Ecclesiastical province Armagh and Tuam | Denomination Anglican | |
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Cathedral St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh Bishop Richard Clarke, Archbishop of Armagh | ||
The Diocese of Armagh is the metropolitan diocese of the ecclesiastical province of Armagh, the Church of Ireland province that covers the northern half (approximately) of the island of Ireland. The diocese mainly covers counties Louth, Tyrone and Armagh, and parts of Down. The diocesan bishop is also the Archbishop of Armagh, the archbishop of the province, and the Primate of All Ireland. The Archbishop has his seat in St Patrick's Cathedral in the town of Armagh.
Contents
Overview and history
As of 2011 the diocese had 31,000 parishioners in its 44 parochial units. Ordained and lay ministry involved 47 serving and 28 retired clergy; 13 Diocesan Readers and 37 Parish Readers.
The diocese traces its history to St Patrick in the 5th century, who founded the see. Church property that existed when the Church of Ireland broke with the Roman Catholic Church, buildings included, was retained by the reformed Church of Ireland, then on the disestablishment of the Church in 1871, confiscated by the state. Schools, churches and cathedrals were returned to the Church.
Ordinaries
The first Anglican Archbishop was Hugh Goodacre, appointed by Edward VI in 1552. The current Archbishop is Richard Clarke.