# Anglican Diocese of Birmingham

The Diocese of Birmingham is a diocese founded in 1905 in the Church of England's Province of Canterbury, covering the north-west of the traditional county of Warwickshire, the south-east of the traditional county of Staffordshire and the north-east of the traditional county of Worcestershire (now the central section of the West Midlands and small parts of south Staffordshire, north Warwickshire and north Worcestershire) in England.

## Cathedral

The see is in the centre of the City of Birmingham, where the seat of the diocese is located at the Cathedral Church of Saint Philip.
The 18th-century parish church of Saint Philip in Birmingham was elevated to cathedral status in 1905 when the see was founded, on 13 January 1905. Previously the area had been part of the Diocese of Worcester.

## Bishops

Besides the diocesan Bishop of Birmingham (Michael Volland) and the Bishop suffragan of Aston (Esther Prior; which see was created in 1954), there are two retired bishops resident in (or near) the diocese who are licensed to serve as honorary assistant bishops:
* 2002–present: Maurice Sinclair is a retired Presiding Bishop of the Southern Cone living in Selly Park.
* 2005–present: Iraj Mottahedeh is a retired diocesan Bishop of Iran who lives in Church Aston, Shropshire, in the neighbouring Lichfield diocese.
From 2023, alternative episcopal oversight (for parishes in the diocese who reject the ministry of women priests) was provided by the provincial episcopal visitor, the Bishop suffragan of Oswestry (since 2023 Paul Thomas), who is licensed as an honorary assistant bishop of the diocese in order to facilitate his work there.

## Archdeaconries and deaneries

The former deaneries of Yardley and Bordesley were merged in 2000. Central Birmingham was known as Birmingham City until 1996 and then Birmingham City Centre until 2004.
| Diocese | Archdeaconries | Rural Deaneries | Churches | Population | People/church |
| Diocese of Birmingham | Archdeaconry of Aston | Deanery of Aston | 10 | 94,960 | 9,496 |
| Diocese of Birmingham | Archdeaconry of Aston | Deanery of Coleshill | 18 | 137,541 | 7,641 |
| Diocese of Birmingham | Archdeaconry of Aston | Deanery of Polesworth | 18 | 39,549 | 2,197 |
| Diocese of Birmingham | Archdeaconry of Aston | Deanery of Solihull | 13 | 77,632 | 5,972 |
| Diocese of Birmingham | Archdeaconry of Aston | Deanery of Sutton Coldfield | 14 | 102,817 | 7,344 |
| Diocese of Birmingham | Archdeaconry of Aston | Deanery of Yardley & Bordesley | 16 | 206,603 | 12,913 |
| Diocese of Birmingham | Archdeaconry of Birmingham | Deanery of Central Birmingham | 9* | 51,631* | 5,737 |
| Diocese of Birmingham | Archdeaconry of Birmingham | Deanery of Edgbaston | 13 | 129,568 | 9,967 |
| Diocese of Birmingham | Archdeaconry of Birmingham | Deanery of Handsworth | 14 | 164,792 | 11,771 |
| Diocese of Birmingham | Archdeaconry of Birmingham | Deanery of King's Norton | 17 | 125,538 | 7,385 |
| Diocese of Birmingham | Archdeaconry of Birmingham | Deanery of Moseley | 16 | 134,813 | 8,426 |
| Diocese of Birmingham | Archdeaconry of Birmingham | Deanery of Shirley | 15 | 112,341 | 7,489 |
| Diocese of Birmingham | Archdeaconry of Birmingham | Deanery of Warley | 11 | 121,861 | 11,078 |
| Total/average | Total/average | Total/average | 184 | 1,499,646 | 8,150 |
*including Cathedral

## Churches

APC = ancient parish church.

