The Diocese of Lincoln forms part of the Province of Canterbury in England. The present diocese covers the ceremonial county of Lincolnshire.
History
The diocese traces its roots in an unbroken line to the Pre-Reformation Diocese of Leicester, founded in 679. The see of Leicester was translated to Dorchester in the late 9th century, before taking in the territory of the Diocese of Lindsey and being translated to Lincoln. The diocese was then the largest in England, extending from the River Thames to the Humber Estuary. In 1072, Remigius de Fécamp, bishop under William the Conqueror, moved the see to Lincoln, although the Bishops of Lincoln retained significant landholdings within Oxfordshire. Because of this historic link, for a long time Banbury remained a peculiar of the Bishop of Lincoln. The modern diocese remains notoriously extensive, having been reportedly referred to by Bob Hardy, Bishop of Lincoln, as "2,000 square miles of bugger all" in 2002.Lincolnshire Echo — Thousands attend emotional farewell to the Bishop of Lincoln (Accessed 18 June 2016)
The dioceses of Oxford and Peterborough were created in 1541 out of parts of the diocese, which left the diocese with two disconnected fragments, north and south. In 1837 the southern part was transferred to other dioceses: Bedfordshire and Huntingdonshire to the Diocese of Ely, Hertfordshire to the Diocese of Rochester and Buckinghamshire to the Diocese of Oxford. Also in 1837, the county of Leicestershire was transferred from Lincoln to Peterborough (and became the independent Diocese of Leicester in 1927). The Archdeaconry of Nottingham was transferred to the Lincoln diocese at the same time.
In 1884, the Archdeaconry of Nottingham was detached to form a part of the new Diocese of Southwell.
Organisation
Bishops By virtue of the 2009 scheme of delegation, whilst the Bishop of Lincoln exercises general oversight, the Bishops of Grimsby and of Grantham were seen as leaders in mission in the north and south of the Diocese respectively until that scheme lapsed upon the 6 April 2013 retirement of the Bishop of Grimsby, which was followed by a review of roles of bishops in the diocese.Diocese of Lincoln – Diocesan Profile 2013 (Accessed 28 March 2013) The suffragan See of Grantham was created in 1905, and the See of Grimsby in 1935. It would seem that the decision to not fill the suffragan see of Grantham was taken at some point,Diocese of Lincoln – Who's Who (Archived, 16 October 2013) (Accessed 2 April 2014) but later reversed.
Alternative episcopal oversight (for parishes in the diocese which reject the ministry of priests who are women) is provided by the provincial episcopal visitor, Norman Banks, Bishop suffragan of Richborough, who is licensed as an honorary assistant bishop of the diocese in order to facilitate his work there. There are also four retired bishops living in the diocese who are licensed as honorary assistant bishops: 2019–present: Rob Gillion, interim Priest-in-Charge, St John the Baptist, Spalding and former Bishop of Riverina (New South Wales) 2001–present: David Tustin, former Bishop suffragan of Grimsby, lives in Wrawby. 2013–present: Another retired area Bishop of Grimsby, David Rossdale, lives in East Keal.crosslincs (Diocese of Lincoln newspaper) – No. 38, Lent 2013 (Accessed 23 April 2014) 2013–present: Tim Ellis, retired area Bishop of Grantham, lives in Intake, Sheffield.BBC News – Bishop of Grantham Tim Ellis steps down (Accessed 23 April 2014)
Archdeaconries The diocese is divided into three archdeaconries and 22 deaneries. On 22 April 2013, it was announced that a third archdeacon had been appointed pending a pastoral reorganisation. The changes to the archdeaconries enacted by the resulting pastoral scheme were announced on 15 November:Diocese of Lincoln – New Archdeaconries (Accessed 29 November 2013)
Archdeaconry of Lincoln (established 11th century): Bolingbroke; Calcewaithe and Candleshoe; Christianity; Graffoe; Horncastle; Lafford; Louthesk Archdeaconry of Stow and Lindsey (established 11th century): Isle of Axholme; Corringham; Grimsby and Cleethorpes; Haverstoe; Lawres; Manlake; West Wold; Yarborough Archdeaconry of Boston (established 2013): (Aveland and Ness with) Stamford; Beltisloe; Elloe East; Elloe West; Grantham; Holland; Loveden
The diocese produces a bi-monthly newspaper, Crosslincs.
