Manchester Diocese serves a dynamic and creative community in the North West of England. It covers an area of 416 square miles and has a total population of 2.2 million. The diocese is divided into four archdeaconries, seven deaneries and 33 mission communities. There are more than 300 places of worship and chaplaincies, which are organised into 256 parishes and 175 benefices.
Geographically, the diocese takes in the two cities of Salford and Manchester and the metropolitan boroughs of Oldham, Rochdale, Bury and Bolton. Parts of the metropolitan boroughs of Wigan, Trafford, Stockport, Tameside and Blackburn with Darwen, and most of the borough of Rossendale in Lancashire, are also within the diocese. It has the fourth highest population density of any diocese in the Church of England.
While predominantly urban, a significant part of the diocese is rural, although less than 3% of the population of the diocese lives in these areas. 125 (48%) of our parishes fall within the 10% most deprived nationally.
Parishes and chaplaincies across our diocese are supported by the Diocesan Board of Finance (DBF), based at St John’s House in Bury town centre. This team works with churches and congregations to achieve our strategy and our mission goals. It also provides support with clergy stipends and housing, finance, safeguarding and governance.
Across the diocese, 192 Church of England primary and secondary schools educate over 58,000 pupils every day. These schools are mostly funded by local authorities, with the diocese providing support with religious education and Christian ethos, governance, the recruitment of head teachers, admissions, and building projects. The team which supports these schools is also based at St John’s House, as part of the Diocesan Board of Education.
The DBF is the charitable company which holds the diocese’s assets and manages its finances. The main source of income is the Parish Share – contributions from the parishes within the diocese. With annual expenditure of £18m and net assets of £129m – including parsonages valued at £90m, investment property at £3m and an equity portfolio of £22m – the DBF is responsible for paying clergy stipends and pensions and for clergy housing. The DBF acts as the employer of staff providing administrative and other support in the diocese. There are currently 175 stipendiary clergy, along with 100 employees.
In 2024, the Diocesan Board of Finance and Board of Education were awarded the Investors in People ‘We invest in people’ Gold Award, recognising a commitment to strong leadership, staff support, and a positive workplace culture.