The Diocese of Carlisle covers (more or less) the County of Cumbria; it is called the Diocese of Carlisle because traditionally Dioceses had to be called after a city rather than a county - though this is changing.

The Diocese is divided into 11 deaneries, and then into about 100 benefices each with a vicar; each benefice consists of one or more parishes - and there are more than 260 parishes in the Diocese.

This structure is designed to make sure that everyone in the country has a parish church where they have the legally enforceable right to be baptised, to be married and to be buried; and to make sure that there are intermediate levels of responsibility, accountability and support.