The Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney is one of the seven dioceses of the Scottish Episcopal Church. Created in 1865, the diocese covers the historic county of Aberdeenshire, and the Orkney and Shetland island groups. It shares with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Aberdeen a Christian heritage that can be traced back to Norman times, and incorporates the ancient Diocese of Orkney, founded in 1035.
Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney Sgìre-easbaig Obar Dheathain agus Arcaibh | |
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Location | |
Country | Scotland |
Ecclesiastical province | Scotland |
Subdivisions | Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Chaplaincies, The Isles |
Headquarters | Marischal College, Aberdeen |
Statistics | |
Congregations | 46 |
Information | |
Denomination | Scottish Episcopal Church |
Cathedral | St Andrew's Cathedral, Aberdeen |
Current leadership | |
Bishop | Anne Dyer, Bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney |
Dean | Vacant |
Map | |
![]() Map showing Aberdeen & Orkney within Scotland | |
Website | |
aberdeen.anglican.org |
The diocese is considered the most conservative of the dioceses of the Scottish Episcopal Church, and was the only diocese to reject a change in the church's teaching to allow same-sex marriage in 2017.[1]
The first female bishop of the SEC, Anne Dyer, was appointed to the diocese in November 2017 and consecrated and enthroned on 3 March 2018. Her gender, support of same-sex marriage, and the fact that she was not elected by the diocese itself (she was appointed by the College of Bishops in accordance with the SEC canonical process when a diocese fails to meet the requirements to elect its own bishop), caused some controversy,[1][2][3] and two senior clergy, the Dean (Emsley Nimmo) and another member of the Cathedral Chapter, resigned their diocesan roles in protest.[4] After further resignations by other clergy, the Westhill Community Church voted to leave the SEC in January 2019.[5] Dorsey McConnell, former Bishop of Pittsburgh, took on the role of acting bishop on 1 November 2023, while Dyer remains suspended.[6]
The diocese has a strong companion link with the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut and the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. Samuel Seabury, the first Episcopal bishop outside the British Isles, was consecrated in 1784 by Robert Kilgour, Bishop of Aberdeen, and John Skinner, coadjutor bishop. Clarence Coleridge, suffragan bishop of Connecticut, was consecrated by a Bishop of Aberdeen in 1981; he was elected 13th diocesan bishop of Connecticut in 1993.
Area and population
editThe diocese covers the historic counties of Orkney (population 21,500), Zetland (population 23,000), Aberdeenshire except the Huntly area (population 393,000), the Banff, Buckie and Cullen areas of Banffshire (population 29,500), and the Banchory and Lower Deeside areas of Kincardineshire (population 26,000).
List of bishops
editBishops of Aberdeen and Orkney | |||
---|---|---|---|
From | Until | Incumbent | Notes |
1865 | 1883 | Thomas Suther | Died in office. |
1883 | 1905 | Arthur Douglas | Died in office. |
1906 | 1911 | Rowland Ellis | Died in office. |
1912 | 1917 | Anthony Mitchell | Died in office. |
1917 | 1943 | Frederic Deane | |
1943 | 1955 | Herbert Hall | Died in office. |
1956 | 1972 | Frederick Easson | |
1973 | 1976 | Ian Begg | |
1976 | 1991 | Frederick Darwent | |
1991 | 2006 | Bruce Cameron | Installed 1992, Primus 2000–2006. |
2006 | 2016[7] | Robert (Bob) Gillies | |
2018 | Incumbent[8] | Anne Dyer | First female bishop in the SEC |
List of provosts
editList of deans
editThe following served as Dean of Aberdeen diocese:
- bef. 1846 – 1850: John Cumming, of Longside[9]
- 1850 – 1865: David Wilson, of Woodhead[9]
The following have served as Dean of Aberdeen and Orkney:
- 1865 to 1880: David Wilson (title changed)
- 1880 to 1886: Arthur Ranken
- 1886 to 1887: Alexander Harper
- 1887 to 1896: William Webster
- 1896 to 1906: William Walker
- 1907 to 1909: Myers Danson
- 1910 to 1922: James Wiseman
- 1922 to 1934: Robert Mackay
- 1934 to 1948: George Bartlet
- 1948 to 1953: John Wattie
- 1953 to 1956: Frederick Easson, later bishop
- 1956 to 1969: Richard Kerrin
- 1969 to 1972: Ian Begg, later bishop
- 1973 to 1978: Frederick Darwent, later bishop
- 1978 to 1983: Alexander Adamson[10]
- 1983 to 1988: Denis Bovey[11]
- 1988 to 2008: Gerald Stranraer-Mull[12]
- 2008 to 2017: Emsley Nimmo
- 2017 to 2020: vacant
- 2020 to 2021: Dennis Berk[13]
- 2021 to present: vacant
Churches and clergy
editThe diocese currently has 23 stipendiary clergy and 40 churches.
