Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich

The Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich is a Church of England diocese based in Ipswich, covering Suffolk (excluding Lowestoft). The cathedral is St Edmundsbury Cathedral, and the bishop is the Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich. It is part of the Province of Canterbury.

The diocese was formed on 23 January 1914 from parts of the Diocese of Norwich and the Diocese of Ely.

Though the diocesan offices, the bishops' offices and residences are all in Ipswich – only the cathedral (and its offices) are in Bury St Edmunds – the diocese is nonetheless often referred to as St Edmundsbury diocese. Both the diocese and the diocesan bishop are commonly called "(St) Eds and Ips."

Bishops
Alongside the diocesan Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich (Martin Seeley), the Diocese has one suffragan bishop: the Bishop suffragan of Dunwich (Mike Harrison since 24 February 2016.) There are also some retired bishops living in the diocese who are licensed as honorary assistant bishops:
 * 2008–present: Gavin Reid, former Bishop of Maidstone, lives in Beccles.
 * 2008–present: Jeremy Walsh, retired Bishop suffragan of Tewkesbury, lives in Martlesham.
 * 2012–present: Retired Dean of St Paul's and former Bishop of Sodor and Man Graeme Knowles lives in Bury St Edmunds (and is also licensed in neighbouring Ely diocese.)
 * 2012–present: Former vicar of HTB Sandy Millar lives in Aldeburgh and is also an honorary assistant bishop in London.
 * 2015–present: Tim Stevens. retired Bishop of Leicester and former Bishop of Dunwich.

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.

Archdeaconries and deaneries
The Archdeacon of Ipswich now only has oversight of the Deanery of Ipswich and Inspiring Ipswich mission project. * including Cathedral

Archdeacon for Rural Mission
On 11 January 2019, it was announced that Sally Gaze, the Diocese's "Dean of Rural Mission Consultancy" since 2017, would become "Archdeacon for Rural Mission". She was collated archdeacon and installed a Diocesan Canon Residentiary of St Edmundsbury Cathedral on 10 February 2019; the post is new and has no territorial archdeaconry attached.

Financial and charitable bodies
The Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich Board of Finance is the principal charity within the Diocese. It was incorporated on 16 February, 1916.


 * 1) . Training for, and maintenance of the ministry
 * 2) . Building, alteration and repair of properties in connection with the Board's objects
 * 3) . Religious education
 * 4) . Provision of central organisation.