Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney explained

See also: Diocese of Aberdeen.

The Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney is one of the seven dioceses of the Scottish Episcopal Church. Created in 1865, the diocese covers the historic county of Aberdeenshire, and the Orkney and Shetland island groups. It shares with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Aberdeen a Christian heritage that can be traced back to Norman times, and incorporates the ancient Diocese of Orkney, founded in 1035.

The diocese is considered the most conservative of the dioceses of the Scottish Episcopal Church, and was the only diocese to reject a change in the church's teaching to allow same-sex marriage in 2017.^[1]

The first female bishop of the SEC, Anne Dyer, was appointed to the diocese in November 2017 and consecrated and enthroned on 3 March 2018. Her gender, support of same-sex marriage, and the fact that she was not elected by the diocese itself (she was appointed by the College of Bishops in accordance with the SEC canonical process when a diocese fails to meet the requirements to elect its own bishop), caused some controversy,^{[2] [3]} and two senior clergy, the Dean (Emsley Nimmo) and another member of the Cathedral Chapter, resigned their diocesan roles in protest.^[4] After further resignations by other clergy, the Westhill Community Church voted to leave the SEC in January 2019.^[5] Dorsey McConnell, former Bishop of Pittsburgh, took on the role of acting bishop on 1 November 2023, while Dyer remains suspended.^[6]

The diocese has a strong companion link with the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut and the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. Samuel Seabury, the first Episcopal bishop outside the British Isles, was consecrated in 1784 by Robert Kilgour, Bishop of Aberdeen, and John Skinner, coadjutor bishop. Clarence Coleridge, suffragan bishop of Connecticut, was consecrated by a Bishop of Aberdeen in 1981; he was elected 13th diocesan bishop of Connecticut in 1993.

Area and population

The diocese covers the historic counties of Orkney (population 21,500), Zetland (population 23,000), Aberdeenshire except the Huntly area (population 393,000), the Banff, Buckie and Cullen areas of Banffshire (population 29,500), and the Banchory and Lower Deeside areas of Kincardineshire (population 26,000).

List of bishops

Bishops of Aberdeen and Orkney
From	Until	Incumbent	Notes
1865	1883	Thomas Suther	Died in office.
1883	1905	Arthur Douglas	Died in office.
1906	1911	Rowland Ellis	Died in office.
1912	1917	Anthony Mitchell	Died in office.
1917	1943	Frederic Deane
1943	1955	Herbert Hall	Died in office.
1956	1972	Frederick Easson
1973	1976	Ian Begg
1976	1991	Frederick Darwent
1991	2006	Bruce Cameron	Installed 1992, Primus 2000–2006.
2006	2016[7]	Robert (Bob) Gillies
2018	Incumbent[8]	Anne Dyer	First female bishop in the SEC

List of provosts

See also: St Andrew's Cathedral, Aberdeen.

List of deans

The following served as Dean of Aberdeen diocese:

• bef. 18461850: John Cumming, of Longside^[9]
• 18501865: David Wilson, of Woodhead

The following have served as Dean of Aberdeen and Orkney:

• 1865 to 1880: David Wilson (title changed)
• 1880 to 1886: Arthur Ranken
  • • • 1886 to 1887: Alexander Harper 1887 to 1896: William Webster 1896 to 1906: William Walker 1907 to 1909: Myers Danson
• 1910 to 1922: James Wiseman
• 1922 to 1934: Robert Mackay
• 1934 to 1948: George Bartlet
• 1948 to 1953: John Wattie
• 1953 to 1956: Frederick Easson, later bishop
• 1956 to 1969: Richard Kerrin
• 1969 to 1972: Ian Begg, later bishop
• 1973 to 1978: Frederick Darwent, later bishop
• 1978 to 1983: Alexander Adamson^[10]
• 1983 to 1988: Denis Bovey
• 1988 to 2008: Gerald Stranraer-Mull^[11]
• 2008 to 2017: Emsley Nimmo
• 2017 to 2020: vacant
• 2020 to 2021: Dennis Berk^[12]
• 2021 to present: vacant

Churches and clergy

The diocese currently has 23 stipendiary clergy and 37 churches.

