The Anglican Diocese of Leeds[6] (previously also known as the Diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales)[7] is a diocese (administrative division) of the Church of England, in the Province of York. It is the largest diocese in England by area, comprising much of western Yorkshire: almost the whole of West Yorkshire, the western part of North Yorkshire, the town of Barnsley in South Yorkshire, and most of the parts of County Durham, Cumbria and Lancashire which lie within the historic boundaries of Yorkshire. It includes the cities of Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield and Ripon. It was created on 20 April 2014 following a review of the dioceses in Yorkshire and the dissolution of the dioceses of Bradford, Ripon and Leeds, and Wakefield.
The diocese is led by the Anglican Bishop of Leeds and has three cathedrals of equal status: Ripon, Wakefield, and Bradford. There are five episcopal areas within the diocese, each led by an area bishop: Leeds, Ripon, Wakefield, Bradford and Huddersfield.
- ^ "Welcome to your new diocese of West Yorkshire & the Dales" (PDF). 20 April 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 April 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
- ^ The Transformation Programme – First new diocese for more than 85 years created on April 20 Archived 20 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine (Accessed 19 April 2014).
- ^ The Dioceses of Bradford, Ripon and Leeds and Wakefield Reorganisation Scheme 2013 (Archived 20 February 2014, which accessed 30 September 2019).
- ^ "New Bishops announced for West Yorkshire and Dales" (Press release). Diocese of Leeds. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
- ^ Diocese press release Archived 15 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine, College of Arms website (both accessed 13 July 2016).
- ^ Diocese of Leeds — Diocese to be known only as Diocese of Leeds Archived 12 April 2020 at the Wayback Machine (Accessed 15 July 2016).
- ^ "Synod Approves new Diocese of Leeds". Church of England. Church of England. Retrieved 5 April 2016.