Benefice | Churches | Link | Founded (building) | Clergy |
---|---|---|---|---|
Banff[14] | St Andrew, Banff | [1] | 1722 (1833) | J. Paisey |
Buckie[15] | All Saints, Buckie | [2] | c. 1689 (1876) | |
Turriff[16] | St Congan, Turriff | [3] | 1738 (1862) | - |
Cuminestown[17] | St Luke, Cuminestown | [4] | C18th (1844) | - |
New Pitsligo[18] | St John the Evangelist, New Pitsligo | [5] | 1835 (1870s) | - |
Strichen[19] | All Saints, Strichen | [6] | 1861 | - |
Fraserburgh[20] | St Peter, Fraserburgh | [7] | 1721 (1892) | - |
Longside[21] | St John the Evangelist, Longside | [8] | 1716 (1854) | R. O'Sullivan |
Old Deer[22] | St Drostan, Old Deer | [9] | 1851 | |
Peterhead[23] | St Peter, Peterhead | [10] | 1699 (1814) | |
Cruden Bay[24] | St James the Less, Cruden Bay | [11] | C18th (1843) | - |
Ellon[25] | St Mary-on-the-Rock, Ellon | C18th (1871) | ||
Insch[26] | St Drostan, Insch | [12] | 1894 | A. MacDonald |
Fyvie[27] | All Saints, Woodhead of Fyvie | [13] | 1849 | |
Oldmeldrum[28] | St Matthew & St George, Oldmeldrum | [14] | 1863 | - |
Alford[29] | St Andrew, Alford | [15] | 1869 | M. Blake |
Auchindoir[30] | St Mary, Auchindoir | [16] | - | |
Inverurie[31] | St Mary, Inverurie | [17] | 1841 | |
Kemnay[32] | St Anne, Kemnay | [18] | 1938 | |
Whiterashes[33] | All Saints, Whiterashes | [19] | 1858 | |
Aberdeen (Cathedral of St Andrew)[34][35] | St Andrew's Cathedral, Aberdeen | [20] | 1817 | I. Poobalan |
Bieldside[36] | Carpenters Arms Fellowship 4 Everyone | [21] | G. Bowyer | |
St Devenick, Bieldside | [22] | 1894 (1903) | ||
Aberdeen (St Clement)[37] | St Clement, Aberdeen | [23] | 1960s | J. Lyon |
Aberdeen (St Ninian)[38] | St Ninian, Aberdeen | [24] | 1936 | |
Aberdeen (St James)[39] | St James the Less, Aberdeen | [25] | 1804 | R. Green J. Souter |
Aberdeen (St John the Evangelist)[40] | St John, Aberdeen | [26] | 1720 (1851) | J. Holden |
Aberdeen (St Margaret of Scotland)[41] | St Margaret of Scotland, Gallowgate | [27] | 1867 (1870) | A. Nimmo |
Aberdeen (St Mary)[42] | St Mary, Carden Place | [28] | 1863 (1864) | T. Taggart J. Hobbs |
Cove Bay[43] | St Mary, Cove Bay | [29] | 1864 | - |
Bucksburn[44] | St Machar, Bucksburn | [30] | 1874 (1880) | D. Heddle |
Aboyne[45] | St Thomas, Aboyne | [31] | 1909 | V. Hancock |
Ballater[46] | St Kentigern, Ballater | [32] | C19th (1907) | |
St Ninian's Chapel, Braemar | [33] | 1895 | ||
Kincardine O'Neil[47] | Christ Church, Kincardine O'Neil | [34] | 1866 | - |
Banchory[48] | St Ternan, Banchory | [35] | 1851 | L. Downs |
Burravoe[49] | St Colman, Burravoe | [36] | 1898 | N. Brice |
Lerwick[50] | St Magnus, Lerwick | 1861 (1864) | ||
Kirkwall[51] | St Olaf, Kirkwall | [37] | 1876 | D. Dawson |
Stromness[52] | St Mary, Stromness | [38] | 1885 (1888) | T. Miller |
Former congregation
editBenefice | Church | Link | Founded (building) | Seceded from SEC |
---|---|---|---|---|
Westhill Community Church[53] | Westhill Community Church | [39] | 1972 (2014) | 2019 |
Closed churches in the diocese area
editName | Founded (building) | Closed |
---|---|---|
St Peter, Torry[54] | ||
St John the Baptist, Portsoy[55] | 2016 | |
Chapel of Christ the Encompasser, Fetlar[56] | 2015 | |
St Margaret, Braemar[57] | 2001 | |
St Paul, Aberdeen[58] | 1867 | 1986 |
See also
edit- Bishop of Aberdeen (before and after the Reformation)
References
edit- ^ a b Farley, Harry (5 January 2018). "Scottish Episcopal Church clergy rebel after 'divisive' appointment of bishop to conservative diocese". Christian Today. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
- ^ Farley, Harry (27 November 2017). "Splits emerge among Scottish Anglicans after gay marriage vote". Christian Today. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
- ^ Davies, Madeleine (5 January 2018). "Aberdeen & Orkney letter questions new Bishop". Church Times. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
- ^ "Resignations Follow Aberdeen & Orkney Appointment". Scottish Anglican. 25 November 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
- ^ "Aberdeen congregation votes to secede from the Scottish Episcopal Church". Anglican News. 18 January 2019.
