The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cardiff ( la, Archidioecesis Cardiffensis; cy, Archesgobaeth Caerdydd) is an

archdiocese In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associat ...

of the

Latin Rite Latin liturgical rites, or Western liturgical rites, are Catholic rites of public worship employed by the Latin Church, the largest particular church '' sui iuris'' of the Catholic Church, that originated in Europe where the Latin language onc ...

of the

Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwide . It is am ...

which covers the south-east portion of

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...

and the county of

Herefordshire Herefordshire () is a county in the West Midlands of England, governed by Herefordshire Council. It is bordered by Shropshire to the north, Worcestershire to the east, Gloucestershire to the south-east, and the Welsh counties of Monmouths ...

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe ...

. The

Metropolitan Province An ecclesiastical province is one of the basic forms of jurisdiction in Christian Churches with traditional hierarchical structure, including Western Christianity and Eastern Christianity. In general, an ecclesiastical province consists of sever ...

of ''Cardiff'' therefore covers all of Wales and part of England. Cardiff's

suffragan A suffragan bishop is a type of bishop in some Christian denominations. In the Anglican Communion, a suffragan bishop is a bishop who is subordinate to a metropolitan bishop or diocesan bishop (bishop ordinary) and so is not normally jurisdiction ...

dioceses are the

Diocese of Menevia The Roman Catholic Diocese of Menevia is a diocese of the Catholic Church in Wales. It is one of two suffragan dioceses in the ecclesiastical province of Cardiff and is subject to the Archdiocese of Cardiff. History On 12 May 1898, the Apos ...

and the

Diocese of Wrexham The Diocese of Wrexham, is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in Wales. The diocese is a suffragan in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Cardiff. History The diocese was erecte ...

History

The origin of the modern diocese can be traced to 1840 when the ''

Apostolic Vicariate of the Welsh District The Roman Catholic Diocese of Newport (and Menevia) was the Latin Catholic precursor (1840-1916) in Wales and southwest England of the present Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cardiff, with see in Newport, Wales, and was revived as Latin titular see. ...

'' 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 ( it, Pio IX, ''Pio Nono''; born Giovanni Maria Mastai Ferretti; 13 May 1792 – 7 February 1878) was head of the Catholic Church from 1846 to 1878, the longest verified papal reign. He was notable for convoking the First Vatican ...

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 The Roman Catholic Diocese of Newport (and Menevia) was the Latin Catholic precursor (1840-1916) in Wales and southwest England of the present Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cardiff, with see in Newport, Wales, and was revived as Latin titular see. ...

'' and was a suffragan of the

Archdiocese of Birmingham The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham is one of the principal Latin-rite Catholic administrative divisions of England and Wales in the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church. The archdiocese covers an area of , encompassing Staffordshire ...

. It had its pro-cathedral at Belmont Abbey. In 1895, boundaries were redrawn, and the territory covering

Glamorgan , HQ = Cardiff , Government = Glamorgan County Council (1889–1974) , Origin= , Code = GLA , CodeName = Chapman code , Replace = * West Glamorgan * Mid Glamorgan * South Glamorgan , Mot ...

Monmouthshire Monmouthshire ( cy, Sir Fynwy) is a county in the south-east of Wales. The name derives from the historic county of the same name; the modern county covers the eastern three-fifths of the historic county. The largest town is Abergavenny, wit ...

and

was named the ''Diocese of Newport''. Finally, in 1916, without further adjustment of boundaries, the territory was raised to the status of an

, and given the title ''Archdiocese of Cardiff''. The Episcopal Seat is now located in

Cardiff Cardiff (; cy, Caerdydd ) is the capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of Wales. It forms a Principal areas of Wales, principal area, officially known as the City and County of Cardiff ( cy, Dinas a ...

, at

St David's Cathedral St Davids Cathedral ( cy, Eglwys Gadeiriol Tyddewi) is situated in St DavidsBritain's smallest city in the county of Pembrokeshire, near the most westerly point of Wales. Early history The monastic community was founded by Saint David, Abbot ...

Timeline

As all of the Roman Catholic dioceses in Wales are part of the ecclesiastical province of Cardiff the history of the archdiocese and its suffragan dioceses are intertwined: * 29 September 1850:

Universalis Ecclesiae was a 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 ...

