[1] The see was erected under the Suffragans Nomination Act 1888 by Order in Council dated 8 February 1994[2] and licensed by the Archbishop of Canterbury as a "flying bishop" to provide episcopal oversight for parishes throughout the province which cannot in good conscience accept the sacramental ministry of bishops who have participated in the ordination of women.
In the southern province, the bishops of Ebbsfleet and of Richborough each minister in 13 of the 40 dioceses.
The Bishop of Richborough serves the eastern half (Canterbury, Chelmsford, Chichester, Ely, Guildford, St Edmundsbury & Ipswich, Leicester, Lincoln, Norwich, Peterborough, Portsmouth, St Albans and Winchester).
On 31 December 2010, Keith Newton resigned as the Bishop of Richborough and soon afterwards was received into the Roman Catholic Church.
[5] On 10 December 2024, following the retirement of Norman Banks, Luke Irvine-Capel was announced as the bishop-designate after his appointment was approved by the King.