Jargon explained

Some common terms explained

A Diocese is the area under the authority of a diocesan bishop. There are 44 dioceses in the Church of England. The Diocese of Lincoln is the largest, by area, in England.

A Deanery is a group of parishes within a smaller region of an archdeaconry. A deanery is presided over by the Rural Dean, and each deanery has a synod, with membership of all clergy who are licensed to a parish within the deanery, plus elected lay members from every parish.

A Diocesan Bishop oversees a diocese. The title is given to the highest Order in the Anglican Ministry.

An Archbishop also has his own diocese, but is also the chief of the clergy in a whole Province. In the Church of England there are two Archbishops: Canterbury and York. The Diocese of Lincoln is in the Province of Canterbury.

A Suffragan Bishop is junior to the Diocesan Bishop and acts as his deputy in a specified part of the diocese. In the Diocese of Lincoln there are two Bishops Suffragan: Grimsby and Grantham. In some dioceses they are called Area Bishops where a diocese has officially divided into areas.

Assistant Bishops are usually retired and help out within a diocese on a short-term contract or informal arrangement.

An Archdeacon is a senior priest appointed by the bishop. They carry out legal and administrative functions on behalf of the bishop in areas called archdeaconries.