Hexham and Newcastle (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Stephen James Lawrence Wright, Bishop
Robert John Byrne, C.O., Bishop Emeritus
Séamus Cunningham, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Name Changed: 23 May 1861
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Liverpool
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: England
Region: Great Britain
Square Kilometers: 8,722 (3,368 Square Miles)
Description: Counties of Durham, Northumberland, with Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Darlington, Gateshead, Hartlepool, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, and Stockton-on-Tees (N of River Tees).
Official Web Site: https://diocesehn.org.uk/
Mailing Address: St. Vincent’s Diocesan Offices, St. Cuthbert’s House, West Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE15 7PY, England, Great Britain
Telephone: (0191)228-0003
Fax: 274-0432

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Northern District
- Erected: 30 January 1688
- Country: England
- Region: Great Britain
- Description: Counties of Chester, Durham, Cumberland, Lancashire, Northumberland, Westmorland, Yorkshire, with the Isle of Man.
Diocese of Hexham
- Latin Name: Hagulstadensis
- Elevated: 29 September 1850
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Westminster
- Country: England
- Region: Great Britain

Past and Present Ordinaries

James Smith † (28 Jan 1688 Confirmed - 13 May 1711 Died)
George Witham † (6 Apr 1716 Appointed - 16 Apr 1725 Died)
Thomas Dominic Williams, O.P. † (22 Dec 1725 Confirmed - 3 Apr 1740 Died)
Edward Dicconson † (6 Oct 1740 Appointed - 5 May 1752 Died)
Francis Petre † (5 May 1752 Succeeded - 24 Dec 1775 Died)
William Walton † (24 Dec 1775 Succeeded - 26 Feb 1780 Died)
Matthew Gibson † (17 Jun 1780 Appointed - 17 May 1790 Died)
William Gibson † (10 Sep 1790 Appointed - 2 Jun 1821 Died)
Thomas Smith † (2 Jun 1821 Succeeded - 30 Jul 1831 Died)
Thomas Penswick † (30 Jul 1831 Succeeded - 28 Jan 1836 Died)
John Briggs † (28 Jan 1836 Succeeded - 3 Jul 1840 Appointed, Vicar Apostolic of Yorkshire District, England)
Henry Weedall † (3 Jul 1840 Appointed - Did Not Take Effect)
Francis George Mostyn † (22 Sep 1840 Appointed - 11 Aug 1847 Died)
William Riddell † (11 Aug 1847 Succeeded - 2 Nov 1847 Died)
William Hogarth † (28 Jul 1848 Appointed - 29 Jan 1866 Died)
James Chadwick † (31 Aug 1866 Appointed - 14 May 1882 Died)
John William Bewick † (12 Sep 1882 Appointed - 29 Oct 1886 Died)
Henry O’Callaghan † (1 Oct 1887 Appointed - 19 Sep 1889 Resigned)
Thomas William Wilkinson † (28 Dec 1889 Appointed - 17 Apr 1909 Died)
Richard Collins † (21 Jun 1909 Appointed - 9 Feb 1924 Died)
Joseph Thorman † (18 Dec 1924 Appointed - 7 Oct 1936 Died)
Joseph McCormack † (30 Dec 1936 Appointed - 2 Mar 1958 Died)
James Cunningham † (1 Jul 1958 Appointed - 16 May 1974 Resigned)
Hugh Lindsay † (12 Dec 1974 Appointed - 11 Jan 1992 Resigned)
Michael Ambrose Griffiths, O.S.B. † (11 Jan 1992 Appointed - 26 Mar 2004 Retired)
Kevin John Dunn † (26 Mar 2004 Appointed - 1 Mar 2008 Died)
Séamus Cunningham (9 Jan 2009 Appointed - 4 Feb 2019 Retired)
Robert John Byrne, C.O. (4 Feb 2019 Appointed - 12 Dec 2022 Resigned)
Stephen James Lawrence Wright (14 Jun 2023 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Northern District
30 January 1688	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of England (and Wales)	Vicariate Apostolic of Midland District (erected) Vicariate Apostolic of Northern District (erected) Vicariate Apostolic of Western District (erected)
3 July 1840	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Northern District	Vicariate Apostolic of Lancashire District (erected) Vicariate Apostolic of Yorkshire District (erected)
Diocese of Hexham
29 September 1850	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Northern District	Diocese of Hexham
Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle
23 May 1861	Name Changed	Diocese of Hexham	Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle
28 October 1911	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle (from Westminster to Liverpool)
22 November 1924	Territory Lost	Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle (Westmorland and Cumberland) Archdiocese of Liverpool (Northern part)	Diocese of Lancaster (erected)

