Diocese
of Bath and Wells
The Diocese of Bath and Wells is one of the oldest dioceses
in England, dating back to 909. The diocese covers the entire
county of Somerset and parts of Bristol and Wiltshire. During
the Reformation, it was initially resistant to change. However,
in 1539, the Abbey of Bath was dissolved, and its buildings
were stripped of their valuables. The last bishop in communion
with Rome was deprived in 1559, and the diocese became part
of the new Church of England. Despite the changes of the Reformation,
the diocese continued to play an important role in the religious
life of Somerset. It played a pivotal part in the construction
of the magnificent Wells Cathedral during the 12th and 13th
centuries, and it has a rich history of scholarship and missionary
work. In the 19th century, it was at the forefront of the
Tractarian Movement, which sought to revive traditional Catholic
practices within the Church of England. Today, the Diocese
of Bath and Wells is a thriving and diverse community of Christians.
The diocese has over 500 parishes and serves a population
of over 800,000 people.
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