Established in 1976, the Anglican Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf is one of the four dioceses that make up the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East. In 1984 the diocese established companion links with the Diocese of Exeter in England and in 2005 with the Diocese of Thika in Kenya. In addition to its many parishes, the diocese is also host to a substantial and growing Mission to Seafarers presence as well as a thriving Retreats Ministry.

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The history of the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf is a catalogue of the determined, from founder-Bishop Leonard Ashton (whose first office was a typewriter in the boot of his purple Morris Minor) to incumbent Bishop Michael Lewis, enthroned in 2007.

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Originally conceived as a dual-structure diocese with parallel synods and boards of finance, Cyprus and the Gulf were properly unified in 1980 and soon gained new diocesan offices in Nicosia—and two cathedrals; St Paul’s Cathedral in Nicosia and St Christopher’s Cathedral in Bahrain. St Paul’s Church was completed in 1885 and re-hallowed as diocesan cathedral on 15 May 1981 by Bishop Leonard Ashton.  St Christopher’s Church was built in 1953 on land generously donated by Sheikh Salman bin Hamad al Khalifa, its Persian stained-glass windows a gift from the British Political Resident at Bushire, in present-day Iran. St Christopher’s became a pro-Cathedral in 1982, elevated to cathedral status by an Episcopal Mandate and Declaration, signed on 23 April 1986 by Bishop Harry Moore.

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