Georgetown (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Francis Dean Alleyne, O.S.B., Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 29 February 1956
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Port of Spain
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Guyana
Region: Antilles (West Indies)
Square Kilometers: 215,000 (83,043 Square Miles)
Description: Comprises whole of Guyana
Official Web Site: http://www.rcdiocesegy.org
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, 27 Brickdam, P.O. Box 101488, Georgetown, Guyana, South America
Telephone: 226.4469

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of British Guiana
- Latin Name: Guyanae Anglicae
- Erected: 12 April 1837
- Vicariate
- Country: Guyana
- Region: Antilles (West Indies)

Past and Present Ordinaries

William Clancy † (12 Apr 1837 Appointed - 3 Sep 1843 Resigned)
John Thomas Hynes, O.P. † (21 Sep 1846 Appointed - 25 Nov 1857 Resigned)
James Etheridge, S.J. † (2 Jul 1858 Appointed - 31 Dec 1877 Died)
Anthony Butler, S.J. † (31 May 1878 Appointed - 25 Oct 1901 Died)
Compton Theodore Galton, S.J. † (9 May 1902 Appointed - 10 Apr 1931 Died)
George Weld, S.J. † (12 Jan 1932 Appointed - 18 Jul 1954 Resigned)
Richard Lester Guilly, S.J. † (18 Jul 1954 Appointed - 12 Aug 1972 Resigned)
Benedict Ganesh Singh † (12 Aug 1972 Appointed - 30 Oct 2003 Retired)
Francis Dean Alleyne, O.S.B. (30 Oct 2003 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of British Guiana
12 April 1837	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Trinidad	Vicariate Apostolic of British Guiana (erected)
20 February 1956	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of British Guiana (Island of Barbados) Archdiocese of Port of Spain (Islands of Grenada, Ronde, Carriacou, Little Martinique, Union, Mayreau, Canouan, Mustique, Bequia, and St. Vincent)	Diocese of Saint George’s in Grenada (erected)
Diocese of Georgetown
29 February 1956	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of British Guiana	Diocese of Georgetown

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 British Guiana

1950 45,000 376,146 12.0% 2 33 35 1,285 19 93 17 ap1951

Diocese of Georgetown

1966 98,000 660,000 14.8% 7 55 62 1,580 40 77 24 ap1967

1970 104,000 560,406 18.6% 6 60 66 1,575 66 81 25 ap1971

1980 99,100 860,000 11.5% 7 54 61 1,624 61 54 25 ap1981

1990 87,000 1,060,000 8.2% 7 33 40 2,175 34 41 30 ap1991

1999 87,000 800,000 10.9% 4 30 34 2,558 34 48 24 ap2000

2000 88,000 800,000 11.0% 5 29 34 2,588 33 49 24 ap2001

2001 88,000 800,000 11.0% 5 26 31 2,838 30 49 24 ap2002

2002 88,000 800,000 11.0% 5 26 31 2,838 29 47 24 ap2003

2003 88,000 800,000 11.0% 5 29 34 2,588 1 32 46 24 ap2004

2004 88,000 800,000 11.0% 5 26 31 2,838 29 43 24 ap2005

2006 60,588 751,223 8.1% 5 28 33 1,836 35 44 24 ap2007

2013 62,700 796,000 7.9% 3 28 31 2,022 34 46 24 ap2014

2016 64,100 814,000 7.9% 2 36 38 1,686 40 46 24 ap2017

2019 64,900 824,000 7.9% 2 36 38 1,707 40 46 24 ap2020

2021 52,901 770,000 6.9% 5 28 33 1,603 32 45 24 ap2022

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 British Guiana
1950	45,000	376,146	12.0%	2	33	35	1,285		19	93	17	ap1951
Diocese of Georgetown
1966	98,000	660,000	14.8%	7	55	62	1,580		40	77	24	ap1967
1970	104,000	560,406	18.6%	6	60	66	1,575		66	81	25	ap1971
1980	99,100	860,000	11.5%	7	54	61	1,624		61	54	25	ap1981
1990	87,000	1,060,000	8.2%	7	33	40	2,175		34	41	30	ap1991
1999	87,000	800,000	10.9%	4	30	34	2,558		34	48	24	ap2000
2000	88,000	800,000	11.0%	5	29	34	2,588		33	49	24	ap2001
2001	88,000	800,000	11.0%	5	26	31	2,838		30	49	24	ap2002
2002	88,000	800,000	11.0%	5	26	31	2,838		29	47	24	ap2003
2003	88,000	800,000	11.0%	5	29	34	2,588	1	32	46	24	ap2004
2004	88,000	800,000	11.0%	5	26	31	2,838		29	43	24	ap2005
2006	60,588	751,223	8.1%	5	28	33	1,836		35	44	24	ap2007
2013	62,700	796,000	7.9%	3	28	31	2,022		34	46	24	ap2014
2016	64,100	814,000	7.9%	2	36	38	1,686		40	46	24	ap2017
2019	64,900	824,000	7.9%	2	36	38	1,707		40	46	24	ap2020
2021	52,901	770,000	6.9%	5	28	33	1,603		32	45	24	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Anthony Butler, S.J. † (Vicar Apostolic: 31 May 1878 to 25 Oct 1901)
William Clancy † (Vicar Apostolic: 12 Apr 1837 to 3 Sep 1843)
James Etheridge, S.J. † (Vicar Apostolic: 2 Jul 1858 to 31 Dec 1877)
Compton Theodore Galton, S.J. † (Vicar Apostolic: 9 May 1902 to 10 Apr 1931)
Richard Lester Guilly, S.J. † (Vicar Apostolic: 18 Jul 1954; Bishop: 29 Feb 1956 to 12 Aug 1972)
John Thomas Hynes, O.P. † (Apostolic Administrator: 12 Sep 1843; Vicar Apostolic: 21 Sep 1846 to 25 Nov 1857)
Benedict Ganesh Singh † (Priest: 7 Dec 1954; Auxiliary Bishop: 16 Jan 1971; Bishop: 12 Aug 1972 to 30 Oct 2003)
George Weld, S.J. † (Vicar Apostolic: 12 Jan 1932 to 18 Jul 1954)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of British Guiana
- Series Episcoporum Ecclesiae Catholicae, Volume 1, Page 168, to Page 169
Diocese of Georgetown
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 48, Page 602, to Page 604

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Diocese of Georgetown

Dioecesis Georgiopolitana