Diocese of Argyll and The Isles (Episcopal)

Diocese of Argyll and The Isles
Dioecesis Ergadiensis et Insularum
Sgìre Easbaig Earra-Ghàidheal is nan Eilean
Location
Ecclesiastical province Scotland
Statistics
Congregations 33
Information
Cathedral St John's Cathedral, Oban and the Cathedral of The Isles
Current leadership
Bishop Kevin Pearson
Dean Andrew Swift
Map
Map showing Argyll Diocese as a coloured area covering the west coast of Scotland including the Hebrides
Map showing Argyll & the Isles Diocese within Scotland
Website
argyll.anglican.org

The Diocese of Argyll and The Isles is in the west of Scotland, and is one of the seven dioceses of the Scottish Episcopal Church. It is perhaps the largest of the dioceses, but has the smallest number of church members. As a united diocese, Argyll and The Isles has two cathedrals: St John's in Oban and the Cathedral of The Isles in Millport, Isle of Cumbrae.

The Diocese of the Isles, by itself, was founded by Patrick in 900, and the Diocese of Argyll was founded by Bishop Harald in 1193. During the Scottish Reformation, most of the heritage and jurisdiction of the church was given to the Church of Scotland. However, the small Scottish Episcopal Church claims to have maintained the line of bishops of both dioceses through to the present day. In the seventeenth century, the Diocese of the Isles was united with the dioceses of Caithness and Orkney, and, in 1819, was separated from them to unite with the Diocese of Argyll. In 1878, the Roman Catholic Church created a Diocese of Argyll and the Isles. The diocese is responsible for the only two Episcopalian retreat houses in Scotland (Bishop's House Iona and the College of the Holy Spirit at the Cathedral of The Isles). The Right Reverend Martin Shaw retired in 2009. His successor, Kevin Pearson, was elected at an Episcopal Synod held at the Cathedral of The Isles on 6 October 2010,[1] and was consecrated and installed in Oban at Candlemas 2011 (4 February 2011).[2]

The Diocese of Argyll and The Isles is twinned with the Anglican Diocese of Zanzibar (Anglican Church of Tanzania) and the Episcopal Diocese of Delaware (Episcopal Church in the United States of America).

Area and population

The diocese covers the historic counties of Argyllshire (population 60,000) and Buteshire (population 12,500), the Hebridean parts of Inverness-shire and Ross and Cromarty (population 38,000), and the Lochaber area of Inverness-shire (population 16,500). This total population of approximately 127,000 makes it the smallest British Anglican diocese by population apart from the Diocese of Sodor and Man. It gives the diocese a ratio of one priest to every 18,100 inhabitants and one church to every 3,850 inhabitants.

Secessions

On 24 November 2017 the congregation of Christ Church, Harris, a Scottish Episcopal church in the Western Isles, announced that they could no longer remain under the oversight of their local bishop, Kevin Pearson, Bishop of Argyll and the Isles, owing to his support of the SEC's approval of same-sex marriage. They would instead be receiving the episcopal ministry of Andy Lines, the Missionary Bishop to Europe of the Anglican Church in North America.[3][4] Daniel Davies, the priest-in-charge of Christ Church, resigned his SEC position on 22 January 2018.[5]

Churches

The diocese currently has 7 stipendiary clergy (plus the Bishop) and 33 active churches.

Last fully updated 19 September 2018.

