Galloway (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Francis McAnally Dougan, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 4 March 1878
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Scotland
Region: Great Britain
Square Kilometers: 9,794 (3,782 Square Miles)
Description: City of Ayr, Counties of Ayrshire (except Isle of Arran), Dumfriesshire, Kirkcudbrightshire, Wigtownshire, with the islands of Great and Little Cumbrae.
Official Web Site: http://www.gallowaydiocese.org.uk/
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, Candida Casa, 8 Corsehill Road, Ayr KA7 2ST, Scotland, Great Britain
Telephone: (01292)266.750

Past and Present Ordinaries

John McLachlan † (22 Mar 1878 Appointed - 16 Jan 1893 Died)
William Turner † (16 Jun 1893 Appointed - 19 Jan 1914 Died)
James William McCarthy † (25 May 1914 Appointed - 24 Dec 1943 Died)
William Henry Mellon † (24 Dec 1943 Succeeded - 2 Feb 1952 Died)
Joseph Michael McGee † (19 Jul 1952 Appointed - 4 Apr 1981 Retired)
Maurice Taylor † (4 Apr 1981 Appointed - 7 Apr 2004 Retired)
John Cunningham † (7 Apr 2004 Appointed - 22 Nov 2014 Retired)
William Nolan (22 Nov 2014 Appointed - 4 Feb 2022 Appointed, Archbishop of Glasgow, Scotland)
Francis McAnally Dougan (22 Dec 2023 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
4 March 1878	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Western District	Diocese of Galloway (erected)
25 May 1947	Territory Added	Archdiocese of Glasgow (Northern part of Ayrshire plus Great and Little Cumbrae)	Diocese of Galloway

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

1950 27,000 647,000 4.2% 58 12 70 385 56 156 33 ap1951

1970 43,590 469,000 9.3% 74 12 86 506 47 119 43 ap1971

1980 50,734 519,214 9.8% 56 21 77 658 42 65 44 ap1981

1990 48,751 525,000 9.3% 50 18 68 716 33 66 47 ap1991

1999 47,162 521,000 9.1% 55 6 61 773 15 40 46 ap2000

2000 47,150 521,000 9.0% 55 3 58 812 13 40 46 ap2001

2001 47,704 521,000 9.2% 54 2 56 851 8 37 46 ap2002

2002 47,456 521,000 9.1% 52 5 57 832 12 37 46 ap2003

2003 47,063 521,000 9.0% 50 6 56 840 12 37 46 ap2004

2004 47,856 520,000 9.2% 50 5 55 870 10 35 45 ap2005

2006 42,000 493,000 8.5% 46 5 51 823 10 35 45 ap2007

2013 47,700 520,000 9.2% 35 4 39 1,223 3 9 32 39 ap2014

2016 43,000 532,000 8.1% 33 3 36 1,194 4 8 16 39 ap2017

2019 41,353 520,260 7.9% 34 9 43 961 7 9 18 37 ap2020

2021 41,350 520,290 7.9% 33 8 41 1,008 7 8 18 37 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	27,000	647,000	4.2%	58	12	70	385		56	156	33	ap1951
1970	43,590	469,000	9.3%	74	12	86	506		47	119	43	ap1971
1980	50,734	519,214	9.8%	56	21	77	658		42	65	44	ap1981
1990	48,751	525,000	9.3%	50	18	68	716		33	66	47	ap1991
1999	47,162	521,000	9.1%	55	6	61	773		15	40	46	ap2000
2000	47,150	521,000	9.0%	55	3	58	812		13	40	46	ap2001
2001	47,704	521,000	9.2%	54	2	56	851		8	37	46	ap2002
2002	47,456	521,000	9.1%	52	5	57	832		12	37	46	ap2003
2003	47,063	521,000	9.0%	50	6	56	840		12	37	46	ap2004
2004	47,856	520,000	9.2%	50	5	55	870		10	35	45	ap2005
2006	42,000	493,000	8.5%	46	5	51	823		10	35	45	ap2007
2013	47,700	520,000	9.2%	35	4	39	1,223	3	9	32	39	ap2014
2016	43,000	532,000	8.1%	33	3	36	1,194	4	8	16	39	ap2017
2019	41,353	520,260	7.9%	34	9	43	961	7	9	18	37	ap2020
2021	41,350	520,290	7.9%	33	8	41	1,008	7	8	18	37	ap2022