Archdiocese of Cardiff
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cardiff is an archdiocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church
which covers the south-east portion of Wales
and the county of Herefordshire
in England
. The Metropolitan Province
of Cardiff Wales and Herefordshire therefore covers all of Wales and part of England. Cardiff's suffragan dioceses are the Diocese of Menevia and the Diocese of Wrexham
.
The origin of the modern diocese can be traced to 1840 when the Apostolic Vicariate
of the Welsh District was created out the Western District of England and Wales. The Welsh District consisted the whole of Wales and the county of Herefordshire. When Pope Pius IX
judged that the time was right to re-establish the Catholic hierarchy in Wales and England
in 1850, the southern half of the Welsh District became the Diocese of Newport
and Menevia. In 1895, boundaries were redrawn, and the territory covering Glamorgan
, Monmouthshire
and Herefordshire
was named the Diocese of Newport. Finally, in 1916, without further adjustment of boundaries, the territory was raised to the status of an archdiocese, and given the title Archdiocese of Cardiff. The Episcopal Seat is now located in Cardiff
, at St David's Cathedral.
The current ecclesiastical terrority of the diocese comprises the local government areas of Cardiff, Bridgend
, Vale of Glamorgan
, Newport, Torfaen
, Blaenau Gwent
, Monmouthshire, Merthyr Tydfil
, Rhondda Cynon Taff
and Herefordshire. Altogether there are 61 parishes. On 19 April 2011, George Stack was appointed to succeed Peter Smith, who was translated to Southwark
in 2010. He was installed as Archbishop on 20 June 2011.
Bishops of Newport and Menevia
Archbishops of Cardiff
The deaneries include:
The Cardiff East and West deaneries may soon be merged to form a new Cardiff Deanery
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
which covers the south-east portion of Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and the county of Herefordshire
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The Metropolitan Province
Ecclesiastical Province
An ecclesiastical province is a large jurisdiction of religious government, so named by analogy with a secular province, existing in certain hierarchical Christian churches, especially in the Catholic Church and Orthodox Churches and in the Anglican Communion...
of Cardiff Wales and Herefordshire therefore covers all of Wales and part of England. Cardiff's suffragan dioceses are the Diocese of Menevia and the Diocese of Wrexham
Roman Catholic Diocese of Wrexham
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Wrexham, is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in Wales. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Cardiff, directly subject to the authority of His Holiness the Pope....
.
The origin of the modern diocese can be traced to 1840 when the Apostolic Vicariate
Apostolic vicariate
An apostolic vicariate is a form of territorial jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church established in missionary regions and countries that do not have a diocese. It is essentially provisional, though it may last for a century or more...
of the Welsh District was created out the Western District of England and Wales. The Welsh District consisted the whole of Wales and the county of Herefordshire. When Pope Pius IX
Pope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
judged that the time was right to re-establish the Catholic hierarchy in Wales and England
Universalis Ecclesiae
Universalis Ecclesiae is the incipit of the papal bull of 29 September 1850 by which Pope Pius IX recreated the Roman Catholic diocesan hierarchy in England, which had been extinguished with the death of the last Marian bishop in the reign of Elizabeth I. New names were given to the dioceses, as...
in 1850, the southern half of the Welsh District became the Diocese of Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
and Menevia. In 1895, boundaries were redrawn, and the territory covering Glamorgan
Glamorgan
Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three...
, Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire is a county in south east Wales. The name derives from the historic county of Monmouthshire which covered a much larger area. The largest town is Abergavenny. There are many castles in Monmouthshire .-Historic county:...
and Herefordshire
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
was named the Diocese of Newport. Finally, in 1916, without further adjustment of boundaries, the territory was raised to the status of an archdiocese, and given the title Archdiocese of Cardiff. The Episcopal Seat is now located in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, at St David's Cathedral.
The current ecclesiastical terrority of the diocese comprises the local government areas of Cardiff, Bridgend
Bridgend
Bridgend is a town in the Bridgend County Borough in Wales, west of the capital, Cardiff. The river crossed by the original bridge, which gave the town its name, is the River Ogmore but the River Ewenny also passes to the south of the town...
, Vale of Glamorgan
Vale of Glamorgan
The Vale of Glamorgan is a county borough in Wales; an exceptionally rich agricultural area, it lies in the southern part of Glamorgan, South Wales...
, Newport, Torfaen
Torfaen
Torfaen is a county borough in Wales within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire. It was originally formed in 1974 as a district of the county of Gwent and in 1996 it was reconstituted as a unitary authority.-Education:...
, Blaenau Gwent
Blaenau Gwent
Blaenau Gwent is a county borough in South Wales, sharing its name with a parliamentary constituency. It borders the unitary authority areas of Monmouthshire and Torfaen to the east, Caerphilly to the west and Powys to the north. Its main towns are Abertillery, Brynmawr, Ebbw Vale and...
, Monmouthshire, Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil is a town in Wales, with a population of about 30,000. Although once the largest town in Wales, it is now ranked as the 15th largest urban area in Wales. It also gives its name to a county borough, which has a population of around 55,000. It is located in the historic county of...
, Rhondda Cynon Taff
Rhondda Cynon Taff
Rhondda Cynon Taf, or RCT, is a county borough in the South Wales Valleys of Wales. It consists of 3 valleys: the Rhondda Valley, Cynon Valley and Taff-Ely Valley...
and Herefordshire. Altogether there are 61 parishes. On 19 April 2011, George Stack was appointed to succeed Peter Smith, who was translated to Southwark
Archdiocese of Southwark
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark is a Latin Rite Roman Catholic archdiocese in England. The Archepiscopal see is St. George's Cathedral, Southwark and is headed by the Archbishop of Southwark...
in 2010. He was installed as Archbishop on 20 June 2011.
