Diocese of Christchurch

Past and Present Ordinaries

• John Joseph Grimes, S.M. † (13 May 1887 Appointed - 15 Mar 1915 Died)
• Matthew Joseph Brodie † (27 Nov 1915 Appointed - 11 Oct 1943 Died)
• Patrick Francis Lyons † (16 Mar 1944 Appointed - 8 Mar 1950 Appointed, Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney)
• Edward Michael Joyce † (18 Apr 1950 Appointed - 28 Jan 1964 Died)
• Brian Patrick Ashby † (11 Jul 1964 Appointed - 4 Jul 1985 Resigned)
• Denis William Hanrahan † (4 Jul 1985 Succeeded - 1 Feb 1987 Died)
• John Basil Meeking † (30 Mar 1987 Appointed - 15 Dec 1995 Resigned)
• John Jerome Cunneen † (15 Dec 1995 Appointed - 4 May 2007 Retired)
• Barry Philip Jones † (4 May 2007 Succeeded - 13 Feb 2016 Died)
• Paul Gerard Martin, S.M. (5 Dec 2017 Appointed - 1 Jan 2021 Appointed, Coadjutor Archbishop of Wellington)
• Michael Andrew Gielen (21 May 2022 Appointed - )

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
1950	30,250	243,777	12.4%	47	43	90	336		66	374	32	ap1951
1966	58,000	391,069	14.8%	85	50	135	429		99	486	49	ap1967
1970	61,162	358,582	17.1%	85	53	138	443		101	460	50	ap1971
1980	69,603	452,635	15.4%	77	43	120	580		83	315	52	ap1981
1990	54,732	462,650	11.8%	64	37	101	541		64	261	50	ap1991
1999	64,629	488,000	13.2%	55	24	79	818		46	212	50	ap2000
2000	64,629	548,793	11.8%	54	24	78	828		46	190	50	ap2001
2001	64,629	548,793	11.8%	55	24	79	818		31	199	50	ap2002
2002	68,295	511,734	13.3%	49	23	72	948		37	171	50	ap2003
2003	62,715	503,631	12.5%	48	22	70	895		38	187	50	ap2004
2004	62,715	503,631	12.5%	49	24	73	859		44	155	52	ap2005
2006	62,715	503,631	12.5%	49	18	67	936		35	138	51	ap2007
2013	68,500	546,000	12.5%	47	16	63	1,087		32	109	39	ap2014
2016	67,824	574,755	11.8%	50	16	66	1,027		38	100	27	ap2017
2019	72,000	610,910	11.8%	48	17	65	1,107		39	103	26	ap2020
2021	66,830	654,900	10.2%	44	18	62	1,077		39	91	26	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

• John Lewis Adams (Priest: 4 Jun 2003 to 22 Jun 2023)
• Charles Edward Drennan (Priest: 14 Jun 1996 to 22 Feb 2011)
• Michael Andrew Gielen (Bishop: 21 May 2022 - )
• Stephen Marmion Lowe (Priest: 7 Jun 1996 to 22 Nov 2014)
• Paul Gerard Martin, S.M. (Bishop: 5 Dec 2017 to 1 Jan 2021; Apostolic Administrator: 1 Jan 2021 to 9 Jul 2022)

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Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

• Brian Patrick Ashby † (Priest: 1 Jan 1950; Bishop: 11 Jul 1964 to 4 Jul 1985)
• Matthew Joseph Brodie † (Bishop: 27 Nov 1915 to 11 Oct 1943)
• John Jerome Cunneen † (Priest: 8 Jul 1956; Auxiliary Bishop: 6 Oct 1992; Bishop: 15 Dec 1995 to 4 May 2007)
• Reginald John Delargey †
• John Joseph Grimes, S.M. † (Bishop: 13 May 1887 to 15 Mar 1915)
• Denis William Hanrahan † (Priest: 21 Jul 1957; Coadjutor Bishop: 25 Mar 1984; Bishop: 4 Jul 1985 to 1 Feb 1987)
• Barry Philip Jones † (Priest: 4 Jul 1966; Coadjutor Bishop: 28 Jun 2006; Bishop: 4 May 2007 to 13 Feb 2016)
• Edward Michael Joyce † (Priest: 31 Oct 1930; Bishop: 18 Apr 1950 to 28 Jan 1964)
• Patrick Francis Lyons † (Bishop: 16 Mar 1944 to 8 Mar 1950)
• John Basil Meeking † (Priest: 19 Jul 1953; Bishop: 30 Mar 1987 to 15 Dec 1995)