### Not in a deanery

| Benefice | Churches | Founded (building) | Population served |
| Cathedra | Cathedral of St Philip, Birmingham | 1715 | 5,310 |

### Deanery of Aston

| Benefice | Churches | Founded (building) | Population served |
| Aston (St James) (St Peter and St Paul) and Nechells | SS Peter & Paul, Aston | APC | 23,808 |
| Aston (St James) (St Peter and St Paul) and Nechells | St James, Aston | 1891 | 23,808 |
| Aston (St James) (St Peter and St Paul) and Nechells | St Matthew, Nechells | 1839 | 23,808 |
| Erdington (St Barnabas) | St Barnabas, Erdington | 1822 | 17,167 |
| Erdington (St Chad) | St Chad, Erdington | 1914 | 7,232 |
| Erdington Christ the King | St Martin, Perry Common | | 19,137 |
| Erdington Christ the King | St Margaret, Short Heath | | 19,137 |
| Gravelly Hill (All Saints) | All Saints, Gravelly Hill | 1900 | 17,313 |
| Stockland Green (St Mark) | St Mark, Stockland Green | 1908 | 17,313 |
| Pype Hayes (St Mary the Virgin) | St Mary the Virgin, Pype Hayes | 1929 | 10,303 |

### Deanery of Coleshill

| Benefice | Churches | Founded (building) | Population served |
| Castle Bromwich (St Clement) | St Clement of Alexandria, Castle Bromwich | | 12,593 |
| Castle Bromwich (St Mary and St Margaret) | SS Mary & Margaret, Castle Bromwich | | 7,559 |
| Chelmsley Wood (St Andrew) | St Andrew, Chelmsley Wood | | 16,194 |
| Garretts Green (St Thomas) and Tile Cross | St Thomas, Garretts Green | | 19,423 |
| Garretts Green (St Thomas) and Tile Cross | St Peter, Tile Cross | | 19,423 |
| Hodge Hill (St Philip and St James) | SS Philip & James, Hodge Hill | | 19,008 |
| Kingshurst (St Barnabas) | St Barnabas, Kingshurst | | 8,882 |
| Lea Hall (St Richard) | St Richard, Lea Hall | | 8,389 |
| Marston Green (St Leonard) | St Leonard, Marston Green | | 6,793 |
| Coleshill (St Peter and St Paul) | SS Peter & Paul, Coleshill | | 6,717 |
| Maxstoke (St Michael and All Angels) | St Michael & All Angels, Maxstoke | | 6,717 |
| Shard End (All Saints) | All Saints, Shard End | 1954 | 11,532 |
| Sheldon (St Giles) | St Giles, Sheldon | APC | 14,906 |
| Water Orton (St Peter and St Paul) | SS Peter & Paul, Water Orton | APC | 3,444 |
| The Whitacres, Lea Marston, and Shustoke | St John the Baptist, Lea Marton | | 2,101 |
| The Whitacres, Lea Marston, and Shustoke | St Cuthbert, Shustoke | | 2,101 |
| The Whitacres, Lea Marston, and Shustoke | St Giles, Nether Whitacre | | 2,101 |
| The Whitacres, Lea Marston, and Shustoke | St Leonard, Over Whitacre | | 2,101 |

