Stoke-upon-Trent (now generally called merely Stoke) and in 1981 the remainder was renamed the archdeaconry of Lichfield. In 1997 another part of the archdeaconry (of Lichfield) was removed to form the new archdeaconry of Walsall, covering Trysull, Walsall, Wednesbury, West Bromwich and Wolverhampton. Bishops The bishop diocesan is assisted by the area bishops of Shrewsbury (responsible for the Salop archdeaconry), Stafford (responsible for the Stoke archdeaconry), and Wolverhampton (responsible for the Lichfield and Walsall archdeaconries). The See of Shrewsbury was in existence from 1888 to 1905, then re-created in 1940; the See of Stafford was created in 1909, and the See of Wolverhampton in 1979. The diocesan area scheme was instituted in 1992. In 2022, it was announced that the suffragan See of Oswestry in the diocese would be used as a provincial episcopal visitor (for traditionalist Anglo-Catholic parishes in the western half of the Province of Canterbury who reject the ministry of women). On 2 February 2023, Paul Thomas became the first Bishop of Oswestry and was consecrated a bishop. There are also two retired bishops resident in (or near) the diocese who are licensed to serve as honorary assistant bishops: 2020–present: Jan McFarlane, former Bishop of Repton, is a Canon Residentiary of the cathedral 2005–present: Iraj Mottahedeh is a retired diocesan Bishop of Iran who lives in Church Aston, Shropshire, and is also licensed in the neighbouring Birmingham diocese. Archdeacons of Walsall The archdeaconry of Walsall was created from Lichfield archdeaconry in 1997. 1997–2004 (ret.): Tony Sadler (afterwards archdeacon emeritus) 2004–2009 (res.): Bob Jackson 1 November 200929 September 2014 (ret.): Chris Sims 11 January 2015September 2019: Sue Weller (became Archdeacon of Lichfield) 8 November 2019present: Julian Francis See also Bishop of Lichfield Lichfield Cathedral Dean of Lichfield Archdeacon of Salop Archdeacon of Stafford Archdeacon of Stoke References 650s establishments Lichfield Lichfield Lichfield Religion in Staffordshire