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Pre-Reformation Records
The main series of pre-reformation records are: the Bishop's registers [DN/REG], the Consistory Court depositions [DN/DEP] and Act Books [DN/ACT] and the estate series which contains title deeds, manor court rolls, obedientary rolls, rentals, surveys and bailiff's accounts relating to St Benet's Abbey [DN/EST]. All these series continued after the Henrician Reformation. (Probate business came before the ecclesiastical courts until the 1857 Probate Act but the records were transferred to the newly-created Norwich District Probate Registry. The early 'administration act books' are office act books.)
There are also three papal bulls: a general confirmation of the rights of St Benet's Abbey to the Bishop of Norwich, 1248 or 1249; a confirmation to St Benet's Abbey of the patronage of the churches of Neatishead, Irstead and Bastwick, 1257; and a confirmation of the appropriation of the churches of Scottow and North Walsham to St Benet's Abbey, 1344 [DN/EST 6/1-3]; letters patent from Richard II to the Bishop of Norwich and others to investigate the rebels in Norfolk and Suffolk, 1381/82 [DN/MSC 1/1]; and a mandate from the Archbishop of Canterbury to the bishop and clergy of the diocese to view the records held by the cathedral, 1395 [DN/MSC 1/2].

Post-Reformation records
The main post-reformation series are: glebe terriers [DN/TER], subscription books [DN/SUB], ordination registers and papers [DN/ORR, DN/ORD], tithe maps and apportionments [DN/TA], Consistory Court files [DN/CON], faculty books and papers [DN/FCB, DN/FCP, DN/FBA], consecration registers and papers [DN/CSR, DN/CSP], meetinghouse licence registers [DN/DIS, DN/ACB], marriage allegation bonds [DN/MLB], presentation deeds [DN/PRE], resignation bonds [DN/RES] and visitation books and papers [DN/VSB, DN/VSC, DN/VSM]. There is also a census of strangers' churches at Norwich and King's Lynn, 1567 [DN/DIS 10].

Files endorsed 'Accounts between Offices' consisting of fees for wills proved and administrations and licences granted in the various jurisdictions.

Cashbooks, daybooks, journals, ledgers and accounts kept mainly by the diocesan registrar, his office and staff.

Notices issued by the Bishop of Norwich to his clergy concerning procedure and regulations on various matters.

Applications for dispensations made under the Pluralities Acts 1 & 2 Vic. c.106, 13 & 14 Vic. c.98 and 48 & 49 Vic. c.54. Before legally holding more than one benefice, a clergyman had to send a statement to the bishop giving the size of the population, income and outgoings of the benefices concerned and the distance in miles between them. The bishop certified the correctness of this information and forwarded the application to the Archbishop of Canterbury who granted the dispensation. Successful applications were filed in the Archbishop's Faculty Office.

Presentation deeds, declarations of assent, details of clerical career and petitions for dispensations.

Not necessarily relating to diocesan or ecclesiastical matters. Some, at least, of the files relate to legal matters personal to the Registrar, Leonard Bolingbroke.

DN/ADR1 Original series of numbered files, 1843-1939.

DN/ADR2 Miscellaneous papers, 1856-1937.

DN/ADR3 Original series of numbered files, prefixed W, 1939-1949.

DN/ADR4 Original serials of numbered files, prefixed WB, 1812-1952.

DN/ADR5 Records deposited by Leathes Prior on 17 September 1991, 1729-1888.

Letters patent, Archbishop's faculties and other grants of appointment to offices in the diocese of Norwich.