Archdiocese of Bamenda

---

Bishop(s) Cornelius Fontem Esua, Archbishop Paul Verdzekov, Archbishop Emeritus Suffragan Dioceses Buéa Kumbo Mamfe

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese Elevated: 18 March 1982 Metropolitan See Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: Cameroon Square Kilometers: 10,000 (3,862 Square Miles) Mailing Address: P.O. Box 82, Bamenda, North-West Province, Cameroon Telephone: 3361.241 Fax: 3363.487

Historical Details

• Diocese of Bamenda
  • Latin Name: Bamendanus
  • Erected: 13 August 1970
  • Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Yaoundé
  • Country: Cameroon

---

Past and Present Ordinaries

• Paul Verdzekov (13 Aug 1970 Appointed - 23 Jan 2006 Retired)
• Cornelius Fontem Esua (23 Jan 2006 Succeeded - )

---

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Bamenda
13 August 1970	Erected	Diocese of Buéa	Diocese of Bamenda (erected)
18 March 1982	Territory Lost	Diocese of Bamenda	Diocese of Kumbo (erected)
Archdiocese of Bamenda
18 March 1982	Elevated	Diocese of Bamenda	Archdiocese of Bamenda

---

Statistics

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Bamenda
1980	166,129	988,607	16.8%	27	45	72	2,307		75	132		ap1981
Archdiocese of Bamenda
1990	152,543	920,000	16.6%	30	40	70	2,179		83	85	23	ap1991
1999	204,977	1,088,600	18.8%	48	39	87	2,356		91	102	26	ap2000
2000	214,000	1,100,000	19.5%	47	39	86	2,488		86	98	26	ap2001
2001	228,499	1,100,000	20.8%	50	35	85	2,688		91	104	26	ap2002
2002	230,000	1,100,000	20.9%	51	35	86	2,674		86	104	26	ap2003
2003	237,000	1,100,000	21.5%	54	31	85	2,788		78	104	28	ap2004
2004	238,000	1,100,000	21.6%	54	37	91	2,615		85	161	28	ap2005

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

---

Affiliated Bishops

• Cornelius Fontem Esua (Coadjutor Archbishop: 7 Dec 2004; Archbishop: 23 Jan 2006)
• Paul Verdzekov (Bishop: 13 Aug 1970; Archbishop: 18 Mar 1982 to 23 Jan 2006)