Archdiocese of Freetown and Bo

---

Bishop(s) Edward Tamba Charles, Archbishop Joseph Henry Ganda, Archbishop Emeritus Suffragan Dioceses Kenema Makeni

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese Elevated: 11 November 1970 Metropolitan See Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: Sierra Leone Square Kilometers: 20,251 (7,821 Square Miles) Mailing Address: Santanno House, P.O. Box 893, 10 Howe St., Freetown, Sierra Leone Telephone: (022)224.590 Fax: 224.075

Historical Details

• Vicariate Apostolic of Sierra Leone
  • Erected: 13 April 1858
  • Vicariate
  • Country: Sierra Leone

• Diocese of Freetown and Bo
  • Latin Name: Liberae Urbis et Boensis
  • Elevated: 18 April 1950
  • Immediately Subject to the Holy See
  • Country: Sierra Leone

---

Past and Present Ordinaries

• Melchior-Marie-Joseph de Marion-Brésillac, M.E.P. † (13 Apr 1858 Appointed - 25 Jun 1859 Died)
• John Joseph O'Gorman, C.S.Sp. † (9 Nov 1903 Appointed - 23 Sep 1932 Resigned)
• Bartholomew Stanley Wilson, C.S.Sp. † (23 May 1933 Appointed - 16 Apr 1936 Resigned)
• Ambrose Kelly, C.S.Sp. † (18 May 1937 Appointed - 12 Feb 1952 Died)
• Thomas Joseph Brosnahan, C.S.Sp. † (11 Dec 1952 Appointed - 4 Sep 1980 Retired)
• Joseph Henry Ganda (4 Sep 1980 Appointed - 22 Mar 2007 Retired)
• Edward Tamba Charles (15 Mar 2008 Appointed - )

---

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Sierra Leone
13 April 1858	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Two Guineas and Senegambia {Guinea Superiore e Inferiore e di Sierra Leone}	Vicariate Apostolic of Sierra Leone (erected)
18 October 1897	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Senegambia Vicariate Apostolic of Sierra Leone	Prefecture Apostolic of Guinea Francese (erected)
18 April 1903	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Sierra Leone	Prefecture Apostolic of Liberia (erected)
Diocese of Freetown and Bo
18 April 1950	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Sierra Leone	Diocese of Freetown and Bo
3 April 1952	Territory Lost	Diocese of Freetown and Bo	Prefecture Apostolic of Makeni (erected)
11 November 1970	Territory Lost	Diocese of Freetown and Bo	Diocese of Kenema (erected)
Archdiocese of Freetown and Bo
11 November 1970	Elevated	Diocese of Freetown and Bo	Archdiocese of Freetown and Bo

---

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 Freetown and Bo
1950	11,079	2,250,000	.5%		38	38	291		40	28	4	ap1951
1970	37,096	1,282,789	2.9%	1	49	50	741		52	44	20	ap1971
Archdiocese of Freetown and Bo
1980	40,426	974,000	4.2%	5	30	35	1,155		32	40	14	ap1981
1990	41,102	1,068,000	3.8%	18	17	35	1,174		19	57	19	ap1991
1997	88,600	1,655,600	5.4%	29	19	48	1,845		46	56	21	ap2000
2000	91,500	1,800,000	5.1%	30	22	52	1,759		32	56	22	ap2001
2001	24,221	1,823,000	1.3%	30	19	49	494		31	7	22	ap2002
2002	97,234	2,300,875	4.2%	37	18	55	1,767		34	8	22	ap2003
2003	101,678	2,800,993	3.6%	40	18	58	1,753		39	21	22	ap2004
2004	127,851	2,918,000	4.4%	41	16	57	2,243		33	25	27	ap2005
2006	141,200	3,214,700	4.4%	39	13	52	2,715		33	29	26	ap2007

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

---

Affiliated Bishops, Living

• Edward Tamba Charles (Archbishop: 15 Mar 2008 - )
• Joseph Henry Ganda (Priest: 9 Apr 1961 to 11 Nov 1970; Archbishop: 4 Sep 1980 to 22 Mar 2007)

  ---

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

• Thomas Joseph Brosnahan, C.S.Sp. † (Bishop: 11 Dec 1952; Archbishop: 11 Nov 1970 to 4 Sep 1980)
• Ambrose Kelly, C.S.Sp. † (Vicar Apostolic: 18 May 1937; Archbishop: 18 Apr 1950 to 12 Feb 1952)
• Melchior-Marie-Joseph de Marion-Brésillac, M.E.P. † (Vicar Apostolic: 13 Apr 1858 to 25 Jun 1859)
• John Joseph O'Gorman, C.S.Sp. † (Vicar Apostolic: 9 Nov 1903 to 23 Sep 1932)
• Bartholomew Stanley Wilson, C.S.Sp. † (Vicar Apostolic: 23 May 1933 to 16 Apr 1936)