Diocese of Port Elizabeth

Historical Details

• Vicariate Apostolic of Cape of Good Hope {Capo de Buona Speranza}
  • Erected: 18 June 1818
  • Vicariate
  • Country: South Africa

• Vicariate Apostolic of Cape of Good Hope, Eastern District {Capo de Buona Speranza, Distretto Orientale}
  • Latin Name: Districtus Orientalis Promontorii Bonae Spei
  • Name Changed: 30 July 1847
  • Vicariate
  • Country: South Africa

• Vicariate Apostolic of Port Elizabeth
  • Latin Name: Portus Elizabethensis
  • Name Changed: 13 June 1939
  • Vicariate
  • Country: South Africa

Past and Present Ordinaries

• Edward Bede Slater, O.S.B. † (18 Jun 1818 Appointed - 9 Aug 1831 Resigned)
• Patrick Raymond Griffith, O.P. † (6 Jun 1837 Appointed - 30 Jul 1847 Appointed, Vicar Apostolic of Cape of Good Hope, Western District {Capo di Buona Speranza, Distretto Occidentale})
• William Bernard Allen Collier, O.S.B. † (14 Feb 1840 Appointed - 7 Dec 1847 Appointed, Bishop of Port-Louis)
• Aidan Devereaux † (30 Jul 1847 Appointed - 11 Feb 1854 Died)
• Patrick Moran † (19 Feb 1856 Appointed - 3 Dec 1869 Appointed, Bishop of Dunedin)
• James David Ricards † (13 Jan 1871 Appointed - 30 Nov 1893 Died)
• Pietro Strobino † (30 Nov 1893 Succeeded - 1 Oct 1896 Died)
• Hugh McSherry † (1 Oct 1896 Succeeded - 15 Dec 1938 Retired)
• James Colbert † (13 Jun 1939 Appointed - Sep 1948 Resigned)
• Hugh Boyle † (9 Dec 1948 Appointed - 18 Jul 1954 Appointed, Bishop of Johannesburg)
• Ernest Arthur Green † (19 Apr 1955 Appointed - 27 Dec 1970 Resigned)
• John Patrick Murphy † (6 May 1972 Appointed - 21 Mar 1986 Retired)
• Michael Gower Coleman † (21 Mar 1986 Appointed - 20 Aug 2011 Resigned)

Historical Summary

Statistics

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Port Elizabeth
1950	25,365	784,491	3.2%	57	18	75	338		52	568	16	ap1951
Diocese of Port Elizabeth
1969	50,748	717,500	7.1%	73	12	85	597		39	563	39	ap1971
1980	65,062	1,542,000	4.2%	57	12	69	942		22	375	45	ap1981
1990	79,233	1,824,233	4.3%	40	9	49	1,617	5	13	230	45	ap1991
1999	92,596	2,542,596	3.6%	39	8	47	1,970	5	14	172	44	ap2000
2000	92,731	2,546,000	3.6%	39	7	46	2,015	5	13	167	44	ap2001
2001	93,119	2,693,119	3.5%	39	6	45	2,069	5	11	157	44	ap2002
2002	98,179	2,698,179	3.6%	36	6	42	2,337	4	9	175	44	ap2003
2003	98,648	2,698,648	3.7%	39	8	47	2,098		10	164	44	ap2004
2004	98,800	2,698,800	3.7%	36	9	45	2,195	14	11	158	44	ap2005

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

• None

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Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

• Hugh Boyle † (Vicar Apostolic: 9 Dec 1948; Bishop: 11 Jan 1951 to 18 Jul 1954)
• James Colbert † (Vicar Apostolic: 13 Jun 1939 to Sep 1948)
• Michael Gower Coleman † (Bishop: 21 Mar 1986 to 20 Aug 2011)
• William Bernard Allen Collier, O.S.B. † (Vicar Apostolic: 14 Feb 1840 to 7 Dec 1847)
• Aidan Devereaux † (Vicar Apostolic: 30 Jul 1847 to 11 Feb 1854)
• Ernest Arthur Green † (Bishop: 19 Apr 1955 to 27 Dec 1970)
• Patrick Raymond Griffith, O.P. † (Vicar Apostolic: 6 Jun 1837 to 30 Jul 1847)
• Hugh McSherry † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 2 Jun 1896; Vicar Apostolic: 1 Oct 1896 to 15 Dec 1938)
• Patrick Moran † (Vicar Apostolic: 19 Feb 1856 to 3 Dec 1869)
• John Patrick Murphy † (Priest: 3 Jun 1934; Bishop: 6 May 1972 to 21 Mar 1986)
• James David Ricards † (Vicar Apostolic: 13 Jan 1871 to 30 Nov 1893)
• Edward Bede Slater, O.S.B. † (Vicar Apostolic: 18 Jun 1818 to 9 Aug 1831)
• Pietro Strobino † (Coadjutor Bishop: 19 Jun 1891; Vicar Apostolic: 30 Nov 1893 to 1 Oct 1896)