- ^ "The College of Bishops appoints Bishop Dorsey McConnell as new Acting Bishop in Aberdeen and Orkney". Scottish Episcopal Church. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ Bishop of Aberdeen & Orkney announces his retirement.
- ^ The Rt Rev Anne Dyer, Bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney.
- ^ a b The Clergy List, 1846 p. 262 & 1850 p. 288
- ^ 'ADAMSON, Very Rev. Alexander Campbell', Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2016; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2014; online edn, April 2014 accessed 8 Sept 2017
- ^ "Denis Philip Bovey". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
- ^ 'STRANRAER-MULL, Very Rev. Gerald', Who's Who 2017, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 2017; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2016; online edn, Nov 2016 accessed 7 Sept 2017
- ^ "New Dean for Aberdeen & Orkney". The Scottish Episcopal Church. 17 February 2020. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ "The Benefice of Banff (St Andrew)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "The Benefice of Buckie (All Saints)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "The Benefice of Turriff (St Congan)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "The Benefice of Cuminestown (St Luke)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "The Benefice of New Pitsligo (St John the Evangelist)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "The Benefice of Strichen (All Saints)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "The Benefice of Fraserburgh (St Peter)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "The Benefice of Longside (St John)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "The Benefice of Old Deer (St Drostan)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "The Benefice of Peterhead (St Peter)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "The Benefice of Cruden Bay (St James the Less)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "The Benefice of Ellon (St Mary On the Rock)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "The Benefice of Insch (St Drostan)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "The Benefice of Fyvie (All Saints)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "The Benefice of Oldmeldrum (St Matthew)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "The Benefice of Alford (St Andrew)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "The Benefice of Auchindoir (St Mary)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "The Benefice of Inverurie (St Mary)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "The Benefice of Kemnay (St Anne)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "The Benefice of Whiterashes (All Saints)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ Installation of Isaac Poobalan as Provost and Rector St Andrew's Cathedral Website.
- ^ "The Benefice of Aberdeen (Cathedral of St Andrew)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "The Benefice of Bieldside (St Devenick)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "The Benefice of Aberdeen (St Clement)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "The Benefice of Aberdeen (St Ninian)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "The Benefice of Aberdeen (St James)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "The Benefice of Aberdeen (St John the Evangelist)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "The Benefice of Aberdeen (St Margaret of Scotland)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "The Benefice of Aberdeen (St Mary)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "The Benefice of Cove Bay (St Mary)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "The Benefice of Bucksburn (St Machar)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "The Benefice of Aboyne (St Peter)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "The Benefice of Ballater (St Kentigern)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "The Benefice of Kincardine O'neil (Christ Church)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "The Benefice of Banchory (St Ternan)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "The Benefice of Burravoe (St Colman)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "The Benefice of Lerwick (St Magnus)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "The Benefice of Kirkwall (St Olaf)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "The Benefice of Stromness (St Mary)". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "The Benefice of Westhill Community Church". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
- ^ "Geograph:: Aberdeen churches past and present". www.geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
- ^ "DIOCESE OF ABERDEEN AND ORKNEY, ST JOHN THE BAPTIST, PORTSOY - ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30th SEPTEMBER 2016" (PDF).
- ^ "Society of Our Lady of the Isles". sites.google.com. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
- ^ "Project History". www.stmargaretsbraemar.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "Aberdeen, Loch Street, St Paul's Episcopal Church | Canmore". canmore.org.uk. Retrieved 13 October 2018.