The archdeaconries have been:
Middle Ages-1540s: Bedford, Buckingham, Huntingdon, Leicester, Lincoln, Northampton, Oxford, Stow 1540s–1830s: Bedford, Buckingham, Huntingdon, Leicester, Lincoln, Stow 1830s–1884: Lincoln, Nottingham, Stow 1884–1933: Lincoln, Stow 1933–1994: Lincoln, Lindsey, Stow 1994–2013: Lincoln, Stow&Lindsey 2013–: Boston, Lincoln, Stow&Lindsey
Churches
Archdeaconry of Boston
Deanery of Beltisloe
Benefice of Beltisloe North
St Andrew's, Boothby Pagnell St Bartholomew's, Ingoldsby St Peter's, Lenton St Mary Magdalene's, Old Somerby St Anne's Chapel, Great Humby St Peter's Church, Ropsley with Little Humby St Margaret's, Braceby St Nicholas', Sapperton
Benefice of Bourne
SS Peter & Paul's, Bourne
Benefice of Bytham
St Stephen's, Careby with Holywell and Aunby St Wilfrid's, Holywell St James's, Castle Bytham St Peter's, Creeton St Medardus', Little Bytham St Mary's, North Witham St John the Baptist's, South Witham
Benefice of Colsterworth
St John the Baptist's, Colsterworth Holy Cross, Great Ponton St Nicholas', Gunby St Guthlac's, Little Ponton St Andrew and St Mary's Church, Stoke Rochford with Easton St James's, Skillington St Peter's, Stainby
Benefice of Corby Glen
St Thomas Becket's, Bassingthorpe with Westby St Mary Magdalene's, Bitchfield St Thomas Becket's, Burton Coggles St John the Evangelist's Church, Corby Glen St Andrew's, Irnham St Nicholas', Swayfield
Benefice of Edenham with Witham-on-the-Hill and Swinstead
St Michael's, Edenham St Mary's, Swinstead St Andrew's, Witham-on-the-Hill
Benefice of Ringstone in Aveland
All Saints', Dunsby St Andrew's, Haconby St Mary & All Saints', Kirkby Underwood St John the Baptist's, Morton St Andrew's, Rippingale
Deanery of Elloe East
Benefice of Elloe Fen
Gedney Hill: Holy Trinity Gedney Hill: St Polycarp Sutton St Edmund: St Edmund King and Martyr Sutton St James: St James the Greater Whaplode Drove: St John the Baptist
Benefice of Elloe Stone
Holbeach Fen or Holbeach St John: St John Moulton: All Saints Moulton Chapel: St James Whaplode: St Mary
Benefice of Holbeach
Holbeach: All Saints
Benefice of Long Sutton with Lutton and Gedney Drove End
Gedney Dawsmere: Christ Church Long Sutton: St Mary Lutton: St Nicholas
Linked Benefices of Mid Elloe // Sutton Bridge and Tydd St Mary
Fleet: St Mary Magdalene Gedney: St Mary Magdalene Holbeach Hurn: St Luke Holbeach Marsh: St Mark Sutton Bridge: St Matthew Tydd St Mary: St Mary
Deanery of Elloe West
Benefice of Cowbit
Weston Hills: St John the Evangelist Aubourn: St Peter Cowbit: St Mary Weston: St Mary
Linked Benefices of Crowland // Deeping St James
Crowland: SS Mary & Bartholomew & Guthlac Deeping St James: St James
Benefice of Deeping St Nicholas
Deeping St Nicholas: St Nicholas (1846)
Benefice of Glen
Pinchbeck: St Mary Surfleet: St Laurence West Pinchbeck: St Bartholomew
Benefice of Gosberton, Gosberton Clough and Quadring
Gosberton Clough: SS Gilbert & Hugh Gosberton: SS Peter & Paul Quadring: St Margaret
Benefice of Market Deeping
Market Deeping: St Guthlac
Benefice of Ness
Baston: St John the Baptist Langtoft: St Michael Thurlby: St Firmin
Benefice of Spalding St John the Baptist
Spalding: St John the Baptist (1875)
Benefice of Spalding SS Mary & Nicholas
Spalding: SS Mary & Nicholas
Benefice of Spalding St Paul
Spalding: St Paul (1880)
Deanery of Grantham
Benefice of Grantham St Anne
Grantham: St Anne (1884, rebuilt 1911)
Benefice of Grantham St John the Evangelist Spitalgate with Earlesfield
Grantham: St John the Evangelist (1841)
Linked Benefices of Grantham St Wulfram // Grantham Manthorpe
Grantham: St Wulfram Manthorpe: St John the Evangelist (1848)
