The Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia (; ) is a

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

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 associated ...

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 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

which covers south

Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...

and the county of

Herefordshire Herefordshire ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the West Midlands (region), West Midlands of England, bordered by Shropshire to the north, Worcestershire to the east, Gloucestershire to the south-east, and the Welsh ...

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

. The

Metropolitan Province An ecclesiastical province is one of the basic forms of Ecclesiastical jurisdiction, jurisdiction in Christianity, Christian churches, including those of both Western Christianity and Eastern Christianity, that have traditional hierarchical struc ...

of Cardiff covers all of Wales and parts of England. Its one

suffragan A suffragan bishop is a type of bishop in some Christian denominations. In the Catholic Church, a suffragan bishop leads a diocese within an ecclesiastical province other than the principal diocese, the metropolitan archdiocese; the diocese led ...

diocese is the Diocese of Wrexham.

History

The origin of the modern diocese can be traced to 1840 when the '' Apostolic Vicariate of the Welsh District'' was created out of the '' Western District of England and Wales''. The Welsh District consisted of the whole of Wales and the English county of Herefordshire. When

Pope Pius IX Pope Pius IX (; born Giovanni Maria Battista Pietro Pellegrino Isidoro Mastai-Ferretti; 13 May 1792 – 7 February 1878) was head of the Catholic Church from 1846 to 1878. His reign of nearly 32 years is the longest verified of any pope in hist ...

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''. It had its pro-cathedral at Belmont Abbey. Boundaries were redrawn to cover

Glamorgan Glamorgan (), or sometimes Glamorganshire ( or ), was Historic counties of Wales, one of the thirteen counties of Wales that existed from 1536 until their abolishment in 1974. It is located in the South Wales, south of Wales. Originally an ea ...

Monmouthshire Monmouthshire ( ; ) is a Principal areas of Wales, county in the South East Wales, south east of Wales. It borders Powys to the north; the English counties of Herefordshire and Gloucestershire to the north and east; the Severn Estuary to the s ...

and Herefordshire and renamed the ''Diocese of Newport'' in 1895. Eleven years later, the diocese became a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Birmingham. In 1916, with no change to boundaries, the bishop was raised to the

archbishop In Christian denominations, an archbishop is a bishop of higher rank or office. In most cases, such as the Catholic Church, there are many archbishops who either have jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province in addition to their own archdi ...

status with the see title becoming the ''Archdiocese of Cardiff''. The episcopal seat was St David's Cathedral.''Catholic Province of Cardiff Wales and Herefordshire – Directory and Yearbook 2011'' published December 2010 by authority of the Bishops of Wales – see page 8. Cardiff and Menevia dioceses merge in 2024.

Timeline

As all of the Roman Catholic dioceses in Wales are part of the ecclesiastical province of Cardiff-Menevia 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 to ...

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

The Tablet ''The Tablet'' is a Catholic Church, 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 ...

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 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, Monmouthshire 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.History
from Cardiff Cathedral retrieved 5 April 2014 * 12 May 1898: The Apostolic Vicariate of Wales becomes the Diocese of Menevia with its pro-cathedral in

Wrexham Wrexham ( ; ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in the North East Wales, north-east of Wales. It lies between the Cambrian Mountains, Welsh mountains and the lower River Dee, Wales, Dee Valley, near the England–Wales border, borde ...

. * 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 ( Welsh: Eglwys Gadeiriol Fetropolitan Dewi Sant), also known as St David's Cathedral, Cardiff, is a Catholic cathedral in the city centre of Cardiff, Wales, and is the centre of the Archdiocese o ...

, is officially made the metropolitan cathedral. * 12 February 1987: The Diocese of Menevia is split. The north becomes the Diocese of Wrexham with its cathedral remaining in Wrexham. The south remains the Diocese of Menevia and sets up Swansea Cathedral. * 12 September 2024: Pope Francis creates the Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia by merging the Archdiocese of Cardiff and the Diocese of Menevia.

Overview

The current ecclesiastical territory of the archdiocese comprises the Welsh principal areas of

Blaenau Gwent Blaenau Gwent (; ) is a Principal areas of Wales, county borough in the South East Wales, south-east of Wales. It borders the Local government in Wales, unitary authority areas of Monmouthshire and Torfaen to the east, Caerphilly County Borough ...

