Bishop of Bath and Wells

Bishop of Bath and Wells
Bishopric
anglican
Coat of arms of the {{{name}}}
Arms of the Bishop of Bath and Wells: Azure, a saltire per saltire quarterly quartered or and argent[1]
Incumbent:
Michael Beasley
Location
Ecclesiastical provinceCanterbury
ResidenceBishop's Palace, Wells
Information
First holderAthelm
Established909
DioceseBath and Wells
CathedralWells Cathedral
Website
www.bathandwells.org.uk

The Bishop of Bath and Wells heads the Church of England Diocese of Bath and Wells in the Province of Canterbury in England.

The present diocese covers the overwhelmingly greater part of the (ceremonial) county of Somerset and a small area of Dorset. The Episcopal seat is located in the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew in the city of Wells in Somerset.

The bishop is one of two (the other is the Bishop of Durham) who escort the sovereign at the coronation.

The Bishop's residence is The Palace, Wells. In late 2013 the Church Commissioners announced that they were purchasing the Old Rectory, a Grade II-listed building in Croscombe for the Bishop's residence.[2] However this decision was widely opposed,[3] including by the Diocese,[4][5] and in May 2014 was overturned by a committee of the Archbishops' Council.[6][7]

  1. ^ Debrett's Peerage, 1968, p.121
  2. ^ Ovens, Ruth (22 January 2014). "Revealed bishop's new £900k house". Wells Journal. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  3. ^ "Hundreds sign petition against Bath and Wells bishop move". BBC News. 11 February 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  4. ^ "Bishop attacks Wells palace move as church split opens". Wells Journal. 24 January 2014. Archived from the original on 25 January 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  5. ^ "Diocese of Bath and Wells 'cannot support' bishop's palace move". BBC News. 25 January 2014.
  6. ^ "Bishop of Bath and Wells to stay in Bishop's Palace home". 2 May 2014.
  7. ^ "Determination of objection to regulation transaction: House of Residence of Bishop of Bath and Wells" (PDF). Archbishops' Council. 1 May 2014.