A DECISION on whether to create one large diocese covering West Yorkshire and the Yorkshire Dales is to be made by the General Synod.

Church leaders from the dioceses affected have already voted on the proposal to create a single diocese.

Several months ago, Ripon and Leeds, Bradford and the neighbouring dioceses of Sheffield and Blackburn all voted in favour, but Wakefield rejected the plans.

Without a unanimous decision, it was passed to the Archbishop of York to decide whether the scheme should be voted on by the General Synod.

Yesterday (Thursday, May 10) he announced that the plans will go before the body.

He said he had written to the chair of the Dioceses Commission authorising him to put the draft scheme before the General Synod.

Dr Sentamu said: “The General Synod will now have the opportunity to debate and decide whether these proposals should be progressed. It does not follow from my decision to refer this matter that the draft scheme will be approved – what it does mean is that rather than the process coming to an end, the General Synod will be able to form its own view and hear and assess the arguments that will no doubt be put to it from a range of perspectives.”

The restructuring plans were put forward by the Dioceses Commission in a bid to make the church more efficient.

If they go ahead, it would create a new Diocese of Leeds, to be known as West Yorkshire and the Dales, led by a diocesan bishop based in Leeds.