: The Roman Catholic Church in Wales is split between the Diocese of Shrewsbury in the north and the Diocese of Newport and Menevia in the south. * 1852:

Francis Richard Wegg-Prosser Francis Richard Wegg-Prosser (19 June 1824 – 16 August 1911), born Francis Richard Haggitt, was a wealthy Englishman and Roman Catholic convert who established the Benedictine community which became Belmont Abbey and so played a significant ro ...

, a landowner in Hereford, converts to Catholicism.Obituary
from

The Tablet ''The Tablet'' is a Catholic international weekly review published in London. Brendan Walsh, previously literary editor and then acting editor, was appointed editor in July 2017. History ''The Tablet'' was launched in 1840 by a Quaker convert ...

retrieved 5 April 2014 * 15 February 1854: Wegg-Prosser sets about building a church and the foundation stone is laid on his Belmont estate. * 1857: Construction of the Belmont monastic buildings starts. * 21 November 1859: Most of it is built and it becomes a Benedictine priory.History
from

Belmont Abbey, Herefordshire Belmont Abbey, in Herefordshire, England, is a Catholic Benedictine monastery that forms part of the English Benedictine Congregation. It stands on a small hill overlooking the city of Hereford to the east, with views across to the Black Mountai ...

retrieved 5 April 2014 The abbey continues to be enlarged (chancel extended in 1865). * 4 September 1860: The cathedral priory is consecrated. * 4 July 1895: The Diocese of Newport and Menevia splits. Glamorgan, Monmouth and Herefordshire become the Diocese of Newport. The rest of Wales, including North Wales from the Diocese of Shrewsbury, becomes the

Apostolic Vicariate of Wales The Roman Catholic Diocese of Menevia is a diocese of the Catholic Church in Wales. It is one of two suffragan dioceses in the ecclesiastical province of Cardiff and is subject to the Archdiocese of Cardiff. History On 12 May 1898, the Apos ...

.History
from

Cardiff Cathedral The Metropolitan Cathedral Church of St David, also known as St David's Cathedral, Cardiff, is a Roman Catholic cathedral in the city centre of Cardiff, Wales, and is the centre of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cardiff. Located in Charles ...

retrieved 5 April 2014 * 12 May 1898: The Apostolic Vicariate of Wales become the Diocese of Menevia with its pro-cathedral in

Wrexham Wrexham ( ; cy, Wrecsam; ) is a city and the administrative centre of Wrexham County Borough in Wales. It is located between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley, near the border with Cheshire in England. Historically in the count ...

. * 7 February 1916: The Diocese of Newport becomes the Archdiocese of Cardiff and it is decided that St David's Church in Cardiff would become the cathedral. * 12 March 1920:

St David's Cathedral, Cardiff The Metropolitan Cathedral Church of St David, also known as St David's Cathedral, Cardiff, is a Roman Catholic cathedral in the city centre of Cardiff, Wales, and is the centre of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cardiff. Located in Charles ...

is officially made the metropolitan cathedral. * 12 February 1987: The Diocese of Menevia is split. The north becomes the

with its cathedral remaining in Wrexham. The south remains the

and sets up

Swansea Cathedral The Cathedral Church of Saint Joseph – also known as St Joseph's Cathedral, Menevia Cathedral or Swansea Cathedral – is a Grade II-listed Roman Catholic cathedral in Swansea, Wales. It is the seat of the Bishop of Menevia and mother chur ...

Overview

The current ecclesiastical territory of the diocese comprises the local government areas of Cardiff,

Bridgend Bridgend (; cy, Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr or just , meaning "the end of the bridge on the Ogmore") is a town in Bridgend County Borough in Wales, west of Cardiff and east of Swansea. The town is named after the medieval bridge over the River Og ...

Vale of Glamorgan The Vale of Glamorgan ( cy, Bro Morgannwg ), often referred to as The Vale, is a county borough in the south-east of Wales. It borders Bridgend County Borough to the west, Cardiff to the east, Rhondda Cynon Taf to the north, and the Bristol ...

, Newport,

Torfaen Torfaen (; cy, Torfaen ) is a county borough in the south-east of Wales. Torfaen is bordered by the county of Monmouthshire to the east, the city of Newport to the south, and the county boroughs of Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent to the south-w ...

Blaenau Gwent Blaenau Gwent (; ) is a county borough in the south-east of Wales. 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 ...

, Monmouthshire,

Merthyr Tydfil Merthyr Tydfil (; cy, Merthyr Tudful ) is the main town in Merthyr Tydfil County Borough, Wales, administered by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council. It is about north of Cardiff. Often called just Merthyr, it is said to be named after T ...

