The Diocese of Manchester is a vibrant and diverse community of faith, rooted in the love of Christ and committed to serving the people and parishes of Greater Manchester and Rossendale. As part of the Church of England, we exist to support, encourage, and equip parishes, schools, and chaplaincies in their mission to share the gospel and serve their communities.

Our Vision

Our vision is to be a worshipping, growing and transforming Christian presence at the heart of every community. We want to be a Church for a Different World.

Learning from our recent experience with the new projects and programmes that are underway, we are well-placed to develop the overall strategy and plans for our diocese based on the following distinct but interconnected themes:

• Growing Younger
• Churching Planting and Revitalisation
• Developing Mission Leaders – Lay and Ordained
• Supporting Parish Renewal.

These priorities align with the Church of England’s overall vision which is to create a church of missionary disciples, where mixed ecology is the norm, and whose membership is becoming younger and more diverse.

Our Mission Goals

We seek to be a Church that is:

• growing….engaging new disciples in missionary church communities which are younger, more diverse, active and spiritually engaged;
• nurturing….helping new and existing disciples grow in their faith;
• serving….being present for all, speaking and acting prophetically for justice, supporting pastorally especially the vulnerable, deprived and excluded.

Who We Are

Our diocese is made up of over 300 churches, 193 schools, and countless individuals who live out their faith in everyday life. From urban centres to rural parishes, we celebrate the richness of our traditions while embracing new ideas and change.

Our Bishop’s Leadership Team works alongside clergy, lay leaders, volunteers, and staff to support the spiritual and practical life of the diocese.

Whether you’re leading a congregation, supporting a school, or serving in a chaplaincy, we’re here to help you flourish in your calling.