Though one ancient Bishop of Ripon is known -
Eadhæd, who served in the late 7th century - the modern
see of Ripon was established in 1836 from parts of the
dioceses of
Chester and
York. In the same year, the
collegiate church in Ripon was raised to the status of
cathedral church. From 1905, the bishops of Ripon were assisted by the suffragan
bishops of Knaresborough in overseeing the diocese. In 1999, the
see changed its name to the
Diocese of Ripon and Leeds, reflecting the growing importance of
Leeds, the largest city within the diocese and one of the fastest-growing cities in Britain. and its former territory was added to the new
Diocese of Leeds. The suffragan title of
Bishop of Knaresborough was then renamed to Bishop of Ripon, becoming an
area bishop covering the northern part of the Diocese of Leeds. The first area Bishop of Ripon was
James Bell, who had previously been the suffragan Bishop of Knaresborough, and acting diocesan
Bishop of Ripon and Leeds until the dissolution of that diocese. == Palace ==