### Deanery of Polesworth

| Benefice | Churches | Founded (building) | Population served |
| All Souls, North Warwickshire, Comprising Austrey, Newton Regis, Seckington, Shuttington, and Warton | St Nicholas, Austrey | | 3,360 |
| All Souls, North Warwickshire, Comprising Austrey, Newton Regis, Seckington, Shuttington, and Warton | St Mary, Newton Regis | | 3,360 |
| All Souls, North Warwickshire, Comprising Austrey, Newton Regis, Seckington, Shuttington, and Warton | All Saints, Seckington | | 3,360 |
| All Souls, North Warwickshire, Comprising Austrey, Newton Regis, Seckington, Shuttington, and Warton | St Matthew, Shuttington | | 3,360 |
| All Souls, North Warwickshire, Comprising Austrey, Newton Regis, Seckington, Shuttington, and Warton | Holy Trinity, Warton | | 3,360 |
| Amington (St Editha) | St Editha, Amington | APC | 8,250 |
| Baddesley Ensor (St Nicholas) with Grendon | St Nicholas, Baddesley Ensor | | 3,537 |
| Baddesley Ensor (St Nicholas) with Grendon | All Saints, Grendon | | 3,537 |
| Baxterley (Not Known) with Hurley and Wood End and Merevale with Bentley | Baxterley Parish Church | APC | 8,055 |
| Baxterley (Not Known) with Hurley and Wood End and Merevale with Bentley | Resurrection, Hurley | 1861 | 8,055 |
| Baxterley (Not Known) with Hurley and Wood End and Merevale with Bentley | St Michael & All Angels, Wood End | 1906 | 8,055 |
| Baxterley (Not Known) with Hurley and Wood End and Merevale with Bentley | St Mary the Virgin, Merevale | APC | 8,055 |
| Kingsbury (St Peter and St Paul) | SS Peter & Paul, Kingsbury | APC | 8,055 |
| Dordon (St Leonard) | St Leonard, Dordon | | 3,192 |
| | St Mary, Freasley | | |
| Dosthill (St Paul) | St Paul, Dosthill | 1870 | 6,158 |
| Polesworth (St Editha) | Abbey Church of St Editha, Polesworth | APC | 6,997 |
| Polesworth (St Editha) | St John, Birchmoor | | 6,997 |

### Deanery of Solihull

| Benefice | Churches | Population served |
| Balsall Common (St Peter) | St Peter, Balsall Common | 5,459 |
| Barston (St Swithin) | St Swithin, Barston | 3,061 |
| Hampton-In-Arden (St Mary and St Bartholomew) with Bickenhill St Peter | SS Mary & Bartholomew, Hampton-in-Arden | 3,061 |
| Hampton-In-Arden (St Mary and St Bartholomew) with Bickenhill St Peter | St Peter, Bickenhill (MED) | 3,061 |
| Elmdon (St Nicholas) (St Stephen's Church Centre) (Valley Church Centre) | St Nicholas, Elmdon (MED) St Stephen's Church Centre, Elmdon | 8,887 |
| Hobs Moat (St Mary) | St Mary, Hobs Moat | 10,508 |
| Knowle (St John the Baptist) (St Lawrence & St Anne) | SS John the Baptist, Lawrence & Anne, Knowle (MED) | 9,165 |
| Olton (St Margaret) | St Margaret, Olton | 11,019 |
| Solihull (Catherine De Barnes) (St Alphege) (St Helen) (St Michael) | St Alphege, Solihull St Helen, Solihull St Michael, Solihull | 28,526 |
| Temple Balsall (St Mary) | St Mary the Virgin, Temple Balsall (MED) | 1,007 |

### Deanery of Sutton Coldfield

| Benefice | Churches | Population served |
| Boldmere (St Michael) | St Michael, Boldmere | 14,291 |
| Castle Vale (St Cuthbert of Lindisfarne) with Minworth | St Cuthbert of Lindisfarne, Castle Vale (1973) St George the Martyr, Minworth (1909) | 11,470 |
| Curdworth (St Nicholas and St Peter Ad Vincula) (St George), Middleton and Wishaw | SS Nicholas & Peter ad Vincula, Curdworth (MED) St John the Baptist, Middleton (MED) St Chad, Wishaw (MED) | 1,981 |
| Four Oaks (All Saints) | All Saints, Four Oaks (1908) | 6,498 |
| Hill (St James) | St James, Hill (1835) | 12,269 |
| Maney (St Peter) | St Peter, Maney (1877) | 6,003 |
| Sutton Coldfield (Holy Trinity) | Holy Trinity, Sutton Coldfield (MED) | 10,736 |
| Sutton Coldfield (St Chad) | St Chad, Sutton Coldfield (pre-1927) | 14,461 |
| Sutton Coldfield (St Columba) | St Columba, Sutton Coldfield | 6,767 |
| Walmley (St John the Evangelist) | St John the Evangelist, Walmley | 13,340 |
| Wylde Green (Emmanuel) | Emmanuel, Wylde Green (1909) | 5,001 |

### Deanery of Yardley and Bordesley

| Benefice | Churches | Population served |
| Acocks Green (St Mary) | St Mary the Virgin, Acocks Green (1864) | 15,747 |
| Bordesley (St Benedict) | St Benedict, Bordesley (1898) | 10,850 |
| Saltley (St Saviour) and Washwood Heath | St Saviour, Saltley (1848) St Mark, Washwood Heath (1890) | 28,747 |
| Small Heath (All Saints) | All Saints, Small Heath (1893) | 25,580 |
| Sparkbrook (Christ Church) | Christ Church, Sparkbrook (1867) | 7,000 |
| Sparkhill (St John the Evangelist) | St John the Evangelist, Sparkhill (1888) | 20,694 |
| Springfield (St Christopher) | St Christopher, Springfield (1906) | 7,638 |
| Stechford (All Saints) (St Andrew) | All Saints, Stechford (1897) | 12,616 |
| Tyseley (St Edmund) | St Edmund, Tyseley | 11,048 |
| Ward End Holy Trinity (St Margaret) with Bordesley Green | Christ Church, Ward End St Margaret, Ward End | 27,753 |
| Ward End Holy Trinity (St Margaret) with Bordesley Green | St Paul, Bordesley Green (1912) | 27,753 |
| Yardley (St Cyprian) Hay Mill | St Cyprian, Hay Mills (1860) | 21,470 |
| Yardley, South (St Michael and All Angels) | St Michael & All Angels, South Yardley | 21,470 |
| Yardley (St Edburgha) | St Edburgha, Yardley (MED) | 17,460 |

### Deanery of Central Birmingham

| Benefice | Churches | Population served |
| Birmingham (St George) | St George, Newtown | 6,837 |
| Birmingham (St Luke) | St Luke, Gas Street | 10,839 |
| Birmingham (St Martin-In-The-Bull-Ring) with Bordesley St Andrew | St Martin in the Bull Ring, Birmingham (MED) | 4,083 |
| Birmingham (St Paul) | St Paul, Birmingham (1777) | 4,565 |
| Highgate (St Alban the Martyr and St Patrick) | St Alban the Martyr, Highgate (1881) | 4,481 |
| Ladywood (St John the Evangelist) (St Peter) | St John the Evangelist, Ladywood (1852) | 11,030 |
| Sparkbrook (St Agatha) with Balsall Heath St Barnabas | St Agatha, Sparkbrook (1899) St Barnabas, Balsall Heath (1898) | 4,486 |

### Deanery of Edgbaston

| Benefice | Churches | Population served |
| Bartley Green (St Michael and All Angels) | St Michael & All Angels, Bartley Green (1838) | 14,906 |
| Edgbaston (St Augustine) | St Augustine of Hippo, Edgbaston (1867) | 8,843 |
| Edgbaston (St Bartholomew) | St Bartholomew, Edgbaston (MED) | 9,260 |
| Edgbaston (St George with St Michael) (St Michael's Hall) | St George, Edgbaston (1836) | 3,807 |
| Edgbaston (St Germain) | St Germain, Edgbaston (1915) | 6,650 |
| Harborne (St Faith and St Laurence) | SS Faith & Laurence, Harborne (1937) | 8,784 |
| Harborne (St Peter) | St Peter, Harborne (MED) | 10,825 |
| Harborne Heath (St John the Baptist) | St John the Baptist, Harborne | 7,080 |
| Quinton Road West (St Boniface) | St Boniface, Quinton | 10,198 |
| Quinton, the (Christ Church) | Christ Church, Quinton (1840) | 17,361 |
| Selly Oak (St Mary) | St Mary, Selly Oak (1860) | 10,893 |
| Summerfield (Christ Church) (Cavendish Road Hall) | Christ Church, Summerfield (1883) | 10,745 |
| Weoley Castle (St Gabriel) | St Gabriel, Weoley Castle (1934) | 10,216 |