Ordinaries
Vicars Apostolic of the Welsh District- Thomas Joseph BrownThomas Joseph BrownThomas Joseph Brown, O.S.B. was a bishop of the Roman Catholic Church. He served for two ecclesiastical jurisdictions, first as the Vicar Apostolic of the Welsh District from 1840 to 1850, then as Bishop of Newport and Menevia from 1850 to 1880....
, O.S.B. (Appointed on 5 June 1840 – Became Bishop of Newport and Menevia on 29 September 1850)
Bishops of Newport and Menevia
- Thomas Joseph BrownThomas Joseph BrownThomas Joseph Brown, O.S.B. was a bishop of the Roman Catholic Church. He served for two ecclesiastical jurisdictions, first as the Vicar Apostolic of the Welsh District from 1840 to 1850, then as Bishop of Newport and Menevia from 1850 to 1880....
, O.S.B. (Appointed on 29 September 1850– Died on 12 April 1880) - John Cuthbert HedleyJohn Cuthbert HedleyJohn Cuthbert Hedley was a British Benedictine and writer who held high offices in the Roman Catholic Church....
, O.S.B. (Appointed on 18 February 1881 (from 1895, Bishop of Newport only) – Died on 11 November 1915)
Archbishops of Cardiff
- James Romanus BilsborrowJames Romanus BilsborrowJames Romanus Bilsborrow, O.S.B. was a Roman Catholic Church prelate and Benedictine priest. He served as the first Archbishop of Cardiff , having previously been Bishop of Port-Louis ....
, O.S.B. (Appointed on 7 February 1916 – Resigned on 16 December 1920) - Francis Edward Joseph MostynFrancis MostynFrancis Edward Joseph Mostyn was a Welsh prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as Archbishop of Cardiff from 1921 until his death.-Biography:...
(Appointed on 7 March 1921 – Died on 25 October 1939) - Michael Joseph McGrathMichael Joseph McGrathMichael Joseph McGrath was an Irish-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served first as the Bishop of Menevia from 1935 to 1940, then the Archbishop of Cardiff from 1940 to 1961....
(Appointed on 20 June 1940 – Died on 28 February 1961) - John Aloysius MurphyJohn Aloysius MurphyJohn Aloysius Murphy was a Roman Catholic Church prelate who served firstly as the Bishop of Shrewsbury from 1949 to 1961, then as the Archbishop of Cardiff from 1961 to 1983....
(Appointed on 22 August 1961 – Retired on 25 March 1983) - John Aloysius WardJohn Aloysius WardJohn Aloysius Ward was a Roman Catholic clergyman. He became Bishop of Menevia in 1981, and Archbishop of Cardiff in 1983...
, O.F.M. Cap. (Appointed on 25 March 1983 – Resigned on 26 October 2001) - Peter David Smith (Appointed on 26 October 2001 – Translated to SouthwarkArchbishop of SouthwarkThe Archbishop of Southwark is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark in England. As such he is the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Province of Southwark....
on 30 April 2010) - George Stack (Appointed on 19 April 2011 – Present)
Deaneries
There are a total of eight deaneries in the Archdiocese of Cardiff (which may soon become seven), each of which cover several churches in that area, overseen by a dean.The deaneries include:
- Bridgend DeaneryBridgend DeaneryThe Bridgend Deanery is a Roman Catholic deanery in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cardiff that covers seven churches in Bridgend and the Vale of Glamorgan. The dean is Fr...
- Cardiff East DeaneryCardiff East DeaneryThe Cardiff East Deanery is a Roman Catholic deanery in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cardiff that covers the cathedral, twelve other churches, and one student chaplaincy in the east of Cardiff. The dean is Fr...
- Cardiff West DeaneryCardiff West DeaneryThe Cardiff West Deanery is a Roman Catholic deanery in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cardiff that covers ten churches in the west of Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. The dean of Cardiff West is Canon Patrick O'Gorman...
- Heads of the Valleys DeaneryHeads of the Valleys DeaneryThe Heads of the Valleys Deanery is a Roman Catholic deanery in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cardiff that covers twelve churches in the Taff Valley and Rhymney Valley. The dean of Heads of the Valleys is Fr. Michael P. Evans, Parish Priest of St...
- Hereford DeaneryHereford DeaneryThe Hereford Deanery is a Roman Catholic deanery in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cardiff that covers nine churches in Hereford and the surrounding area. The dean of Hereford is Dom...
- Newport DeaneryNewport DeaneryThe Newport Deanery is a Roman Catholic deanery in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cardiff that covers ten churches in Newport and Monmouthshire, Wales. The dean of Newport is Fr. Michael Ronan, Parish Priest of Sts. Julius, Aaron and David, Caerleon and of St. Gabriel's, Ringlands, Newport...
- North Gwent DeaneryNorth Gwent DeaneryThe North Gwent Deanery, a Roman Catholic deanery in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cardiff in Wales, covers eleven churches in North Gwent and the surrounding area. The dean is Fr...
- Pontypridd Deanery Pontypridd DeaneryThe Pontypridd Deanery is a Roman Catholic deanery in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cardiff which covers seven churches and one university chaplaincy in Pontypridd and the surrounding area - Rhondda, the southernmost part of the Cynon Valley, and Caerphilly...
The Cardiff East and West deaneries may soon be merged to form a new Cardiff Deanery