Synod to consider ‘super diocese’ in shake-up

The General Synod of the Church of England will be asked to approve plans to axe three dioceses, creating a new “super diocese” in their place.

Members will be invited to approve a draft scheme to dissolve the three existing dioceses of Bradford, Ripon and Leeds and Wakefield. They would be replaced by a single new diocese of Leeds, with a working name of West Yorkshire and the Dales.

Under the scheme, there will be a new bishop, the Bishop of Leeds, with two new suffragan, or area bishops of Bradford and Huddersfield created.

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The three existing cathedrals of Bradford, Ripon and Wakefield would remain cathedrals with Leeds parish church, known as Leeds Minster, made a “pro-cathedral”.

All the diocesan synods affected by the scheme have given their consent to the reorganisation apart from Wakefield.