Glossary

Archdeacons

Next to the Bishop in seniority, and with him form the senior management team

Area Dean

Local co-ordinator with some administrational responsibilities for groups of parishes; also takes responsibility for parishes when they do not have their own clergy

Benefice

Smallest sub-division of the Diocese, often a town, or group of village or valley communities. Benefices can be parishes or parish groupings

Bishop / Archbishop

The person with the oversight of the Diocese

Cathedral

Mother church of the Diocese, in which the Bishop has his Throne.

Dean

In effect the 'Vicar' of the Cathedral.

Diocese

Geographical area overseen by the Bishop

Parish

The most common form of the Benefice. May have several churches.

Geography

The Diocese of Llandaff is the most populous of all six Dioceses in Wales. It covers an area taking in the west of Cardiff in the east to Neath in the west, and the Heads of the Valleys road in the north.

The Diocese is divided into three Archdeaconries, which are further subdivided into Deaneries. Each Deanery comprises a number of separate parishes.

The Diocese's three Archdeaconries are colour-coded on the map below.