Bridgend Bridgend (; or just , meaning "the end of the bridge on the Ogmore") is a town in the Bridgend County Borough of Wales, west of Cardiff and east of Swansea. The town is named after the Old Bridge, Bridgend, medieval bridge over the River Og ...

Caerphilly Caerphilly (, ; , ) is a town and community (Wales), community in Wales. It is situated at the southern end of the Rhymney Valley and separated from the Cardiff suburbs of Lisvane and Rhiwbina by Caerphilly Mountain. It is north of Cardiff an ...

, Cardiff,

Carmarthenshire Carmarthenshire (; or informally ') is a Principal areas of Wales, county in the South West Wales, south-west of Wales. The three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford. Carmarthen is the county town and administrative centre. ...

Ceredigion Ceredigion (), historically Cardiganshire (, ), is a Principal areas of Wales, county in the West Wales, west of Wales. It borders Gwynedd across the River Dyfi, Dyfi estuary to the north, Powys to the east, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire t ...

Merthyr Tydfil Merthyr Tydfil () 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 Tydfil, daughter of K ...

Neath Port Talbot Neath Port Talbot () is a Principal areas of Wales, county borough in the South West Wales, south-west of Wales. Its principal towns are Neath, Port Talbot, Briton Ferry and Pontardawe. The county borough borders Bridgend County Borough and Rhon ...

, Newport,

Pembrokeshire Pembrokeshire ( ; ) is a Principal areas of Wales, county in the South West Wales, south-west of Wales. It is bordered by Carmarthenshire to the east, Ceredigion to the northeast, and otherwise by the sea. Haverfordwest is the largest town and ...

Rhondda Cynon Taf Rhondda Cynon Taf (; RCT; also spelt as Rhondda Cynon Taff) is a Principal areas of Wales, county borough in the South East Wales, south-east of Wales. It consists of five valleys: the Rhondda Fawr, Rhondda Fach, Cynon, Taff () and Ely valleys, ...

Swansea Swansea ( ; ) is a coastal City status in the United Kingdom, city and the List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, second-largest city of Wales. It forms a Principal areas of Wales, principal area, officially known as the City and County of ...

Torfaen Torfaen (; ) is a Principal areas of Wales, county borough in the South East Wales, south-east of Wales. Torfaen is bordered by the county of Monmouthshire to the east, the City status in the United Kingdom, city of Newport, Wales, Newport to t ...

, the

Vale of Glamorgan The Vale of Glamorgan ( ), locally referred to as ''The Vale'', is a Principal areas of Wales, county borough in the South East Wales, south-east of Wales. It borders Bridgend County Borough to the west, Cardiff to the east, Rhondda Cynon Taf t ...

and the part of

Powys Powys ( , ) is a Principal areas of Wales, county and Preserved counties of Wales, preserved county in Wales. It borders Gwynedd, Denbighshire, and Wrexham County Borough, Wrexham to the north; the English Ceremonial counties of England, ceremo ...

comprising the historic counties of

Brecknockshire Brecknockshire ( or ), also known as the County of Brecknock, Breconshire, or the County of Brecon, was Historic counties of Wales, one of the thirteen counties of Wales that existed from 1536 until their abolishment in 1974. It was created in 1 ...

and

Radnorshire Radnorshire () was Historic counties of Wales, one of the thirteen counties of Wales that existed from 1536 until their abolishment in 1974, later becoming a Districts of Wales, district of Powys from 1974 to 1996. It covered a sparsely populat ...

, with the English county of Herefordshire. Altogether there are 61 parishes.

Bishops

Ordinaries

Vicars Apostolic of the Welsh District

* Thomas Joseph Brown, 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, 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 Francis Edward Mostyn (6 August 1860 – 25 October 1939) was a Catholic Church in England and Wales, Welsh Catholic prelate who served as Archbishop of Cardiff from 1921 until his death in 1939. Biography Francis Edward Joseph Mostyn was bo ...

