An Archdeaconry is a large area in the diocese that is overseen by an Archdeacon. There are three Archdeaconries in the Diocese of York: Archdeaconry of York, Archdeaconry of Cleveland and Archdeaconry of East Riding.
The Church of England describes the role of an archdeacon as ‘being a good steward so that others are freed to be the worshipping, witnessing and ministering Church.’ Your archdeacons are officers of the Archbishop and work closely with the suffragan bishop in their archdeaconry.
Archdeacon of Cleveland
Amanda served as Priest in Charge of Holy Trinity Bembridge, on the Isle of Wight, and Assistant Diocesan Director of Ordinands in the Diocese of Portsmouth.
Ordained in 2004, she previously served as Chaplain and Diocesan Advisor in Women’s Ministry to the Bishop of Oxford, and as Area Director of Ordinands for Berkshire.
She undertook Doctoral research in Clergy Wellbeing and has a keen interest in the flourishing of those engaged in ministry. She has also served as a Chaplain to the Army Cadet Force. Amanda is married to Mark and has two grown-up daughters.
Archdeacon of York
The Revd Canon Liz Hassall has accepted the Archbishop of York’s invitation to be Acting Archdeacon of York, following the departure of the Ven Sam Rushton at the end of March to take up a new post in the Diocese of Lichfield.
Archbishop Stephen has invited Canon Liz to hold the responsibilities of the Archdeacon while the process of reviewing the job description and making a new permanent appointment is underway.
Canon Liz Hassall is Rector of the York City Centre churches, Associate Area Dean of York and currently one of the clergy elected to represent the Diocese of York in the Church of England’s General Synod.
Archdeacon of the East Riding
Andy was born in Norwich and grew up in a small village in South Norfolk where he came to faith through the ministry of the local church. After gaining a degree in Geography and Politics at Keele University, he was employed as a youth worker for three years before training for ordination at Trinity College, Bristol.
Having served his curacy at All Saints Wellington in Telford, Andy became Curate in Charge of St John’s Walton within the parish of St Thomas Brampton in Chesterfield. He became Vicar of St John’s when a new parish was created in 2000 and led the church through a major building project. He left St John’s in 2009 to become Director of Mission and Ministry in Derby Diocese, where he has been responsible for creating the new Mission and Ministry Team and directing their work.
Andy has also been a member of the Bishop’s Leadership Team, where he has played a significant role in encouraging churches across the Diocese to engage more meaningfully in mission. Andy is married to Tina and they have two adult children.
There are a variety of duties that fall to archdeacons, including being a member of many diocesan boards and committees, holding visitations, helping parishes look after their buildings via the faculty system, clergy discipline, pastoral reorganisation, encouraging safeguarding and inducting priests into their new benefices. In effect, all that we do is pastoral – we help parishes to do the things they want to do, making sure that they’re done safely, appropriately and well.
You’ll find more information below
Legal Responsibilities of an Archdeacon
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