Benefice	Churches	Link	Founded (building)	Clergy
Banff[13]	St Andrew, Banff	http://standrewsbanff.aodiocese.org.uk/	1722 (1833)	J. Paisey
Buckie[14]	All Saints, Buckie	http://allsaintsbuckie.aodiocese.org.uk/	c. 1689 (1876)
Turriff[15]	St Congan, Turriff	http://stcongansturriff.aodiocese.org.uk/	1738 (1862)	-
Cuminestown[16]	St Luke, Cuminestown	http://stlukescuminestown.aodiocese.org.uk/	C18th (1844)	-
New Pitsligo[17]	St John the Evangelist, New Pitsligo	http://stjohnsnewpitsligo.aodiocese.org.uk/	1835 (1870s)	-
Strichen[18]	All Saints, Strichen	http://allsaintsstrichen.aodiocese.org.uk/	1861	-
Fraserburgh[19]	St Peter, Fraserburgh	http://stpetersfraserburgh.org.uk/	1721 (1892)	-
Longside[20]	St John the Evangelist, Longside	http://stjohnslongside.aodiocese.org.uk/	1716 (1854)	R. O'Sullivan
Old Deer[21]	St Drostan, Old Deer	http://stdrostansolddeer.aodiocese.org.uk/	1851
Peterhead[22]	St Peter, Peterhead	http://stpeterspeterhead.org.uk/	1699 (1814)
Cruden Bay[23]	St James the Less, Cruden Bay	http://stmarystjames.org.uk/	C18th (1843)	-
Ellon[24]	St Mary-on-the-Rock, Ellon		C18th (1871)
Insch[25]	St Drostan, Insch	http://stdrostansinsch.aodiocese.org.uk/	1894	A. MacDonald
Fyvie[26]	All Saints, Woodhead of Fyvie	http://allsaintswoodhead.aodiocese.org.uk/	1849
Oldmeldrum[27]	St Matthew & St George, Oldmeldrum	http://stmatthewsoldmeldrum.aodiocese.org.uk/	1863	-
Alford[28]	St Andrew, Alford	http://standrewsalford.aodiocese.org.uk/	1869	M. Blake
Auchindoir[29]	St Mary, Auchindoir	http://stmarysauchindoir.aodiocese.org.uk/		rowspan="4"	-
Inverurie[30]	St Mary, Inverurie	https://stmarysinverurie.org.uk/	1841
Kemnay[31]	St Anne, Kemnay	http://stanneskemnay.aodiocese.org.uk/	1938
Whiterashes[32]	All Saints, Whiterashes	http://allsaintswhiterashes.aodiocese.org.uk/	1858
Aberdeen (Cathedral of St Andrew)[33] [34]	St Andrew's Cathedral, Aberdeen	http://standrewscathedralaberdeen.org.uk/	1817	I. Poobalan
Bieldside[35]
	St Devenick, Bieldside	http://stdevenicks.org/	1894 (1903)	G. Bowyer
Aberdeen (St Clement)[36]	St Clement, Aberdeen	http://stclementsaberdeen.aodiocese.org.uk/	1960s	J. Lyon
Aberdeen (St Ninian)[37]	St Ninian, Aberdeen	http://stniniansaberdeen.aodiocese.org.uk/	1936
Aberdeen (St James)[38]	St James the Less, Aberdeen	http://www.stjamesaberdeen.co.uk/	1804	R. Green J. Souter
Aberdeen (St John the Evangelist)[39]	St John, Aberdeen	https://st-johns-aberdeen.org/	1720 (1851)	J. Holden
Aberdeen (St Margaret of Scotland)[40]	St Margaret of Scotland, Gallowgate	http://www.stmargaretsgallowgate.org.uk/	1867 (1870)	A. Nimmo
Aberdeen (St Mary)[41]	St Mary, Carden Place	http://stmaryscardenplace.org.uk/	1863 (1864)	T. Taggart J. Hobbs
Bucksburn[42]	St Machar, Bucksburn	http://stmacharsbucksburn.aodiocese.org.uk/	1874 (1880)	D. Heddle
Aboyne[43]	St Thomas, Aboyne	http://www.stthomasaboyne.org/	1909	V. Hancock
Ballater[44]	St Kentigern, Ballater	http://stkentigernsballater.aodiocese.org.uk/	C19th (1907)
	St Ninian's Chapel, Braemar	http://stniniansbraemar.aodiocese.org.uk/	1895
Kincardine O'Neil[45]	Christ Church, Kincardine O'Neil	http://christchurchkon.weebly.com/	1866	-
Banchory[46]	St Ternan, Banchory	http://www.stternansbanchory.org.uk/	1851	L. Downs
Burravoe[47]	St Colman, Burravoe	http://episcopalshetland.org.uk/	1898	N. Brice
Lerwick[48]	St Magnus, Lerwick		1861 (1864)
Kirkwall[49]	St Olaf, Kirkwall	http://www.stolafs.org.uk/	1876	D. Dawson
Stromness[50]	St Mary, Stromness	http://stmarysstromness.aodiocese.org.uk/	1885 (1888)	T. Miller

