Diocese of Argyll and The Isles (Episcopal)


The Diocese of Argyll and The Isles is in the west of Scotland, and is one of the seven dioceses of the Scottish Episcopal Church. It is perhaps the largest of the dioceses, but has the smallest number of church members. As a united diocese, Argyll and The Isles has two cathedrals: St John's in Oban and the Cathedral of The Isles in Millport, Isle of Cumbrae.
The Diocese of the Isles, by itself, was founded by Patrick in 900, and the Diocese of Argyll was founded by Bishop Harald in 1193. During the Scottish Reformation, most of the heritage and jurisdiction of the church was given to the Church of Scotland. However, the small Scottish Episcopal Church claims to have maintained the line of bishops of both dioceses through to the present day. In the seventeenth century, the Diocese of the Isles was united with the dioceses of Caithness and Orkney, and, in 1819, was separated from them to unite with the Diocese of Argyll. In 1878, the Roman Catholic Church created a Diocese of Argyll and the Isles. The diocese is responsible for the only two Episcopalian retreat houses in Scotland. The Right Reverend Martin Shaw retired in 2009. His successor, Kevin Pearson, was elected at an Episcopal Synod held at the Cathedral of The Isles on 6 October 2010, and was consecrated and installed in Oban at Candlemas 2011.
The Diocese of Argyll and The Isles is twinned with the Anglican Diocese of Zanzibar and the Episcopal Diocese of Delaware.

Area and population

The diocese covers the historic counties of Argyllshire and Buteshire, the Hebridean parts of Inverness-shire and Ross and Cromarty, and the Lochaber area of Inverness-shire. This total population of approximately 127,000 makes it the smallest British Anglican diocese by population apart from the Diocese of Sodor and Man. It gives the diocese a ratio of one priest to every 18,100 inhabitants and one church to every 3,850 inhabitants.

Deans of the diocese

Secessions

On 24 November 2017 the congregation of Christ Church, Harris, a Scottish Episcopal church in the Western Isles, announced that they could no longer remain under the oversight of their local bishop, Kevin Pearson, Bishop of Argyll and the Isles, owing to his support of the SEC's approval of same-sex marriage. They would instead be receiving the episcopal ministry of Andy Lines, the Missionary Bishop to Europe of the Anglican Church in North America. Daniel Davies, the priest-in-charge of Christ Church, resigned his SEC position on 22 January 2018.

Churches

The diocese currently has 8 stipendiary clergy and 32 active churches.
BeneficeChurchesLinkFounded Stipendiary clergy
StornowaySt Peter, StornowayC18th P. Moger
EoropaidhSt Moluag, Eoropaidh1912 P. Moger
No beneficeSt Brendan the Navigator, North Uist-
No beneficeHoly Cross, North Uist-
PortreeSt Columba, Portree1884R. Bungard
PortreeSt Michael & All Angels, RaasayR. Bungard
PortreeSt Mary, Kilmore, SleatR. Bungard
KinlochmoidartSt Finan, Kinlochmoidart18580
StrontianSt Mary, Strontian18750
Fort WilliamSt Andrew, Fort William1817 A. Guinness
West Highland RegionSt Columba, Gruline1873A. Fairclough
West Highland RegionSt John, BallachulishC18th A. Fairclough
West Highland RegionSt Adamnan, Duror1846A. Fairclough
West Highland RegionSt Mary, GlencoeC18th A. Fairclough
West Highland RegionSt Moluag, Kentallen1868A. Fairclough
West Highland RegionSt Paul, Kinlochleven1908 A. Fairclough
West Highland RegionSt Bride, Onich1874A. Fairclough
West Highland RegionHoly Cross, Portnacroish1809A. Fairclough
LochbuieSt Kilda, Lochbuie 1876-
IonaSt Columba's Chapel, Bishop's House, Iona1894-
Argyll CathedraCathedral of St John the Divine, Oban1846 M. Campbell
Argyll CathedraKilbrandon Congregation M. Campbell
ArdbrecknishSt James, Ardbrecknish1892M. Campbell
IslaySt Columba, Bridgend 1888-
CampbeltownSt Kiaran, Campbeltown1848-
Isle of ArranSt Margaret of Scotland, Arran1902S. Mackenzie
InverarayAll Saints, InverarayC19th S. Mackenzie
KilmartinSt Columba, Kilmartin1854S. Mackenzie
LochgilpheadChrist Church, Lochgilphead1842 S. Mackenzie
DunoonHoly Trinity, Dunoon1846 D. Railton
RothesaySt Paul, Rothesayc. 1830 D. Railton
Isles CathedraCathedral of the Holy Spirit, Cumbrae1849K. Pearson

Former congregation

Closed churches in the diocese area