Rhondda Cynon Taff Rhondda Cynon Taf (; RCT; also spelt as Rhondda Cynon Taff) is a county borough in the south-east of Wales. It consists of five valleys: the Rhondda Fawr, Rhondda Fach, Cynon, Taff (Welsh: ''Taf'') and Ely valleys, plus a number of towns and vill ...

and Herefordshire. Altogether there are 61 parishes. On 19 April 2011,

George Stack George Stack KC*HS CStJ (born 9 May 1946) is a prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was installed as the seventh Archbishop of Cardiff on 20 June 2011 and retired on 20 June 2022. Biography George Stack was born in Cork, Ireland, on 9 May ...

was appointed to succeed Peter Smith, who was translated to

Southwark Southwark ( ) is a district of Central London situated on the south bank of the River Thames, forming the north-western part of the wider modern London Borough of Southwark. The district, which is the oldest part of South London, developed ...

in 2010. He was installed as Archbishop on 20 June 2011.

Bishops

Ordinaries

;Vicars Apostolic of the Welsh District *

Thomas Joseph Brown Thomas Joseph Brown OSB (called Joseph;Belmont Abbey Association – A Brief History
acces ...

, 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 Brown Thomas Joseph Brown OSB (called Joseph;Belmont Abbey Association – A Brief History
acces ...

, O.S.B. (Appointed on 29 September 1850 – Died on 12 April 1880) * John Cuthbert Hedley, O.S.B. (Appointed on 18 February 1881 - from 1895, Bishop of Newport only – Died on 11 November 1915) ;Archbishops of Cardiff * James Romanus Bilsborrow, O.S.B. (Appointed on 7 February 1916 – Resigned on 16 December 1920) * Francis Edward Joseph Mostyn (Appointed on 7 March 1921 – Died on 25 October 1939) *

Michael Joseph McGrath Michael Joseph McGrath (24 March 1882 – 28 February 1961) 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. Personal history ...

(Appointed on 20 June 1940 – Died on 28 February 1961) * John Aloysius Murphy (Appointed on 22 August 1961 – Retired on 25 March 1983) * John Aloysius Ward, O.F.M. Cap. (Appointed on 25 March 1983 – Resigned on 26 October 2001) * Peter David Smith (Appointed on 26 October 2001 – Translated to

on 30 April 2010) *

(Appointed on 19 April 2011 – 20 June 2022) * Mark O'Toole (Appointed 27 April 2022. Installed on 20 June 2022)

Auxiliary Bishops

* John Edward Cuthbert Hedley, O.S.B. (1873-1881), appointed Bishop here * Daniel Joseph Mullins (1970-1987), appointed Bishop of Menevia, Wales

Other priests of this diocese who became bishops

Daniel Joseph Hannon Daniel Joseph Hannon (12 June 1884 – 26 April 1946) was a Roman Catholic prelate who served as the Bishop of Menevia from 1941 to 1946. Born in Rotherham, Yorkshire on 12 June 1884, he was ordained to the priesthood on 22 September 1907. He w ...

, appointed Bishop of Menevia, Wales in 1941 * David James Mathew, appointed auxiliary bishop of Westminster, England in 1938 *

Edwin Regan Edwin Regan (born 31 December 1935) is a Welsh prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the second Bishop of Wrexham from 1994 to 2012. Biography Edwin Regan was born in Port Talbot, and studied at St. John's Seminary, Waterford, I ...

, appointed Bishop of Wrexham, Wales in 1994 *

Francis John Vaughan Francis John Vaughan (5 May 1877 – 13 March 1935) was a Roman Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Menevia from 1926 to 1935. Vaughan was born in Courtfield, Welsh Bicknor, Herefordshire. An uncle was Cardinal Herbert Vaughan, Archbish ...

, appointed Bishop of Menevia, Wales in 1926

Deaneries

There are a total of six deaneries in the Archdiocese of Cardiff, each of which cover several churches in that area, overseen by a dean. The deaneries include:Deaneries
from RCADC.co.uk, retrieved 25 March 2015 * Bridgend Deanery * Cardiff Deanery * Hereford Deanery * Newport Deanery * North Gwent Deanery * Pontypridd Deanery

References

External links

Archdiocese of Cardiff websiteCardiff Metropolitan CathedralWales and the Marches Catholic History SocietyCardiff Catholic Archives
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cardiff

Pope Pius IX

1840 establishments in the United Kingdom Roman Catholic Ecclesiastical Province of Cardiff