Closed churches in the diocese area

Name	Founded (building)	Closed
St Peter, Torry[52]		2013
St Mary the Virgin, Cove Bay	1864	2020
St John the Baptist, Portsoy[53]		2016
Chapel of Christ the Encompasser, Fetlar[54]		2015
St Margaret, Braemar[55]		2001
St Paul, Aberdeen[56]	1867	1986

Membership

Between 2013 and 2023 church membership in the Diocese decreased from 4,214^[57] to 2,419^[58] a fall of 42.6%. According to the Scottish Episcopal Church 41st Annual Report (2023), there are 1,755 communicants in the Diocese.^[59]

See also

• Bishop of Aberdeen (before and after the Reformation)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Farley. Harry. Scottish Episcopal Church clergy rebel after 'divisive' appointment of bishop to conservative diocese. Christian Today. 6 January 2018. 5 January 2018.
2. Web site: Farley. Harry. Splits emerge among Scottish Anglicans after gay marriage vote. Christian Today. 6 January 2018. 27 November 2017.
3. News: Davies. Madeleine. Aberdeen & Orkney letter questions new Bishop. 6 January 2018. Church Times. 5 January 2018.
4. Web site: Resignations Follow Aberdeen & Orkney Appointment. Scottish Anglican. 6 January 2018. 25 November 2017.
5. Web site: Aberdeen congregation votes to secede from the Scottish Episcopal Church. Anglican News. 18 January 2019.
6. Web site: The College of Bishops appoints Bishop Dorsey McConnell as new Acting Bishop in Aberdeen and Orkney . Scottish Episcopal Church. 12 October 2023.
7. http://www.scotland.anglican.org/bishop-aberdeen-orkney-announces-his-retirement/ Bishop of Aberdeen & Orkney announces his retirement.
8. https://www.scotland.anglican.org/rt-rev-anne-dyer-bishop-aberdeen-orkney/ The Rt Rev Anne Dyer, Bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney.
9. The Clergy List, 1846 p. 262 & 1850 p. 288
10. 'ADAMSON, Very Rev. Alexander Campbell', Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2016; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2014; online edn, April 2014 accessed 8 Sept 2017
11. 'STRANRAER-MULL, Very Rev. Gerald', Who's Who 2017, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 2017; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2016; online edn, Nov 2016 accessed 7 Sept 2017
12. Web site: New Dean for Aberdeen & Orkney . The Scottish Episcopal Church . 29 February 2020 . 17 February 2020.
13. Web site: The Benefice of Banff (St Andrew). www.crockford.org.uk. en. 15 September 2018.
14. Web site: The Benefice of Buckie (All Saints). www.crockford.org.uk. en. 15 September 2018.
15. Web site: The Benefice of Turriff (St Congan). www.crockford.org.uk. en. 15 September 2018.
16. Web site: The Benefice of Cuminestown (St Luke). www.crockford.org.uk. en. 15 September 2018.
17. Web site: The Benefice of New Pitsligo (St John the Evangelist). www.crockford.org.uk. en. 15 September 2018.
18. Web site: The Benefice of Strichen (All Saints). www.crockford.org.uk. en. 15 September 2018.
19. Web site: The Benefice of Fraserburgh (St Peter). www.crockford.org.uk. en. 15 September 2018.
20. Web site: The Benefice of Longside (St John). www.crockford.org.uk. en. 15 September 2018.
21. Web site: The Benefice of Old Deer (St Drostan). www.crockford.org.uk. en. 15 September 2018.
22. Web site: The Benefice of Peterhead (St Peter). www.crockford.org.uk. en. 15 September 2018.
23. Web site: The Benefice of Cruden Bay (St James the Less). www.crockford.org.uk. en. 15 September 2018.
24. Web site: The Benefice of Ellon (St Mary On the Rock). www.crockford.org.uk. en. 15 September 2018.
25. Web site: The Benefice of Insch (St Drostan). www.crockford.org.uk. en. 15 September 2018.
