Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
| Ecclesiastical province | Province of Canada |
| Statistics | |
| Parishes | 94 (2017) |
| Members | 25,037 (2017) |
| Information | |
| Rite | Anglican Church of Canada |
| Cathedral | All Saints Cathedral, Halifax St. Peter's Cathedral, Charlottetown |
| Current leadership | |
| Bishop | Sandra Fyfe |
| Website | |
| www | |
The Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island is a diocese of the Ecclesiastical Province of Canada of the Anglican Church of Canada. It encompasses the provinces of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island and has two cathedrals: All Saints' in Halifax and St. Peter's in Charlottetown. Its de facto see city is Halifax (where the synod offices are located), and its roughly 24 400 Anglicans distributed in 239 congregations are served by approximately 153 clergy and 330 lay readers according to the last available data.[1][2] According to the 2001 census, 120,315 Nova Scotians identified themselves as Anglicans (13% of the province's population),[3] while 6525 Prince Edward Islanders did the same.[4]
The first recorded Anglican services in Nova Scotia were held in Annapolis Royal on October 10, 1710, and in Cape Breton Island in 1745.[5] The Diocese was created on 11 August 1787 by Letters Patent of George III which "erected the Province of Nova Scotia into a bishop's see" and these also named Charles Inglis as first bishop of the see.[6] The diocese was the first Church of England see created outside England and Wales (i.e. the first colonial diocese). At this point, the see covered present-day New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Quebec.[7] From 1825 to 1839, it included the nine parishes of Bermuda, subsequently transferred to the Diocese of Newfoundland.[8] In 1842, her jurisdiction was described as "Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Cape Breton, Prince Edward Island".[9] In 1849, Archdeacon R. Willis was stationed at Halifax.[10] In 1866, there were two archdeaconries: George McCawley was Archdeacon of Nova Scotia and J. Herbert Read of Prince Edward's Island.[11]
Churches in the diocese that are designated heritage sites include:
Based on the parochial reports from the year 2014 [12] the diocese consists of 239 congregations grouped in 94 parishes, within 10 regions, each having a Regional Dean and an Archdeacon with a total membership of 24,400 people. Of the diocesan clergy 74 are parish Rectors, 19 are Priests in Charge, 101 are retired (many of whom still serve in one or other capacity -including being in charge of a parish). There are two retired bishops, 11 military chaplains; 1 health care chaplain; 2 full-time faculty and the President at the Atlantic School of Theology; 1 full-time University Chaplain and 2 part-time University Chaplains; and 1 Prison Chaplain. The diocese has a successful non-stipendiary clergy programme; currently there are 28 priests and 11 Deacons with that status. There are 330 lay readers trained to administer the sacraments at public services presided by a priest, preach, lead public worship in the absence of clergy, and other pastoral functions.
PARISHES IN THE DIOCESE OF NOVA SCOTIA AND PEI THAT HAVE WEBPAGES:
