# Anglican Diocese of Liverpool

The diocese of Liverpool is a diocese of the Church of England in North West England. The diocese covers Merseyside north of the River Mersey, south-west Lancashire, western Greater Manchester, and part of northern Cheshire. Liverpool Cathedral is the seat of the bishop of Liverpool, currently John Perumbalath, and the diocesan offices are also located in Liverpool. The bishop is assisted by one suffragan bishop, the bishop of Warrington.
What is now the diocese of Liverpool was historically part of the diocese of Coventry and Lichfield, and became part of the newly created diocese of Chester in 1541. The diocese of Liverpool was established on 9 April 1880.

## Bishops

The diocese's House of Bishops comprises the diocesan Bishop of Liverpool (John Perumbalath), the suffragan Bishop of Warrington (Bev Mason), and the honorary assistant bishop (since 1999) and pro-vice chancellor emeritus at Liverpool Hope University, Ian Stuart (a former Assistant Bishop of North Queensland.) Alternative episcopal oversight (for parishes in the diocese who reject the ministry of women priests) is provided by the provincial episcopal visitor (PEV) the Bishop of Beverley, Stephen Race. He is licensed as an honorary assistant bishop of the diocese in order to facilitate his work there.
On 28 February 2025, it was announced that Ruth Worsley is to become Interim Bishop of Liverpool (i.e. diocesan bishop ad interim) for a period of two years starting later in 2025; to facilitate this role, she is to be translated from Taunton to the vacant suffragan See of Wigan (becoming Bishop of Wigan).
There are two retired bishops living in the diocese:
* Cyril Ashton, a retired former Bishop suffragan of Doncaster, has been a licensed as an honorary assistant bishop since his 2011 retirement to Lancaster, Lancashire (in Blackburn diocese, where he is also licensed.)
* Frank Sargeant, former Bishop at Lambeth lives in Salford, Greater Manchester (and is also licensed in that diocese.)
In May 2016, it was announced that Susan Goff, Suffragan Bishop of Virginia, had been licensed as an honorary assistant bishop (called "Assisting Bishop of Liverpool") in the diocese, as part of the companion link with the American Episcopalian Diocese of Virginia. In response, the Diocese of Akure, Nigeria, has indicated that they wish to end their part of the companion link.

## Archdeaconries and deaneries

| Diocese | Archdeaconries | Rural Deaneries |
| Diocese of Liverpool | Archdeaconry of Liverpool | Deanery of Liverpool North |
| Diocese of Liverpool | Archdeaconry of Liverpool | Deanery of Liverpool South |
| Diocese of Liverpool | Archdeaconry of Liverpool | Deanery of Toxteth and Wavertree |
| Diocese of Liverpool | Archdeaconry of Liverpool | Deanery of Walton |
| Diocese of Liverpool | Archdeaconry of Liverpool | Deanery of West Derby |
| Diocese of Liverpool | Archdeaconry of St Helens & Warrington | Deanery of St Helens |
| Diocese of Liverpool | Archdeaconry of St Helens & Warrington | Deanery of Warrington |
| Diocese of Liverpool | Archdeaconry of St Helens & Warrington | Deanery of Widnes |
| Diocese of Liverpool | Archdeaconry of St Helens & Warrington | Deanery of Winwick |
| Diocese of Liverpool | Archdeaconry of St Helens & Warrington | Deanery of Wigan |
| Diocese of Liverpool | Archdeaconry of Knowsley & Sefton | Deanery of Huyton |
| Diocese of Liverpool | Archdeaconry of Knowsley & Sefton | Deanery of North Meols |
| Diocese of Liverpool | Archdeaconry of Knowsley & Sefton | Deanery of Sefton North$^1$ |
| Diocese of Liverpool | Archdeaconry of Knowsley & Sefton | Deanery of Sefton South$^2$ |
| Diocese of Liverpool | Archdeaconry of Knowsley & Sefton | Deanery of Ormskirk |
$^1$named Sefton until 2012
$^2$named Bootle until 2017