Anglican Diocese of Montreal
Encyclopedia
The Diocese of Montreal is a diocese
of the Ecclesiastical Province of Canada
of the Anglican Church of Canada
, in turn a province of the Anglican Communion
. The diocese comprises the 21,400 square kilometres encompassing the City and Island of Montreal
, the Laurentians, the South Shore
opposite Montreal, and part of the Eastern Townships
. The See city
is Montreal
, and the cathedral
is Christ Church
. The diocese maintains approximately 9,000 on its parish rolls in about seventy parishes.
The diocese was established in 1850, having been carved off from the Diocese of Quebec
. The first synod
was organised nine years later. Its first bishop, Francis Fulford (bishop)
, was influenced by the Oxford Movement
, and the diocese historically held a generally Anglo-Catholic or high church
orientation. Today, like the Anglican Church of Canada generally, liberal theology
dominates, with the bishop approving a form for blessings for same-sex unions in 2010.
While Montreal was the largest Canadian city and the centre of commerce in the country, the diocese thrived. In recent decades, however, as these attributes have shifted to Toronto
, the English-Canadian population in the diocese has shrunk dramatically, forcing the merger and the closure of parishes. The diocese's original membership of 25,000 150 years ago has shrunk by over one-third, even as the total population in the civil region has expanded from about 70,000 to over 3,000,000—a 9000% decrease in its proportional importance. The diocese's decline thus far exceeds Montreal's relative loss of prestige to Toronto.
With both the dioceses of Montreal and Quebec
now having less than 10,000 members, discussions are underway for the eventual merger of the two fading dioceses, beginning with an exploration of opportunities for combined administration.
The present bishop, the diocese's eleventh, is the Right Rev. Barry Bryan Clarke
. He succeeded Andrew Hutchison
after he became Primate
of the Anglican Church of Canada.
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of the Ecclesiastical Province of Canada
Ecclesiastical Province of Canada
The Ecclesiastical Province of Canada was founded in 1860 and is one of four ecclesiastical provinces in the Anglican Church of Canada. Despite its name, the province covers only the former territory of Lower Canada , the Maritimes, and Newfoundland and Labrador...
of the Anglican Church of Canada
Anglican Church of Canada
The Anglican Church of Canada is the Province of the Anglican Communion in Canada. The official French name is l'Église Anglicane du Canada. The ACC is the third largest church in Canada after the Roman Catholic Church and the United Church of Canada, consisting of 800,000 registered members...
, in turn a province of the Anglican Communion
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
. The diocese comprises the 21,400 square kilometres encompassing the City and Island of Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, the Laurentians, the South Shore
South Shore (Montreal)
The South Shore is the general term for the suburbs of Montreal, Quebec located on the southern shore of the Saint Lawrence River opposite the Island of Montreal. The South Shore is located within the Quebec administrative region of Montérégie....
opposite Montreal, and part of the Eastern Townships
Eastern Townships
The Eastern Townships is a tourist region and a former administrative region in south-eastern Quebec, lying between the former seigneuries south of the Saint Lawrence River and the United States border. Its northern boundary roughly followed Logan's Line, the geologic boundary between the flat,...
. The See city
Episcopal See
An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
is Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, and the cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
is Christ Church
Christ Church Cathedral (Montreal)
Christ Church Cathedral is an Anglican Gothic Revival cathedral in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, the seat of the Anglican Diocese of Montreal. It is located at 635 Saint Catherine Street West, between Union Avenue and University Street. It is situated on top of the Promenades Cathédrale underground...
. The diocese maintains approximately 9,000 on its parish rolls in about seventy parishes.
The diocese was established in 1850, having been carved off from the Diocese of Quebec
Anglican Diocese of Quebec
The Anglican Diocese of Quebec was founded by Letters Patent in 1793, and is a part of the Ecclesiastical Province of Canada of the Anglican Church of Canada, in turn a province of the Anglican Communion...
. The first synod
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
was organised nine years later. Its first bishop, Francis Fulford (bishop)
Francis Fulford (bishop)
Francis Fulford, DD was an Anglo-Catholic bishop of Montreal.-Early years:Fulford, second son of Baldwin Fulford of Fulford Magna, Devonshire, by Anna Maria, eldest daughter of William Adams, M.P. for Totnes, was born at Sidmouth 3 June 1803, and baptised at Dunsford, 14 October 1804...
, was influenced by the Oxford Movement
Oxford Movement
The Oxford Movement was a movement of High Church Anglicans, eventually developing into Anglo-Catholicism. The movement, whose members were often associated with the University of Oxford, argued for the reinstatement of lost Christian traditions of faith and their inclusion into Anglican liturgy...
, and the diocese historically held a generally Anglo-Catholic or high church
High church
The term "High Church" refers to beliefs and practices of ecclesiology, liturgy and theology, generally with an emphasis on formality, and resistance to "modernization." Although used in connection with various Christian traditions, the term has traditionally been principally associated with the...
orientation. Today, like the Anglican Church of Canada generally, liberal theology
Liberal Christianity
Liberal Christianity, sometimes called liberal theology, is an umbrella term covering diverse, philosophically and biblically informed religious movements and ideas within Christianity from the late 18th century and onward...
dominates, with the bishop approving a form for blessings for same-sex unions in 2010.
While Montreal was the largest Canadian city and the centre of commerce in the country, the diocese thrived. In recent decades, however, as these attributes have shifted to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, the English-Canadian population in the diocese has shrunk dramatically, forcing the merger and the closure of parishes. The diocese's original membership of 25,000 150 years ago has shrunk by over one-third, even as the total population in the civil region has expanded from about 70,000 to over 3,000,000—a 9000% decrease in its proportional importance. The diocese's decline thus far exceeds Montreal's relative loss of prestige to Toronto.
With both the dioceses of Montreal and Quebec
Anglican Diocese of Quebec
The Anglican Diocese of Quebec was founded by Letters Patent in 1793, and is a part of the Ecclesiastical Province of Canada of the Anglican Church of Canada, in turn a province of the Anglican Communion...
now having less than 10,000 members, discussions are underway for the eventual merger of the two fading dioceses, beginning with an exploration of opportunities for combined administration.
The present bishop, the diocese's eleventh, is the Right Rev. Barry Bryan Clarke
Barry Bryan Clarke
Barry Bryan Clarke is the 11th Anglican Bishop of Montreal, a post he has held since 2004. Born on 10 October 1952 in Montreal he was educated at McGill University and Montreal Theological College. Upon ordination he became curate at St Matthias, Montreal...
. He succeeded Andrew Hutchison
Andrew Hutchison
Andrew Sandford Hutchison is a retired Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada. Prior to his election at the General Synod of 2004, he was the bishop of Montreal and metropolitan of the ecclesiastical province of Canada...
after he became Primate
Primate (religion)
Primate is a title or rank bestowed on some bishops in certain Christian churches. Depending on the particular tradition, it can denote either jurisdictional authority or ceremonial precedence ....
of the Anglican Church of Canada.
History
- O.W. Howard 'The Montreal Diocesan Theological College: A History from 1873 to 1963' (Montreal: McGill University Press, 1963)