26. Web site: The Benefice of Fyvie (All Saints). www.crockford.org.uk. en. 15 September 2018.
27. Web site: The Benefice of Oldmeldrum (St Matthew). www.crockford.org.uk. en. 15 September 2018.
28. Web site: The Benefice of Alford (St Andrew). www.crockford.org.uk. en. 15 September 2018.
29. Web site: The Benefice of Auchindoir (St Mary). www.crockford.org.uk. en. 15 September 2018.
30. Web site: The Benefice of Inverurie (St Mary). www.crockford.org.uk. en. 15 September 2018.
31. Web site: The Benefice of Kemnay (St Anne). www.crockford.org.uk. en. 15 September 2018.
32. Web site: The Benefice of Whiterashes (All Saints). www.crockford.org.uk. en. 15 September 2018.
33. http://standrewscathedralaberdeen.org.uk/rev-canon-isaac-poobalan-appointed-as-provost-and-rector/ Installation of Isaac Poobalan as Provost and Rector
34. Web site: The Benefice of Aberdeen (Cathedral of St Andrew). www.crockford.org.uk. en. 15 September 2018.
35. Web site: The Benefice of Bieldside (St Devenick). www.crockford.org.uk. en. 15 September 2018.
36. Web site: The Benefice of Aberdeen (St Clement). www.crockford.org.uk. en. 15 September 2018.
37. Web site: The Benefice of Aberdeen (St Ninian). www.crockford.org.uk. en. 15 September 2018.
38. Web site: The Benefice of Aberdeen (St James). www.crockford.org.uk. en. 15 September 2018.
39. Web site: The Benefice of Aberdeen (St John the Evangelist). www.crockford.org.uk. en. 15 September 2018.
40. Web site: The Benefice of Aberdeen (St Margaret of Scotland). www.crockford.org.uk. en. 15 September 2018.
41. Web site: The Benefice of Aberdeen (St Mary). www.crockford.org.uk. en. 15 September 2018.
42. Web site: The Benefice of Bucksburn (St Machar). www.crockford.org.uk. en. 15 September 2018.
43. Web site: The Benefice of Aboyne (St Peter). www.crockford.org.uk. en. 15 September 2018.
44. Web site: The Benefice of Ballater (St Kentigern). www.crockford.org.uk. en. 15 September 2018.
45. Web site: The Benefice of Kincardine O'neil (Christ Church). www.crockford.org.uk. en. 15 September 2018.
46. Web site: The Benefice of Banchory (St Ternan). www.crockford.org.uk. en. 15 September 2018.
47. Web site: The Benefice of Burravoe (St Colman). www.crockford.org.uk. en. 15 September 2018.
48. Web site: The Benefice of Lerwick (St Magnus). www.crockford.org.uk. en. 15 September 2018.
49. Web site: The Benefice of Kirkwall (St Olaf). www.crockford.org.uk. en. 15 September 2018.
50. Web site: The Benefice of Stromness (St Mary). www.crockford.org.uk. en. 15 September 2018.
51. Web site: The Benefice of Westhill Community Church. www.crockford.org.uk. en. 13 October 2018.
52. Web site: Geograph:: Aberdeen churches past and present. www.geograph.org.uk. 4 November 2017.
53. Web site: DIOCESE OF ABERDEEN AND ORKNEY, ST JOHN THE BAPTIST, PORTSOY - ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30th SEPTEMBER 2016 .
54. Web site: Society of Our Lady of the Isles. sites.google.com. 4 November 2017.
55. Web site: Project History. www.stmargaretsbraemar.org.uk. en-gb. 15 September 2018.
56. Web site: Aberdeen, Loch Street, St Paul's Episcopal Church Canmore. canmore.org.uk. en. 13 October 2018.
57. Web site: Scottish Episcopal Church 31st Annual Report . scotland.anglican.org . The General Synod of the Scottish Episcopal Church . 19 October 2024.
58. Web site: Scottish Episcopal Church 41st Annual Report . scotland.anglican.org . The General Synod of the Scottish Episcopal Church . 19 October 2024.
59. Web site: Scottish Episcopal Church 41st Annual Report . scotland.anglican.org . The General Synod of the Scottish Episcopal Church . 19 October 2024.