The Diocese of Armagh is the metropolitan

diocese In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associa ...

of the ecclesiastical province of Armagh, the

Church of Ireland The Church of Ireland ( ga, Eaglais na hÉireann, ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Kirk o Airlann, ) is a Christian church in Ireland and an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. It is organised on an all-Ireland basis and is the secon ...

province that covers the northern half (approximately) of the island of

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

. The diocese mainly covers counties

Louth Louth may refer to: Australia *Hundred of Louth, a cadastral unit in South Australia * Louth, New South Wales, a town * Louth Bay, a bay in South Australia **Louth Bay, South Australia, a town and locality Canada * Louth, Ontario Ireland * Cou ...

, Tyrone and Armagh, and parts of Down. The diocesan bishop is also the Archbishop of Armagh, the archbishop of the province, and the

Primate of All Ireland The Primacy of Ireland was historically disputed between the Archbishop of Armagh and the Archbishop of Dublin until finally settled by Pope Innocent VI. ''Primate'' is a title of honour denoting ceremonial precedence in the Church, and in ...

. The Archbishop has his seat in St Patrick's Cathedral in the town of Armagh.

Overview and history

As of 2011 the diocese had 31,000 parishioners in its 44 parochial units. Ordained and lay ministry involved 47 serving and 28 retired clergy; 13 Diocesan Readers and 37 Parish Readers. The diocese traces its history to St Patrick in the 5th century, who founded the

see See or SEE may refer to: * Sight - seeing Arts, entertainment, and media * Music: ** ''See'' (album), studio album by rock band The Rascals *** "See", song by The Rascals, on the album ''See'' ** "See" (Tycho song), song by Tycho * Television * ...

. Church property that existed when the Church of Ireland broke with the

Roman Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

, buildings included, was retained by the reformed Church of Ireland, then on the disestablishment of the Church in 1871, confiscated by the state. Schools, churches and cathedrals were returned to the Church.

Ordinaries

The first Anglican Archbishop was

Hugh Goodacre Hugh Goodacre (died 1 May 1553) was an English Protestant clergyman, who was briefly Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of Ireland. Life Nothing is known for certain of his family background or his early life. He was vicar of Sh ...

, appointed by

Edward VI Edward VI (12 October 1537 – 6 July 1553) was King of England and Ireland from 28 January 1547 until his death in 1553. He was crowned on 20 February 1547 at the age of nine. Edward was the son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour and the first E ...

in 1552. The current archbishop is

John McDowell John Henry McDowell, FBA (born 7 March 1942) is a South African philosopher, formerly a fellow of University College, Oxford, and now university professor at the University of Pittsburgh. Although he has written on metaphysics, epistemology, ...

List of churches

Acton (Holy Trinity), Aghavilly (St Mary), Altedesert Parish Church, Annaghmore (St Francis), Ardboe Parish Church, Ardee (St Mary), Ardtrea (St Andrew), Armagh Cathedral (St Patrick), Armagh St Mark, Armaghbreague (Holy Trinity), Ballinderry (St John), Ballyclog (St Patrick), Ballyeglish (St Matthias), Ballygawley Parish Church, Ballymascanlan (St Mary), Ballymoyer (St Luke), Belleek (St Luke), Benburb (St Patrick), Bessbrook (Christ the Redeemer), Brackaville (Holy Trinity), Brantry (Holy Trinity), Caledon (St John), Carnteel (St James), Castlebellingham (St Mary), Castlecaulfield (St Michael), Clare Parish Church, Clogherny (St Patrick), Clonoe (St Michael), Collon Parish Church, Cookstown (St Luran), Creggan Parish Church, Crilly (St George), Derrygortreavy (St Columba), Derrynoose (St John), Desertcreat Parish Church, Desertlyn (St John), Diamond Grange (St Paul), Dobbin (St Saviour), Donaghendry (St Patrick), Donaghmore (St Patrick), Drogheda (St Peter), Drumbanagher (St Mary), Drumcree (Ascension), Drumnakilly (Holy Trinity), Drumsallan Parish Church, Dundalk (St Nicholas), Dungannon (St Anne), Dunleer Parish Church, Errigle Keerogue (St Matthew), Gracefield Chapel, Grange (St Aidan), Heynestown (St Paul), Keady (St Matthew), Kilcluney (St John), Kildarton Parish Church, Kildress (St Patrick), Killeshill (St Paul), Killylea (St Mark), Killyman (St Andrew), Kilmore (St Aidan), Lisnadill (St John), Lissan Parish Church, Loughgall (St Luke), Loughgilly (St Patrick), Magherafelt (St Swithun), Markethill Chapel, Middletown (St John), Milltown (St Andrew), Moy (St James), Moygashel (St Elizabeth), Mullabrack (St John), Mullaglass (St Luke), Mullavilly Parish Church, Newtownhamilton (St John), Pomeroy (All Saints), Portadown St Columba, Portadown St Mark, Rathcor (St Andrew), Richhill (St Matthew), Seskinore Chapel, Sixmilecross (St Michael), Tamlaght (St Luke), Tandragee (St Mark), Tartaraghan (St Paul), Termonmaguirke (St Columbkille), Tullanisken (Holy Trinity), Tynan (St Vindic), Woodschapel (St John)

References

External links

Diocesan homepage
Armagh Religion in County Armagh Religion in County Louth Church of Ireland in the Republic of Ireland {{NorthernIreland-stub

Overview and history

Ordinaries

List of churches

See also

References

External links