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 Hexham and Newcastle

1949 247,234 2,242,700 11.0% 329 20 349 708 66 559 148 ap1951

1969 282,659 2,256,800 12.5% 359 39 398 710 76 551 177 ap1971

1980 270,000 2,379,000 11.3% 293 37 330 818 1 99 511 180 ap1981

1990 248,862 2,394,000 10.4% 265 37 302 824 3 86 284 180 ap1991

1999 240,457 2,250,000 10.7% 219 32 251 957 3 58 227 188 ap2000

2000 243,183 2,200,000 11.1% 216 32 248 980 2 47 216 178 ap2001

2001 228,184 2,200,000 10.4% 219 30 249 916 1 41 213 180 ap2002

2002 211,200 2,200,000 9.6% 215 27 242 872 1 36 206 185 ap2003

2003 223,060 2,515,442 8.9% 206 17 223 1,000 2 25 205 182 ap2004

2004 219,314 2,241,491 9.8% 206 24 230 953 2 36 196 183 ap2005

2006 217,084 2,233,720 9.7% 194 13 207 1,048 9 26 179 182 ap2007

2013 181,193 2,323,700 7.8% 159 22 181 1,001 26 27 105 170 ap2014

2016 168,800 2,323,200 7.3% 156 19 175 964 29 21 86 156 ap2017

2019 167,568 2,323,200 7.2% 149 18 167 1,003 38 19 84 149 ap2020

2021 172,560 2,393,575 7.2% 139 20 159 1,085 39 23 78 146 ap2022

2023 220,077 2,366,422 9.3% 116 25 141 1,560 42 27 59 133 ap2024

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 Hexham and Newcastle
1949	247,234	2,242,700	11.0%	329	20	349	708		66	559	148	ap1951
1969	282,659	2,256,800	12.5%	359	39	398	710		76	551	177	ap1971
1980	270,000	2,379,000	11.3%	293	37	330	818	1	99	511	180	ap1981
1990	248,862	2,394,000	10.4%	265	37	302	824	3	86	284	180	ap1991
1999	240,457	2,250,000	10.7%	219	32	251	957	3	58	227	188	ap2000
2000	243,183	2,200,000	11.1%	216	32	248	980	2	47	216	178	ap2001
2001	228,184	2,200,000	10.4%	219	30	249	916	1	41	213	180	ap2002
2002	211,200	2,200,000	9.6%	215	27	242	872	1	36	206	185	ap2003
2003	223,060	2,515,442	8.9%	206	17	223	1,000	2	25	205	182	ap2004
2004	219,314	2,241,491	9.8%	206	24	230	953	2	36	196	183	ap2005
2006	217,084	2,233,720	9.7%	194	13	207	1,048	9	26	179	182	ap2007
2013	181,193	2,323,700	7.8%	159	22	181	1,001	26	27	105	170	ap2014
2016	168,800	2,323,200	7.3%	156	19	175	964	29	21	86	156	ap2017
2019	167,568	2,323,200	7.2%	149	18	167	1,003	38	19	84	149	ap2020
2021	172,560	2,393,575	7.2%	139	20	159	1,085	39	23	78	146	ap2022
2023	220,077	2,366,422	9.3%	116	25	141	1,560	42	27	59	133	ap2024

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Robert John Byrne, C.O. (Bishop: 4 Feb 2019 to 12 Dec 2022)
Séamus Cunningham (Priest: 12 Jun 1966; Bishop: 9 Jan 2009 to 4 Feb 2019)
Ralph Heskett, C.SS.R.
William (Leonard) Kenney, C.P.
Paul James Mason
Malcolm Patrick McMahon, O.P. (Apostolic Administrator: 12 Dec 2022 to 19 Jul 2023)
Stephen James Lawrence Wright (Bishop: 14 Jun 2023 - )