### Deanery of Handsworth

| Benefice | Churches | Population served |
| Birchfield (Holy Trinity) | Holy Trinity, Birchfield (1863) | 17,809 |
| Hamstead (St Bernard) | St Bernard, Hamstead | 6,136 |
| Hamstead (St Paul) | St Paul, Hamstead (1865) | 14,970 |
| Handsworth (St Andrew) | St Andrew, Handsworth (1894) | 31,328 |
| Handsworth (St James) | St James, Handsworth (1838) | 31,328 |
| Handsworth (Good News Asian Church) Proprietary Chapel | Good News Asian Church, Handsworth | 31,328 |
| Birmingham (Bishop Latimer with All Saints) | Bishop Latimer Memorial, Winson Green (1903) | 19,786 |
| Handsworth (St Michael) (St Peter) | St Michael, Handsworth (1851) | 19,786 |
| Handsworth (St Mary) Epiphany | St Mary, Handsworth (MED) | 14,834 |
| Kingstanding (St Luke) | St Luke, Kingstanding | 16,156 |
| Kingstanding (St Mark) | St Mark, Kingstanding (1952) | 8,921 |
| Perry Barr (St John the Evangelist) | St John the Evangelist, Perry Barr (1831) | 12,242 |
| Perry Beeches (St Matthew) | St Matthew, Perry Beeches (1939) | 14,568 |
| Lozells (St Paul and St Silas) | SS Paul & Silas, Lozells | 8,042 |

### Deanery of King's Norton

| Benefice | Churches | Population served |
| Allens Cross (St Bartholomew) | St Bartholomew, Allen's Cross (1938) | 14,795 |
| Cofton Hackett (St Michael) with Barnt Green | St Michael & All Angels, Cofton Hackett (MED) St Andrew, Barnt Green | 3,569 |
| Cotteridge (St Agnes) | The Cotteridge Church (Meth/CofE/URC) (1898) | 4,680 |
| Frankley (St Leonard) | St Leonard, Frankley (MED) St Christopher, Holly Hill | 8,427 |
| Kings Norton (St Nicolas) | St Nicolas, Kings Norton (MED) Immanuel, Kings Norton Hawkesley Church | 28,374 |
| Lickey (Holy Trinity) | Holy Trinity, Lickey (1855) St Catherine, Blackwell | 4,292 |
| Longbridge (St John the Baptist) | St John the Baptist, Longbridge | 9,233 |
| Northfield (St Laurence) | St Laurence, Northfield (MED) | 15,713 |
| Rednal (St Stephen the Martyr) | St Stephen the Martyr, Rednal (1951) | 7,166 |
| Rubery (St Chad) | St Chad, Rubery (1895) | 9,725 |
| Shenley Green (St David) | St David, Shenley Green (1962) | 9,165 |
| West Heath (St Anne) | St Anne, West Heath | 10,399 |

### Deanery of Moseley

| Benefice | Churches | Population served |
| Balsall Heath (St Paul) and Edgbaston | St Paul, Balsall Heath (1852) SS Mary & Ambrose, Edgbaston (1891) | 18,375 |
| Billesley Common (Holy Cross) | Holy Cross, Billesley Common | 9,486 |
| Bournville (St Francis) | St Francis of Assisi, Bournville (1913) | 8,062 |
| Brandwood (St Bede) | St Bede, Brandwood | 8,996 |
| Hazelwell (St Mary Magdalen) | St Mary Magdalen, Hazelwell | 6,496 |
| Highters Heath (Immanuel) | Immanuel, Highters Heath | 9,608 |
| Kings Heath (All Saints) | All Saints, King's Heath (1860) | 12,613 |
| Moseley (St Agnes) | St Agnes, Moseley (1883) | 10,083 |
| Moseley (St Anne) (St Mary) | St Mary, Moseley (MED) St Anne, Moseley (1874) | 14,346 |
| Selly Park (Christ Church) | Christ Church, Selly Park (2008) | 5,503 |
| Selly Park (St Stephen) (St Wulstan) | St Stephen, Selly Park (1870) St Wulstan, Selly Park | 14,099 |
| Stirchley (Ascension) | Ascension, Stirchley (1898) | 6,256 |
| Yardley Wood (Christ Church) | Christ Church, Yardley Wood (1848) | 10,890 |

