Diocese of Plymouth

Dioecesis Plymuthensis

Bishop(s)

Philip Robert Moger, Bishop
Paul M. Cummins, Administrator
Christopher John Whitehead, Former Bishop-Elect

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 29 September 1850
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Southwark
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: England
Region: Great Britain
Square Kilometers: 12,831 (4,955 Square Miles)
Description: Counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset (including the Borough of Poole, but excluding the Boroughs of Bournemouth and Christchurch), with the Isles of Scilly.
Official Web Site: https://www.plymouth-diocese.org.uk/
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, 45 Cecil Street, Plymouth, Devon PL1 5HW, England, Great Britain
Telephone: (01752)224-414

Past and Present Ordinaries

George Errington † (27 Jun 1851 Appointed - 30 Mar 1855 Appointed, Coadjutor Archbishop of Westminster, England)
William Vaughan † (10 Jul 1855 Appointed - 25 Oct 1902 Died)
Charles Maurice Graham † (25 Oct 1902 Succeeded - 16 Mar 1911 Retired)
John Joseph Keily † (21 Apr 1911 Appointed - 23 Sep 1928 Died)
John Patrick Barrett † (7 Jun 1929 Appointed - 2 Nov 1946 Died)
Francis Edward Joseph Grimshaw † (2 Jun 1947 Appointed - 11 May 1954 Appointed, Archbishop of Birmingham, England)
Cyril Edward Restieaux † (9 Apr 1955 Appointed - 19 Nov 1985 Retired)
Hugh Christopher Budd † (19 Nov 1985 Appointed - 9 Nov 2013 Retired)
Mark Anthony O’Toole (9 Nov 2013 Appointed - 27 Apr 2022 Appointed, Archbishop of Cardiff, Wales)
Christopher John Whitehead (15 Dec 2023 Appointed - Did Not Take Effect)
Philip Robert Moger (13 Sep 2024 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
29 September 1850	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Western District	Diocese of Plymouth (erected)
28 October 1911	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Plymouth (from Westminster to Birmingham)

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

1950 118 84 202 0 84 1,160 86 ap1951

1970 54,500 1,725,000 3.2% 133 95 228 239 108 914 87 ap1971

1980 61,482 1,768,000 3.5% 95 73 168 365 95 690 87 ap1981

1990 62,019 1,851,000 3.4% 106 54 160 387 3 76 356 88 ap1991

1999 65,288 2,048,220 3.2% 96 48 144 453 12 67 190 128 ap2000

2000 65,288 2,048,220 3.2% 104 40 144 453 20 58 198 92 ap2001

2001 61,794 2,048,220 3.0% 100 40 140 441 19 52 170 92 ap2002

2002 58,737 2,048,200 2.9% 97 41 138 425 20 55 163 96 ap2003

2003 57,940 2,048,200 2.8% 96 36 132 438 22 50 142 96 ap2004

2004 53,679 2,548,200 2.1% 102 35 137 391 24 51 139 95 ap2005

2013 69,310 3,750,000 1.8% 81 21 102 679 34 28 90 63 ap2014

2016 54,747 3,802,000 1.4% 68 19 87 629 31 26 66 55 ap2017

2019 69,100 3,847,700 1.8% 80 18 98 705 43 21 52 60 ap2020

2021 69,720 3,882,500 1.8% 84 16 100 697 41 19 49 55 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				118	84	202	0		84	1,160	86	ap1951
1970	54,500	1,725,000	3.2%	133	95	228	239		108	914	87	ap1971
1980	61,482	1,768,000	3.5%	95	73	168	365		95	690	87	ap1981
1990	62,019	1,851,000	3.4%	106	54	160	387	3	76	356	88	ap1991
1999	65,288	2,048,220	3.2%	96	48	144	453	12	67	190	128	ap2000
2000	65,288	2,048,220	3.2%	104	40	144	453	20	58	198	92	ap2001
2001	61,794	2,048,220	3.0%	100	40	140	441	19	52	170	92	ap2002
2002	58,737	2,048,200	2.9%	97	41	138	425	20	55	163	96	ap2003
2003	57,940	2,048,200	2.8%	96	36	132	438	22	50	142	96	ap2004
2004	53,679	2,548,200	2.1%	102	35	137	391	24	51	139	95	ap2005
2013	69,310	3,750,000	1.8%	81	21	102	679	34	28	90	63	ap2014
2016	54,747	3,802,000	1.4%	68	19	87	629	31	26	66	55	ap2017
2019	69,100	3,847,700	1.8%	80	18	98	705	43	21	52	60	ap2020
2021	69,720	3,882,500	1.8%	84	16	100	697	41	19	49	55	ap2022