The Parish of Our Lady in Stowmarket is in the Diocese of East Anglia which was carved out of the much larger Diocese of Northampton in March 1976. Bishop Alan Hopes has charge of the area which covers Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and the Unitary Authority of Peterborough.

The Cathedral Church is that of St John the Baptist in St Giles Gate, Norwich and the Bishop’s residence is in Poringland on the outskirts of the city.

Most of the parishes in the diocese are like Our Lady’s in Stowmarket – geographically very extensive and with small
Catholic numbers in relation to the total population. For example, in Suff olk, Catholics count for little more than four per cent of the total. However, the proportion is increasing as people move in from other parts of the country.