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Peter Augustine Baines, O.S.B. †
John William Bewick † (Priest: 27 May 1850; Bishop: 12 Sep 1882 to 29 Oct 1886)
John Bilsborrow †
John Briggs † (Deacon: 3 Apr 1813; Priest: 19 Jul 1814; Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 22 Jan 1833; Vicar Apostolic: 28 Jan 1836 to 3 Jul 1840)
Robert Brindle †
George Hilary Brown † (Deacon: 14 Dec 1808; Priest: 13 Jun 1810 to 5 Jun 1840)
Thomas Lawrence Burgess †
George Crompton Ambrose Burton † (Priest: 31 May 1890 to 15 Mar 1902)
James Chadwick † (Deacon: 28 May 1836; Priest: 17 Dec 1836; Bishop: 31 Aug 1866 to 14 May 1882)
Richard Collins † (Priest: 30 May 1885; Auxiliary Bishop: 31 Mar 1905; Bishop: 21 Jun 1909 to 9 Feb 1924)
Robert Cornthwaite † (Deacon: 3 Mar 1844; Priest: 9 Nov 1845 to 3 Sep 1861)
James Cunningham † (Auxiliary Bishop: 19 Aug 1957; Bishop: 1 Jul 1958 to 16 May 1974)
Edward Dicconson † (Vicar Apostolic: 6 Oct 1740 to 5 May 1752)
John Douglass † (Priest: 1768 to 10 Sep 1790)
Kevin John Dunn † (Bishop: 26 Mar 2004 to 1 Mar 2008)
George Errington †
Charles Petre Eyre † (Priest: 19 Mar 1842 to 3 Dec 1868)
Matthew Gibson † (Priest: 1758; Vicar Apostolic: 17 Jun 1780 to 17 May 1790)
William Gibson † (Priest: 1764; Vicar Apostolic: 10 Sep 1790 to 2 Jun 1821)
Thomas Gillow † (Priest: 1 Apr 1797 to 19 Mar 1857)
William Gordon †
Robert Gradwell † (Deacon: 1801; Priest: 4 Dec 1802 to 17 Jun 1828)
Charles Alexander Grant †
Michael Ambrose Griffiths, O.S.B. † (Bishop: 11 Jan 1992 to 26 Mar 2004)
James Hagan, C.S.Sp. †
Michael Adrian Hankinson, O.S.B. †
John Edward Cuthbert Hedley, O.S.B. †
William Hogarth † (Deacon: 14 Dec 1808; Priest: 20 Dec 1809; Vicar Apostolic: 28 Jul 1848; Bishop: 29 Sep 1850 to 29 Jan 1866)
George Basil Hume, O.S.B. †
Godric Kean †
Edmund James Knight †
Hugh Lindsay † (Priest: 19 Jul 1953; Auxiliary Bishop: 13 Oct 1969; Bishop: 12 Dec 1974 to 11 Jan 1992)
William Maire † (Deacon: 11 Jun 1730; Priest: 23 Dec 1730; Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 1 Oct 1767 to 25 Jul 1769)
James William McCarthy †
Patrick Leo McCartie †
Joseph McCormack † (Priest: 11 Aug 1912; Bishop: 30 Dec 1936 to 2 Mar 1958)
Francis George Mostyn † (Vicar Apostolic: 22 Sep 1840 to 11 Aug 1847)
Henry O’Callaghan † (Bishop: 1 Oct 1887 to 19 Sep 1889)
Bernard O’Reilly † (Deacon: 19 Dec 1846; Priest: 9 May 1847 to 28 Feb 1873)
Thomas Penswick † (Deacon: 24 Sep 1796; Priest: 1 Apr 1797; Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 13 Jan 1824; Vicar Apostolic: 30 Jul 1831 to 28 Jan 1836)
Francis Petre † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 27 Jul 1750; Vicar Apostolic: 5 May 1752 to 24 Dec 1775)
Richard Preston † (Auxiliary Bishop: 31 Mar 1900 to 22 Dec 1904)
William Riddell † (Deacon: Aug 1829; Priest: Mar 1830; Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 22 Dec 1843; Vicar Apostolic: 11 Aug 1847 to 2 Nov 1847)
Richard Butler Roskell †
William Benedict Scarisbrick, O.S.B. †
George Shanks, M.H.M. †
James Sharples † (Deacon: 20 May 1823; Priest: 30 Nov 1823 to 11 Aug 1843)
William Gregory Sharrock, O.S.B. †
James Smith † (Vicar Apostolic: 28 Jan 1688 to 13 May 1711)
Thomas Smith † (Priest: Jun 1787; Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 15 May 1807; Vicar Apostolic: 2 Jun 1821 to 30 Jul 1831)
Daniel Martin Spraggon, M.H.M. †
Gregory Stapleton † (Deacon: Apr 1771; Priest: 1772 to 7 Nov 1800)
Owen Francis Swindlehurst † (Priest: 11 Jul 1954; Auxiliary Bishop: 10 Jun 1977 to 28 Aug 1995)
Joseph Thorman † (Priest: 27 Sep 1896; Bishop: 18 Dec 1924 to 7 Oct 1936)
William Turner † (Deacon: 18 Dec 1824; Priest: 17 Dec 1825 to 27 Jun 1851)
William Bernard Ullathorne, O.S.B. †
Charles Walmesley, O.S.B. †
William Walton † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 18 Jul 1770; Vicar Apostolic: 24 Dec 1775 to 26 Feb 1780)
Henry Weedall † (Vicar Apostolic: 3 Jul 1840 - Did Not Take Effect to 9 Sep 1840)
Thomas William Wilkinson † (Priest: 23 Dec 1848; Auxiliary Bishop: 5 Jun 1888; Bishop: 28 Dec 1889 to 17 Apr 1909)
Thomas Dominic Williams, O.P. † (Vicar Apostolic: 22 Dec 1725 to 3 Apr 1740)
Nicholas Patrick Stephen (Nicolás Patricio Esteban) Wiseman † (Deacon: 23 Jan 1825; Priest: 19 Mar 1825 to 22 May 1840)
George Witham † (Priest: 1688 to 12 Aug 1702; Vicar Apostolic: 6 Apr 1716 to 16 Apr 1725)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Northern District
- Series Episcoporum Ecclesiae Catholicae, Volume 1, Page 202
Diocese of Hexham
- Series Episcoporum Ecclesiae Catholicae, Volume 1, Page 203
Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 3, Page 553, to Page 555

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Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle

Dioecesis Hagulstadensis et Novacastrensis