Diocese of Bristol

The Diocese of Bristol forms part of the Province of Canterbury of the Church of England.

The Diocese of Bristol was established on 4 June 1542 and consisted the city of Bristol together with the county of Dorset. Before then it was a part of the Diocese of Gloucester when it was created from the medieval Diocese of Worcester in 1541. The Diocese of Bristol continued until 5 October 1836 when Dorset was annexed to the Diocese of Salisbury and the remaider, the city of Bristol, formed part of the Diocese of Gloucester and Bristol. After sixty years, a new Diocese of Bristol was created on 7 July 1897, but with different boundaries.

The area of the diocese incorporates:
 * the city of Bristol
 * South Gloucestershire and
 * parts of north Wiltshire to Swindon.

The diocese is divided into two Archdeaconries:
 * the Archdeaconry of Bristol
 * comprises the Deaneries of Bristol South, Bristol West, and the City
 * the Archdeaconry of Malmesbury
 * comprises the Deaneries of Chippenham, Kingswood and South Gloucestershire, North Wiltshire, and Swindon.