### Deanery of Shirley

| Benefice | Churches | Population served |
| Dorridge (St Philip) | St Philip, Dorridge St James, Bentley Heath | 9,411 |
| Hall Green (Church of the Ascension) | Ascension, Hall Green (1704) | 14,839 |
| Hall Green (St Michael) | St Michael, Hall Green | 23,505 |
| Hall Green (St Peter) | St Peter, Hall Green (1923) | 23,505 |
| Lapworth (St Mary the Virgin) | St Mary the Virgin, Lapworth | 1,611 |
| Baddesley Clinton (St Michael) | St Michael, Baddesley Clinton | 1,611 |
| Packwood (St Giles) with Hockley Heath | St Giles, Packwood St Thomas, Nuthurst | 2,657 |
| Salter Street (St Patrick) | St Patrick, Salter Street (1840) | 12,732 |
| Shirley (St James the Great) | St James the Great, Shirley (1831) St John the Divine, Shirley Christ the King, Shirley | 35,412 |
| Tanworth (St Mary Magdalene) | St Mary Magdalene, Tanworth-in-Arden (MED) | 2,460 |
| Wythall (St Mary) | St Mary, Wythall (1862) | 9,714 |

### Deanery of Warley

| Benefice | Churches | Population served |
| Bearwood (St Mary the Virgin) | St Mary the Virgin, Bearwood (1888) | 6,811 |
| Blackheath (St Paul) | St Paul, Blackheath (1869) | 23,970 |
| Rounds Green (St James) | St James, Rounds Green | 23,970 |
| Oldbury (Christ Church), Langley, and Londonderry | Christ Church, Oldbury St John & Michael, Langley St Mark, Londonderry | 27,664 |
| Rowley Regis (St Giles) | St Giles, Rowley Regis (MED) | 17,777 |
| Smethwick (Old Church) | Smethwick Old Church (1732) | 8,973 |
| Smethwick (Resurrection) (St Stephen and St Michael) | Holy Trinity, Smethwick (1846) | 15,924 |
| Smethwick (St Matthew with St Chad) | St Matthew, Smethwick (1855) | 10,199 |
| Warley Woods (St Hilda) | St Hilda, Warley Woods (1906) | 10,543 |

## Safeguarding controversy

In December 2018 the diocese was criticised for its use of a Non-disclosure Agreement (NDA) in relation to an abuse case. The survivor described the ten-year process since her first complaint as "haphazard" and claimed she was warned by an unnamed bishop not to talk to the media as it wouldn't be "very godly". The diocese carried out an independent review which delivered damning findings about the handling of her case by the (then) Bishop of Birmingham, David Urquhart, and then forced the survivor to sign the NDA before she was permitted to see the review into her own case. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, had previously questioned the legitimacy of these agreements in March 2018 at the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse
   A non-disclosure agreement seems to me to be dangerous because it creates suspicion, 'Why are you doing an NDA? Surely you're trying to cover something up'.
The Bishop of Buckingham, Alan Wilson, commenting on the scandal said it was the fourth "corrupt and destructive" non-disclosure agreement (NDA) that had come to his attention since September.
   They seem inherently abusive, mainly used to provide a carpet under which to sweep abuse. If people really want them they should be time-limited with reasons.
He said he was unable to share details of the other cases but that some were "complete shockers". The Diocese of Birmingham said the NDA had been used to ensure that those who read the report did not share information provided by other contributors who wanted to remain anonymous. A Church of England spokesperson stated that guidance would be sent to all dioceses to discourage use of these agreements. The bishop and the diocese apologised to the survivor and her husband.