Bishop of Worcester

For the Catholic bishopric in Worcester, Massachusetts, see Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester.

Bishop of Worcester
Bishopric
anglican
Coat of arms of the {{{name}}}
Arms of the Bishop of Worcester: Argent, ten torteaux gules, four, three, two and one[1]
Incumbent:
vacant
(acting: Martin Gorick, Bishop of Dudley)
Location
Ecclesiastical provinceCanterbury
ResidenceThe Old Palace, Worcester
Information
First holderBosel
Established680
DioceseWorcester
CathedralWorcester Cathedral

The Bishop of Worcester is the head of the Church of England Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury, England. The title can be traced back to the foundation of the diocese in the year 680.[2][3] From then until the 16th century, the bishops were in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church. During the Reformation, the church in England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church, at first temporarily and later more permanently. Since the Reformation, the Bishop and Diocese of Worcester has been part of the Church of England and the Anglican Communion.

The diocese covers most of the county of Worcestershire, including the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley and parts of the City of Wolverhampton.[4] The Episcopal see is in the city of Worcester where the bishop's throne is located at the Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary.[5] The bishop's official residence is the Old Palace, Worcester.[6] The bishops had two residences outside the city: Hartlebury Castle near Kidderminster from the 13th century to 2007 and a palace at Alvechurch until it was pulled down in the 17th century.

From the elevations of Oswald of Worcester in 961 at Worcester and 972 at York, until 1023 the see was usually held jointly with the (then rather poorer) Archbishopric of York.

  1. ^ Debrett's Peerage, 1968, p.1167
  2. ^ Fryde et al. 1986, Handbook of British Chronology, p. 223.
  3. ^ Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Ancient Diocese of Worcester". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
  4. ^ Diocese of Worcester: Homepage. Retrieved on 10 December 2008.
  5. ^ Worcester Cathedral: Homepage. Retrieved on 10 December 2008.
  6. ^ Provincial Directory: Worcester. Anglican Communion. Retrieved on 10 December 2008.