8,042

Deanery of King's Norton

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Benefice Churches Population served[7]
Allens Cross (St Bartholomew) 14,795
Cofton Hackett (St Michael) with Barnt Green 3,569
Cotteridge (St Agnes)
  • The Cotteridge Church (Meth/CofE/URC) (1898)
4,680
Frankley (St Leonard) 8,427
Kings Norton (St Nicolas) 28,374
Lickey (Holy Trinity) 4,292
Longbridge (St John the Baptist) 9,233
Northfield (St Laurence) 15,713
Rednal (St Stephen the Martyr)
  • St Stephen the Martyr, Rednal (1951)
7,166
Rubery (St Chad) 9,725
Shenley Green (St David) 9,165
West Heath (St Anne)
  • St Anne, West Heath
10,399

Deanery of Moseley

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Benefice Churches Population served[7]
Balsall Heath (St Paul) and Edgbaston 18,375
Billesley Common (Holy Cross)
  • Holy Cross, Billesley Common
9,486
Bournville (St Francis) 8,062
Brandwood (St Bede)
  • St Bede, Brandwood
8,996
Hazelwell (St Mary Magdalen)
  • St Mary Magdalen, Hazelwell
6,496
Highters Heath (Immanuel)
  • Immanuel, Highters Heath
9,608
Kings Heath (All Saints) 12,613
Moseley (St Agnes) 10,083
Moseley (St Anne) (St Mary) 14,346
Selly Park (Christ Church)
  • Christ Church, Selly Park (1977)
5,503
Selly Park (St Stephen) (St Wulstan) 14,099
Stirchley (Ascension) 6,256
Yardley Wood (Christ Church) 10,890

Deanery of Shirley

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Benefice Churches Population served[7]
Dorridge (St Philip)
  • St Philip, Dorridge
  • St James, Bentley Heath
9,411
Hall Green (Church of the Ascension) 14,839
Hall Green (St Michael)
  • St Michael, Hall Green
23,505
Hall Green (St Peter)
Lapworth (St Mary the Virgin)
  • St Mary the Virgin, Lapworth
1,611
Baddesley Clinton (St Michael)
  • St Michael, Baddesley Clinton
Packwood (St Giles) with Hockley Heath
  • St Giles, Packwood
  • St Thomas, Nuthurst
2,657
Salter Street (St Patrick)
  • St Patrick, Salter Street (1840)
12,732
Shirley (St James the Great) 35,412
Tanworth (St Mary Magdalene) 2,460
Wythall (St Mary) 9,714

Deanery of Warley

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Benefice Churches Population served[7]
Bearwood (St Mary the Virgin)
  • St Mary the Virgin, Bearwood (1888)
6,811
Blackheath (St Paul)
  • St Paul, Blackheath (1869)
23,970
Rounds Green (St James)
  • St James, Rounds Green
Oldbury (Christ Church), Langley, and Londonderry
  • Christ Church, Oldbury
  • St John & Michael, Langley
  • St Mark, Londonderry
27,664
Rowley Regis (St Giles)
  • St Giles, Rowley Regis (MED)
17,777
Smethwick (Old Church) 8,973
Smethwick (Resurrection) (St Stephen and St Michael) 15,924
Smethwick (St Matthew with St Chad)
  • St Matthew, Smethwick (1855)
10,199
Warley Woods (St Hilda)
  • St Hilda, Warley Woods (1906)
10,543

Safeguarding controversy

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In December 2018 the diocese was criticised for its use of a Non-disclosure Agreement (NDA) in relation to an abuse case. The survivor described the ten-year process since her first complaint as "haphazard" and claimed she was warned by an unnamed bishop not to talk to the media as it wouldn't be "very godly". The diocese carried out an independent review which delivered damning findings about the handling of her case by the (then) Bishop of Birmingham, David Urquhart, and then forced the survivor to sign the NDA before she was permitted to see the review into her own case. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, had previously questioned the legitimacy of these agreements in March 2018 at the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse

A non-disclosure agreement seems to me to be dangerous because it creates suspicion, 'Why are you doing an NDA? Surely you're trying to cover something up'.

The Bishop of Buckingham, Alan Wilson, commenting on the scandal said it was the fourth "corrupt and destructive" non-disclosure agreement (NDA) that had come to his attention since September.

They seem inherently abusive, mainly used to provide a carpet under which to sweep abuse. If people really want them they should be time-limited with reasons.

He said he was unable to share details of the other cases but that some were "complete shockers". The Diocese of Birmingham said the NDA had been used to ensure that those who read the report did not share information provided by other contributors who wanted to remain anonymous. A Church of England spokesperson stated that guidance would be sent to all dioceses to discourage use of these agreements. The bishop and the diocese apologised to the survivor and her husband.[8][9][10][11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "No. 27754". The London Gazette. 13 January 1905. pp. 311–312.
  2. ^ http://www.birmingham.anglican.org/content/content_information_contact.asp Section: Honorary Assistant Bishops
  3. ^ "Sinclair, Rt Rev. Maurice Walter". Who's Who. Vol. 2014 (December 2013 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 25 April 2014. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  4. ^ "Iraj Kalimi Mottahedeh". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  5. ^ "Holloway Simon~A Bridge and a Plough". Issuu. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  6. ^ "Deanery of Central Birmingham". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Ken Eames (26 January 2022). Church of England parish map (Map). ArcGIS Online. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  8. ^ "Church of England gags abuse victim with NDA". Channel 4. 5 December 2018. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  9. ^ "Case of vicar said to have stripped off clothes in front of woman 'hushed up by Church of England'". The Telegraph. 5 December 2018. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  10. ^ "Church cover-up claims over 'sex pest Harborne vicar who walked around naked'". Birmingham Mail. 6 December 2018. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  11. ^ "Birmingham diocese defends gagging order for survivor". Church Times. 6 December 2018. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
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