Benefice of Grantham Harrowby with Londonthorpe
Harrowby: Ascension (1931, rebuilt 1956, 1960s) Londonthorpe: St John the Baptist
Benefice of Grantham West
Barrowby: All Saints Denton: St Andrew Great Gonerby: St Sebastian Harlaxton: SS Mary & Peter Stroxton: All Saints Woolsthorpe: St James Wyville with Hungerton: St Catherine (rebuilt 1858)
Deanery of Holland
Benefice of Boston Boston: St Botolph Boston: St Christopher (1930) Skirbeck Quarter: St Thomas (1866, building 1885, rebuilt 1912) Benefice of Brothertoft Brothertoft: St Gilbert of Sempringham Holland Fen: All Saints (1812) Kirton Holme: Christ Church Langrick: St Margaret of Scotland (1828) Thornton le Fen: St Peter Benefice of Fishtoft Fishtoft: St Guthlac Linked Benefices of Frampton and Wyberton Frampton: St Mary the Virgin Frampton West End: St Michael & All Angels (1860) Wyberton: St Leodegar Benefice of Freiston, Butterwick with Bennington, and Leverton Butterwick: St Andrew Freiston: St James Leverton: St Helena Linked Benefices of Friskney // Old Leake with Wrangle Friskney: All Saints Old Leake: St Mary Wrangle: SS Mary & Nicholas Benefice of Haven Bicker: St Swithin Donington: St Mary & the Holy Rood Sutterton: St Mary Swineshead: St Mary Wigtoft: SS Peter & Paul Linked Benefices of Kirton in Holland with Algarkirk and Fosdyke // Skirbeck St Nicholas Algarkirk: SS Peter & Paul Fosdyke: All Saints Kirton in Holland: SS Peter & Paul Skirbeck: St Nicholas Benefice of Sibsey and Carrington New Bolingbroke: St Peter Carrington: St Paul Frithville: St Peter Sibsey: St Margaret Benefice of Skirbeck Holy Trinity Skirbeck: Holy Trinity (1848)
Deanery of Loveden
Linked Benefices of Brant Broughton and Beckingham // Leadenham // Welbourn Beckingham: All Saints Brant Broughton: St Helen Stragglethorpe: St Michael & All Angels Leadenham: St Swithin Welbourn: St Chad Benefice of Saxonwell Claypole North & South: St Peter Dry Doddington: St James Fenton: All Saints Foston: St Peter Long Bennington: St Swithin Sedgebrook: St Lawrence Stubton: St Martin West Allington: Holy Trinity Westborough: All Saints Benefice of East Loveden Ancaster: St Martin Heydour: St Michael and All Angels Kelby: St Andrew Rauceby: St Peter Welby: St Bartholomew Wilsford: St Mary Benefice of South Cliff Villages Barkston: St Nicholas Belton: SS Peter & Paul Brandon: Chapel of St John the Evangelist Carlton Scroop: St Nicholas Caythorpe: St Vincent Fulbeck: St Nicholas Honington: St Wilfred Hougham: All Saints Hough-on-the-Hill: All Saints Marston: St Mary Syston: St Mary
Deanery of Stamford
Benefice of Stamford All Saints with St John the Baptist Stamford: All Saints Stamford: St John the Baptist (redundant 2003) Stamford: St Michael the Greater (rebuilt 1836, redundant 1974) Benefice of Stamford Christ Church Stamford: Christ Church (1961, rebuilt c. 1980) Benefice of Stamford St George St Paul Stamford: St George Stamford: St Paul (closed 1548, became school chapel) Benefice of Stamford St Mary St Martin Stamford Baron: St Martin (rebuilt 1485) Stamford: St Mary Benefice of Uffington Barholme: St Martin Braceborough: St Margaret Greatford: St Thomas of Canterbury Tallington: St Lawrence Uffington: St Michael West Deeping: St Andrew Wilsthorpe: St Faith
Archdeaconry of Lincoln
Deanery of Bolingbroke
Benefice of Bolingbroke Ashby-by-Partney: St Helen Aswardby: St Helen Bolingbroke: SS Peter & Paul Candlesby: St Benedict Dalby: St Lawrence & Blessed Edward King East Keal: St Helen East Kirkby: St Nicholas Eastville: St Paul Firsby: St Andrew Great Steeping: All Saints Hagnaby: St Andrew Hagworthingham: Holy Trinity Halton Holgate: St Andrew Hareby: SS Peter & Paul