Carlisle's Deanery Prayer

Dear Father in heaven, you give us in equal measure, twenty-four hours each day and seven days each week. Help us to walk with you day by day, so that, whether we are on our own, or in the company of others, our love for you will show.

Help us in our places of work, our times at home, and in our recreation, to always put you first. May your love for us and our love for you be seen and be used to draw others to Christ - who came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. Amen.

Parishes within Carlisle

Aikton, Bowness on Solway, Burgh by Sands, Caldbeck, Carlisle Holy Trinity & St Barnabas, Carlisle St Aidan, Carlisle St Cuthbert with St Mary, Carlisle St Elisabeth, Carlisle St Herbert, Carlisle St James, Carlisle St John the Baptist, Carlisle St John the Evangelist, Carlisle St Luke, Carlisle St Michael, Castle Sowerby, Dalston with Cumdivock, Great Orton, Houghton, Kirkbampton, Kirkbride, Newton Arlosh, Raughton Head with Gatesgill, Rosley with Woodside and Welton, Rosley with Woodside and Welton, Sebergham, St Mary, Beaumont (with Kirkandrews on Eden and Grinsdale), Thursby, Westward, Wigton, Wreay

Carlisle's Deanery Profile

Ours is quite a difficult deanery, in that it is not only large but also heterogeneous. It contains the city of Carlisle (cathedral, shops, railway junction, administrative centre etc), the fells (Caldbeck, John Peel, Chris Bonington), farmland (Solway Plain, Foot-and-mouth), coastlands (Bowness, Burgh Marsh), suburbs and dormitory villages.

Our churchmanship embraces the whole range of Anglicanism, and we support a flourishing ecumenical life which includes a university chaplain and a café. All this, and the Bishop too!

Obviously, we don’t agree all of the time; dull or predictable it is not. During my time in office we have had some wonderful moments; marvellous meals hosted by St James’ will stay in my memory, as will getting totally lost looking for Aikton church one dark winter’s night.

My weekly stint in the Resources Centre helps me to keep in touch, and the presence of Church House in our deanery is a bonus. We have great riches, great potential - keeping an eye on it all takes some doing.

Carlisle's Deanery Contacts

Rural Dean:
The Revd Canon John Libby St James Vicarage Goschen Rd Carlisle CA2 5PF
01228 515639

Lay Chairman:
Tim Hazard