- Diocese of Armagh (Church of Ireland)
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For the Roman Catholic diocese, see Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Armagh.
The Diocese of Armagh is the Metropolitan head of the Ecclesiastical province of Armagh. The province is one of two such provinces of the Church of Ireland in the island of Ireland. The Province of Armagh is a geographic subdivision of the island which straddles the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Contents
Geographic remit
The diocese mainly covers County Louth and parts of County Donegal (in the Republic of Ireland) along with Northern Ireland's counties of Tyrone and Armagh. The Metropolitan Province contains the following suffragan sees:
Overview and history
The diocese traces its history to St Patrick in the 5th century, who founded the see. When the Church in England broke communion with the Roman Catholic Church, the Church of England was established by the state as the established church. Later, by decree of the Irish Parliament, a similar new body became the State Church in the Kingdom of Ireland. It assumed possession of most Church property (and so retained a great repository of religious architecture and other items, though some were later destroyed). The substantial majority of the population remained faithful to the Latin Rite of Roman Catholicism, despite the political and economic advantages of membership in the state church. They were obliged to find alternative premises and to conduct their services in secret. The English-speaking minority mostly adhered to the Church of Ireland or to Presbyterianism. On the death of Archbishop Trench of Tuam in 1839, the Province of Tuam was united to the Armagh. Over the centuries, numerous dioceses were merged, in view of declining membership.
Ordinaries
The current Archbishop of Armagh has his seat in St Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh. Following the English Reformation and the establishment of the Church of Ireland by the state, the first Anglican bishop appointed by Henry VIII of England was Hugh Goodacre in 1552.[1]
See also
References
- ^ Cross, F. L. (ed.) (1957) Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church; p. 86
External links
Church of Ireland diocesesProvince of Armagh Armagh • Clogher • Connor • Derry and Raphoe • Down & Dromore • Kilmore, Elphin & Ardagh • Tuam, Killala & Achonry
Province of Dublin Anglican Communion Categories:- Church of Ireland dioceses
- Diocese of Armagh (Church of Ireland)
- Armagh (city)
- Anglican diocese stubs
- Northern Ireland stubs
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