(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 John Aloysius Murphy (21 December 1905 – 18 November 1995) 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. He was born in Birkenhead o ...

(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

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 ...

on 30 April 2010) * George Stack (Appointed on 19 April 2011. Installed on 20 June 2011 – 20 June 2022) * Mark O'Toole (Appointed on 27 April 2022. Installed on 20 June 2022 – 12 September 2024)

Bishops of Menevia

† (4 July 1895 – 7 March 1921 appointed archbishop of

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

) * Francis J. Vaughan † (21 June 1926 – 13 March 1935 died) *

† (10 August 1935 – 20 June 1940 appointed archbishop of Cardiff) *

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 was ...

† (15 March 1941 – 26 April 1946 died) * John Edward Petit † (8 February 1947 – 16 June 1972 retired) *

Langton Douglas Fox Langton Douglas Fox (21 February 1917 – 26 July 1997) was a Roman Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Menevia from 1972 to 1981. Life Born in Golders Green, London on 21 February 1917, he was ordained to the priesthood on 30 May 1942. In ...

† (16 June 1972 – 5 February 1981 resigned) * John Aloysius Ward, OFM Cap † (5 February 1981 succeeded – 25 March 1983 appointed archbishop of Cardiff) *

James Hannigan James Hannigan (born 23 July 1971) is a BAFTA Award winning composer and producer. His credits include entries in the ''Harry Potter video games, Harry Potter'', ''Command & Conquer'', ''Dead Space 3, Dead Space'', ''List of Games Workshop vid ...

† (13 October 1983 – 12 February 1987 appointed bishop of

) * Daniel Joseph Mullins † (12 February 1987 – 12 June 2001 retired) * John Mark Jabalé (12 June 2001 – 16 October 2008 retired) * Thomas Matthew Burns (16 October 2008 – 11 July 2019 retired) *Mark O'Toole (Appointed 27 April 2022. Diocese merged with the Archdiocese of Cardiff ''in persona Episcopi''. Installed on 23 June 2022)

Archbishops of Cardiff-Menevia

* Mark O'Toole (12 September 2024 – present)

Coadjutor Bishops of Menevia

* John Peter Mark Jabalé, O.S.B. (2000-2001) * John Aloysius Ward, O.F.M. Cap. † (1980-1981)

Auxiliary Bishops of Cardiff

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

Auxiliary Bishop of Menevia

† (1965-1972), appointed Bishop of Menevia.

Other priests of this diocese who became bishops

Peter Malcolm Brignall Peter Malcolm Brignall (born 5 July 1953) is the Catholic Church, Roman Catholic Bishop of Wrexham. Born in Whetstone, London on 5 July 1953, he was Holy Orders, ordained as a deacon by Victor Guazzelli, Auxiliary Bishop of Roman Catholic Archdi ...

(priest here, 1978–1987), appointed Bishop of Wrexham, Wales in 2012 * Peter Collins (bishop), appointed Bishop of East Anglia in 2022 *

, appointed Bishop of Menevia in 1941 * David James Mathew, appointed auxiliary bishop of Westminster in 1938 * Edwin Regan, appointed Bishop of Wrexham in 1994 *

Francis John Vaughan Francis John Vaughan (5 May 1877 – 13 March 1935) was a Roman Catholic Church, 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 ...

, appointed Bishop of Menevia in 1926

Deaneries

There are a total of eleven deaneries in the archdiocese, each of which cover several churches in that area, overseen by a dean. The deaneries include: * Bridgend Deanery * Cardiff Deanery * Carmarthen Deanery * Hereford Deanery * Llandrindod Wells Deanery * Newport Deanery * North Gwent Deanery * Pembroke Deanery * Pontypridd Deanery * Port Talbot Deanery * Swansea Deanery

References

External links

Archdiocese of Cardiff websiteCardiff Metropolitan CathedralWales and the Marches Catholic History Society

Cardiff Catholic Archives
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cardiff-Menevia

Cardiff-Menevia Pope Pius IX

1840 establishments in the United Kingdom 2024 establishments in the United Kingdom Roman Catholic Ecclesiastical Province of Cardiff-Menevia Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia Roman Catholic Diocese of Menevia