Benefice Churches Link Clergy Ref
Stornoway (St Peter)
  • St Peter, Stornoway (C18th)
  • Priest-in-Charge: Terry Taggart
  • NSM (Eoropaidh): Clare Lockhart
 [6]
Eoropaidh (St Moluag) [7]
Harris, Isle of (Christ Church)
  • Christ Church, Harris (1973)
  • Vacant (see above)
 [8]
No benefice
  • St Brendan the Navigator, North Uist
  • Vacant
  • Holy Cross, North Uist
  • Vacant
Portree (St Columba)
  • St Columba, Portree (1884)
  • St Michael & All Angels, Raasay
  • St Mary, Kilmore, Sleat
  • Priest-in-Charge: Vacant
  • Curate: Rosemary Bungard
 [9]
Kinlochmoidart (St Finian)
  • St Finan, Kinlochmoidart (1858)
  • Priest-in-Charge: Vacant
 [10]
Strontian
  • St Mary, Strontian (1875)
 [11]
Fort William (St Andrew)
  • St Andrew, Fort William (1817)
  • Rector: Alex Guinness
 [12]
West Highland Region
  • St Columba, Gruline (1873)
  • Priest-in-Charge: Amanda Fairclough
 [13]
  • St John, Ballachulish (C18th)
  • St Adamnan, Duror (1846)
  • St Mary, Glencoe (C18th)
  • St Moluag, Kentallen (1868)
  • St Paul, Kinlochleven (1908)
  • St Bride, Onich (1874)
  • Holy Cross, Portnacroish (1809)
Lochbuie (St Kilda)
  • St Kilda, Lochbuie (Mull) (1876)
  • Vacant - services held by visiting clergy
 [14]
Iona (St Columba)
  • Vacant
 [15]
Argyll Cathedra
  • Provost/Rector: Margi Campbell
  • Hon. Curate (Oban): Ian Walter
 [16][17]
Ardbrecknish (St James)
  • St James, Ardbrecknish (1892)
 [18]
Islay (St Columba)
  • St Columba, Bridgend (Islay) (1888)
  • Rector: Vacant
 [19]
Campbeltown (St Kiaran)
  • St Kiaran, Campbeltown (1848)
 [20]
Arran, Isle Of
  • St Margaret of Scotland, Arran (1902)
  • Priest-in-Charge: Simon Mackenzie
 [21]
Inveraray (All Saints)
  • All Saints, Inveraray (C19th)
 [22]
Kilmartin (St Columba)
  • St Columba, Kilmartin (1854)
 [23]
Lochgilphead (Christ Church)
  • Christ Church, Lochgilphead (1842)
 [24]
Dunoon (Holy Trinity)
  • Holy Trinity, Dunoon (1846)
 [25]
Rothesay (St Paul)
  • St Paul, Rothesay (c1830)
 [26]
Isles Cathedra [27]

Closed churches in the diocese area

Church Location Building Closed Ref
St Columba, Tighnabruaich Tighnabruaich c. 2011 [28]
Holy Spirit, Ardchattan Ardchattan 1886 2008 [29]

References

  1. ↑ "New Bishop elected for Argyll and The Isles". Retrieved 2010-10-09.
  2. ↑ "Diocesan Newsletter for Argyll and The Isles" (PDF).
  3. ↑ "Christ Church, Harris Accepts Oversight From Bishop Andy Lines". scottishanglican.net. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
  4. ↑ "Law and religion round-up – 26th November | Law & Religion UK". www.lawandreligionuk.com. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
  5. ↑ "Notices - The Scottish Episcopal Church". The Scottish Episcopal Church. 2018-02-07. Retrieved 2018-02-09.
  6. ↑ "The Benefice of Stornoway (St Peter)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-09-14.
  7. ↑ "The Benefice of Eoropaidh (St Moluag)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-09-14.
  8. ↑ "The Benefice of Harris, Isle of (Christ Church)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-10-13.
  9. ↑ "The Benefice of Portree (St Columba)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-09-14.
  10. ↑ "The Benefice of Kinlochmoidart (St Finian)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-09-15.
  11. ↑ "The Benefice of Strontian". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-09-15.
  12. ↑ "The Revd Graham Alexander GUINNESS". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-09-14.
  13. ↑ "The Benefice of West Highland Region". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-09-14.
  14. ↑ "The Benefice of Lochbuie (St Kilda)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-10-13.
  15. ↑ "The Benefice of Iona (St Columba)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-10-13.
  16. ↑ "Argyll and the Isles Cathedral". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-09-14.
  17. ↑ "The Benefice of Oban (Cathedral of St John)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-09-15.
  18. ↑ "The Benefice of Ardbrecknish (St James)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-09-14.
  19. ↑ "The Benefice of Islay (St Columba)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-09-15.
  20. ↑ "The Benefice of Campbeltown (St Kiaran)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-09-15.
  21. ↑ "The Benefice of Arran, Isle Of". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-09-14.
  22. ↑ "The Benefice of Inveraray (All Saints)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-09-14.
  23. ↑ "The Benefice of Kilmartin (St Columba)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-09-14.
  24. ↑ "The Benefice of Lochgilphead (Christ Church)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-09-14.
  25. ↑ "The Benefice of Dunoon (Holy Trinity)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-09-14.
  26. ↑ "The Benefice of Rothesay (St Paul)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-09-14.
  27. ↑ "The Benefice of Cumbrae (Cathedral of the Isles and Collegiate Church of the Holy Spirit)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-10-13.
  28. ↑ "The Benefice of Tighnabruaich". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-10-13.
  29. ↑ http://www.argyll.anglican.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/number91spring2009.pdf
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