Rachel Evans
The Catholic Church in England and Wales has 21 dioceses, which are administrative units under the supervision of a bishop. These 21 dioceses are spread across five provinces. The Catholic Church in Scotland, on the other hand, has eight dioceses, with six suffragan dioceses headed by a bishop and two Latin ecclesiastical provinces headed by a Metropolitan archbishop.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Catholic Dioceses in England and Wales | 21 |
| Number of Catholic Dioceses in Scotland | 8 |
| Total Number of Catholic Dioceses in Great Britain | 33 |
| Catholic Dioceses in England | Portsmouth, Salford, Shrewsbury, Southwark, Westminster, Wrexham, Sherborne, Norwich, Leeds, Liverpool |
| Catholic Dioceses in Wales | Wrexham |
| Catholic Dioceses in Scotland | Saint Andrews and Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Argyll and the Isles, Dunkeld, Galloway, Glasgow |
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What You'll Learn
The Catholic Church in England and Wales
The Diocese of Westminster is considered the mother church of English and Welsh Catholics. Although not formally a primate, the Archbishop of Westminster is usually elected President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, providing a degree of formal direction for the other English bishops.
Some of the dioceses within the Catholic Church in England and Wales include:
- Portsmouth Diocese
- Salford Diocese
- Shrewsbury Diocese
- Wrexham Diocese
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The Catholic Church in Scotland
As of June 20, 2025, there are 22 Catholic dioceses in England, each led by a bishop and serving the spiritual needs of Catholics in a specific geographic area. These dioceses are further organized into two provinces: the Province of Westminster, which covers the southern half of England, and the Province of Liverpool, which covers the north. Each province is headed by an archbishop who oversees the bishops within their province.
Now, turning to the topic of your request, here is some information about the Catholic Church in Scotland:
Currently, there are two provinces in the Catholic Church in Scotland, each headed by an archbishop. The Province of St Andrews and Edinburgh is led by the Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, and it covers the eastern and central parts of Scotland. This province is comprised of the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh, as well as the Dioceses of Aberdeen, Argyll and the Isles, Dunkeld, and Galloway. On the other hand, the Province of Glasgow is led by the Archbishop of Glasgow and covers the western part of the country, including the city of Glasgow. This province includes the Archdiocese of Glasgow along with the Dioceses of Motherwell, Paisley, and Argyll and the Isles.
The Scottish Catholic Bishops' Conference is the assembly of the bishops of Scotland who jointly exercise certain pastoral functions on behalf of the Christian faithful of Scotland. It was established in 1980 and meets regularly to discuss issues pertaining to the Catholic Church in Scotland and to make collective decisions. The Conference also produces pastoral letters and documents offering guidance and teachings to Catholics across the country.
In conclusion, the Catholic Church in Scotland is a vibrant and diverse community, with a rich historical and cultural heritage. While it may be a smaller part of the global Catholic Church, it plays a significant role in the lives of Scottish Catholics and continues to contribute to the spiritual landscape of the nation.
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The Catholic Church in Northern Ireland
The Catholic Church in England and Wales has five provinces, which are further subdivided into 21 dioceses. The Catholic dioceses in Northern Ireland are organised together with those in the Republic of Ireland. This is because the Catholic Church in Ireland was not divided when civil authority in Ireland was partitioned in the 1920s. All dioceses in Northern Ireland are part of the ecclesiastical province of Armagh. The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Armagh is the primatial see of all of Ireland. Its territory is partly located in Northern Ireland and partly in the Republic of Ireland.
The Catholic Church in Scotland comprises two Latin ecclesiastical provinces, each headed by a Metropolitan archbishop. There are six suffragan dioceses in Scotland, making a total of eight dioceses when the two archdioceses are included.
The Catholic dioceses in Great Britain were organised following the passing of the Roman Catholic Relief Act in 1829, which legalised the practice of the Catholic faith. On 29 September 1850, Pope Pius IX re-established the Catholic Church diocesan hierarchy by issuing the bull Universalis Ecclesiae. The Hierarchy in Scotland was restored in 1878. The names of the Catholic dioceses that were re-established did not adopt the names of the then-existing medieval dioceses, which were once Catholic and are now Anglican.
Four current English Catholic dioceses, those of Leeds, Liverpool, Southwark, and Portsmouth, share their territorial names with Anglican dioceses. In addition, there are two Eastern Catholic sui juris churches in Great Britain that are in communion with the Holy See: the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London.
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The Catholic dioceses in Great Britain
The Catholic Church in Great Britain is organised into two hierarchies: the Catholic Church in England and Wales, and the Catholic Church in Scotland. Within the Catholic Church in England and Wales, there are 21 dioceses spread across five provinces. These dioceses include Arundel and Brighton, Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Portsmouth, Salford, Southwark, Westminster, and many others.
The Catholic dioceses in England and Wales were established in 1850, following the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829, which legalised the practice of the Catholic faith. Before this, Catholicism had been illegal since the English Reformation in the 16th century. The hierarchy of the Catholic Church in Scotland was restored in 1878.
The Catholic Church in Scotland has eight dioceses, including the Archdiocese of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh, the Diocese of Aberdeen, the Diocese of Argyll and the Isles, and the Diocese of Galloway. The Scottish Church is divided into two ecclesiastical provinces, each headed by a Metropolitan archbishop.
The Catholic dioceses in Northern Ireland are organised together with those in the Republic of Ireland, as the Catholic Church was not divided when civil authority in Ireland was partitioned in 1921. All dioceses in Northern Ireland are part of the ecclesiastical province of Armagh.
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The number of Catholic dioceses in England today vs. history
The Catholic Church in England and Wales has five provinces, which are further subdivided into 21 dioceses. These include the Archdiocese of Birmingham, Diocese of Portsmouth, Diocese of Shrewsbury, Archdiocese of Southwark, Archdiocese of Westminster, and Diocese of Salford, among others.
Historically, the number of Catholic dioceses in England has varied. From the time of the English Reformation in the 16th century until 1688, Catholicism was declared illegal in England and Wales, and there were no Catholic dioceses. However, from 1623 to 1688, there was an Apostolic Vicariate of England, which was then divided into four districts: the London District, the Western District, the Midland District, and the Northern District. These districts existed until a general redivision in 1840, after which new districts were created and old ones were dissolved until 1850.
In 1850, Pope Pius IX re-established the Catholic Church diocesan hierarchy in England and Wales, issuing the bull Universalis Ecclesiae. This re-establishment did not adopt the names of the then-existing medieval dioceses, which were once Catholic and later became Anglican. Some historical dioceses in England include Sherborne, Elmham, and Salisbury.
The Catholic dioceses in Northern Ireland are organised together with those in the Republic of Ireland, as the Catholic Church in Ireland was not divided when civil authority was partitioned in 1921. The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Armagh is the primatial see of all of Ireland, with its territory spread across both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
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Frequently asked questions
There are 21 Catholic Dioceses in England and Wales.
Some examples of Catholic Dioceses in England include Portsmouth, Shrewsbury, and Westminster.
There are 8 Catholic Dioceses in Scotland.
Catholic Dioceses in England were re-established on 29 September 1850 by Pope Pius IX.
