Deaneries and Parishes

Canterbury Diocese comprises 206 parishes organised in 100 legal benefices.

There are 15 Deaneries or areas within the diocese. Many deaneries mirror local district boundaries. Each deanery has its own Deanery Synod with membership of all clergy licensed to parishes in the deanery, plus elected lay members from each parish.

The deanery is overseen by at least one Area Dean (ordained) and one Lay Chair, who hold the post for a fixed term.

Our Deaneries

Ashford

Area Dean: Jeremy Worthen and Chris Denyer
Lay Chair: Liz Richardson
Assistant Lay Chair: Robert Sharp

Canterbury

Area Dean: Mark Griffin
Assistant Area Dean: Phil Greig
Lay Chair: Janet Bentley
Lay Chair: Liz Morrison

Dover

Area Dean: Revd Andy Bawtree
Lay Chair: Malcolm Gavin

East Bridge

Area Dean: Stefan Thomas
Lay Chair: Steve Sheath
Assistant Lay Chair: John Andrews

Elham

Area Dean: Jane Weeks
Lay Chair: David Donald

Maidstone

Area Dean: Chris Lavender
Lay Chair: vacant

North Downs

Area Dean: John Corbyn
Lay Chair: Rhian Banham

Ospringe

Area Dean: Steve Lillicrap
Lay Chair: Miranda Ford

Reculver

Area Dean: Carol Smith
Lay Chair: Amanda Boucherat

Romney & Tenterden

Area Dean: Chris Hodgkinson
Assistant Area Dean: Chris Hodgkins
Lay Chair: Ian Bentley

Sandwich

Area Dean: Chris Spencer
Lay Chair: Ian Stephen
Assistant Lay Chair: Trevor Longman

Sittingbourne

Area Dean: Julian Staniforth
Lay Chair: vacant

Thanet

Area Deans: Richard Braddy & Clifford Stocking
Lay Chair: Carole Bean

Weald

Area Dean: Rodney Dreyer
Lay Chair: Graham Codling

West Bridge

Area Dean: Ravi Holy
Lay Chair: vacant

Want to find a church? Click here.