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
Sam served as Archdeacon of Cleveland from 2015 to 2019, and was previously Diocesan Adviser for Licensed Ministry, Warden of Readers, Area Dean of Chippenham and Associate Minister of the North Chippenham Group of Churches in the Diocese of Bristol.
Sam studied for an MA in Pure and Applied Biology at St Hilda’s College, Oxford, and worked in the banking sector, latterly as Head of Customer Service Improvement Programme for Lloyds TSB Business Banking, before her call to ordination. She studied Theology at Trinity College, Bristol, was ordained deacon in 2005 and priested in 2006.
She served her title at Highworth with Hannington, Sevenhampton & Inglesham, and Broad Blunsdon in the Diocese of Bristol.
She is married to Peter and they have two children, Matthew and Adam.
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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