Portsmouth (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Philip Anthony Egan, Bishop
Roger Francis Crispian Hollis, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 19 May 1882
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Southwark
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: England
Region: Great Britain
Square Kilometers: 6,339 (2,448 Square Miles)
Description: Counties of Hampshire, Oxfordshire (S of River Thames), the Boroughs of Bournemouth and Christchurch in Dorset, with Bracknell Forest, Isle of Wight, Reading, West Berkshire, Windsor and Maidenhead, Wokingham, and the Channel Islands.
Official Web Site: https://www.portsmouthdiocese.org.uk/
Mailing Address: St. Edmund House, Bishop Crispian Way, Portsmouth, Hants PO1 3QA, England, Great Britain
Telephone: (023)9282-5430

Past and Present Ordinaries

John Vertue (Virtue) † (13 Jun 1882 Appointed - 23 May 1900 Died)
John Baptist Cahill † (30 Aug 1900 Appointed - 2 Aug 1910 Died)
William Timothy Cotter † (24 Nov 1910 Appointed - 24 Oct 1940 Died)
John Henry King † (4 Jun 1941 Appointed - 23 Mar 1965 Died)
Derek John Harford Worlock † (18 Oct 1965 Appointed - 7 Feb 1976 Appointed, Archbishop of Liverpool, England)
Anthony Joseph Emery † (13 Sep 1976 Appointed - 5 Apr 1988 Died)
Roger Francis Crispian Hollis (6 Dec 1988 Appointed - 11 Jul 2012 Retired)
Philip Anthony Egan (11 Jul 2012 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
19 May 1882	Erected	Diocese of Southwark	Diocese of Portsmouth (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

1950 55,000 1,509,272 3.6% 132 191 323 170 460 800 18 ap1951

1969 133,545 2,359,243 5.7% 144 165 309 432 254 1,250 110 ap1971

1980 165,989 2,481,000 6.7% 154 80 234 709 2 168 786 119 ap1981

1990 205,500 2,740,600 7.5% 141 122 263 781 10 175 469 121 ap1991

1999 192,200 2,694,518 7.1% 138 99 237 810 21 159 519 107 ap2000

2000 192,000 2,694,518 7.1% 131 99 230 834 22 138 355 107 ap2001

2001 192,500 2,694,518 7.1% 132 98 230 836 25 131 343 106 ap2002

2002 195,480 2,694,518 7.3% 128 98 226 864 25 133 339 108 ap2003

2003 167,632 2,694,518 6.2% 125 100 225 745 26 140 336 101 ap2004

2004 167,632 2,960,077 5.7% 128 86 214 783 31 101 255 112 ap2005

2013 195,000 2,563,000 7.6% 119 60 179 1,089 43 86 260 96 ap2014

2016 248,000 3,100,000 8.0% 125 80 205 1,209 51 106 260 88 ap2017

2019 231,700 3,156,000 7.3% 135 81 216 1,072 51 107 260 91 ap2020

2021 231,240 3,333,000 6.9% 149 94 243 951 55 94 89 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1950	55,000	1,509,272	3.6%	132	191	323	170		460	800	18	ap1951
1969	133,545	2,359,243	5.7%	144	165	309	432		254	1,250	110	ap1971
1980	165,989	2,481,000	6.7%	154	80	234	709	2	168	786	119	ap1981
1990	205,500	2,740,600	7.5%	141	122	263	781	10	175	469	121	ap1991
1999	192,200	2,694,518	7.1%	138	99	237	810	21	159	519	107	ap2000
2000	192,000	2,694,518	7.1%	131	99	230	834	22	138	355	107	ap2001
2001	192,500	2,694,518	7.1%	132	98	230	836	25	131	343	106	ap2002
2002	195,480	2,694,518	7.3%	128	98	226	864	25	133	339	108	ap2003
2003	167,632	2,694,518	6.2%	125	100	225	745	26	140	336	101	ap2004
2004	167,632	2,960,077	5.7%	128	86	214	783	31	101	255	112	ap2005
2013	195,000	2,563,000	7.6%	119	60	179	1,089	43	86	260	96	ap2014
2016	248,000	3,100,000	8.0%	125	80	205	1,209	51	106	260	88	ap2017
2019	231,700	3,156,000	7.3%	135	81	216	1,072	51	107	260	91	ap2020
2021	231,240	3,333,000	6.9%	149	94	243	951	55	94		89	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

John Patrick Crowley
Peter John Haworth Doyle (Priest: 8 Jun 1968 to 24 May 2005)
Philip Anthony Egan (Bishop: 11 Jul 2012 - )
Brian Edwin Charles Butterley Ferme (Priest: Jan 1993)
Edward Nicholas (Hugh) Gilbert, O.S.B.
Roger Francis Crispian Hollis (Bishop: 6 Dec 1988 to 11 Jul 2012)
Declan Ronan Lang (Priest: 7 Jun 1975 to 27 Feb 2001)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Basil Edward Christopher Butler, O.S.B. †
John Baptist Cahill † (Auxiliary Bishop: 31 Mar 1900; Bishop: 30 Aug 1900 to 2 Aug 1910)
William Timothy Cotter † (Auxiliary Bishop: 14 Feb 1905; Bishop: 24 Nov 1910 to 24 Oct 1940)
Anthony Joseph Emery † (Bishop: 13 Sep 1976 to 5 Apr 1988)
Thomas Holland † (Coadjutor Bishop: 31 Oct 1960 to 28 Aug 1964)
David Keane † (Priest: 23 Jun 1895 to 29 Dec 1923)
John Henry King † (Priest: 20 Nov 1904; Auxiliary Bishop: 28 May 1938; Bishop: 4 Jun 1941; Archbishop (Personal Title): 6 Jun 1954 to 23 Mar 1965)
Cormac Murphy-O’Connor † (Priest: 28 Oct 1956 to 17 Nov 1977)
Albert Reuben Edward Thomas †
John Vertue (Virtue) † (Bishop: 13 Jun 1882 to 23 May 1900)
Derek John Harford Worlock † (Bishop: 18 Oct 1965 to 7 Feb 1976)

Diocese of Portsmouth