Diocese of Clifton, England

Continent: West Europe

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Clifton / Cliftonien(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Birmingham

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Websites:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Our Blessed Lady Conceived Without Sin (December 8), Saint Peter and Saint Paul of Tarsus (June 29)

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: June 30 (1973)

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1688.01.30: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Western District
1840: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Wales District
1850.09.29: Promoted as Diocese of Clifton / Cliftonien(sis) (Latin) (lost territory to establish Diocese of Plymouth and became suffragan of Westminster)
1911.10.28: Became suffragan of Birmingham

Contact Info

Address: Alexander House, 160 Pennywell Road, Bristol, BS5 0BX, England

Phone: (0117)902.5591

Present Prelates

Bishop (2024.03.14 – ...):

Bishop John Bosco MacDonald (61)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Clifton (Roman Rite)

Bishop John Bosco MacDonald (61)
(2024.03.14 – ...)

Bishop of Clifton (England)

Nolite timere

Born:	1963.07.21 (Bath, England)
Ordained Priest:	1991.07.06
Consecrated Bishop:	2024.05.08

Priest of Clifton (England) (1991.07.06 – 2024.03.14)

Bishop of Clifton (England) (2024.03.14 – ...)

Bishop Declan Ronan Lang (74)
(2001.02.27 – 2024.03.14)

Bishop emeritus of Clifton (England)

Evangelii Nuntiandi

Born:	1950.04.15 (Cowes, Isle of Wight, England)
Ordained Priest:	1975.06.07
Consecrated Bishop:	2001.03.28

Priest of Portsmouth (England) (1975.06.07 – 2001.02.27)

Bishop of Clifton (England) (2001.02.27 – 2024.03.14)

Bishop Mervyn Alban Alexander
(1974.12.20 – 2001.02.27)

Born:	1925.06.29 (London, England)
Ordained Priest:	1948.07.18
Consecrated Bishop:	1972.04.25
Died:	2010.08.14 (Clifton, England † 85)

Titular Bishop of Pinhel (1972.03.08 – 1974.12.20)

Auxiliary Bishop of Clifton (England) (1972.03.08 – 1974.12.20)

Bishop of Clifton (England) (1974.12.20 – 2001.02.27)

Bishop Joseph Edward Rudderham
(1949.05.14 – 1974.08.31)

Born:	1899.06.17 (Norwich, England)
Ordained Priest:	1926.10.31
Consecrated Bishop:	1949.07.26
Died:	1979.02.24 (Cheltenham, England † 79)

Bishop of Clifton (England) (1949.05.14 – 1974.08.31)

Bishop William Lee
(1931.12.18 – 1948.09.21)

Manete in dilectione mea

Born:	1875.09.27 (Mitchelstown, Cork, Ireland)
Ordained Priest:	1901.03.02
Consecrated Bishop:	1932.01.26
Died:	1948.09.21 (Bristol, England † 72)

Bishop of Clifton (England) (1931.12.18 – 1948.09.21)

Bishop George Ambrose Burton
(1902.03.15 – 1931.02.08)

Born:	1856.04.28 (Hull, England)
Ordained Priest:	1890.05.31
Consecrated Bishop:	1902.05.01
Died:	1931.02.08 (Bristol, England † 74)

Bishop of Clifton (England) (1902.03.15 – 1931.02.08)

Bishop William Robert Brownlow
(1894.03.20 – 1901.11.09)

Born:	1830.07.04 (Wilmslow, England)
Ordained Priest:	1866.12.22
Consecrated Bishop:	1894.05.01
Died:	1901.11.09 (Clifton, England † 71)

Bishop of Clifton (England) (1894.03.20 – 1901.11.09)

Bishop William Hugh Joseph Clifford
(1857.01.29 – 1893.08.14)

Semper paratus

Born:	1823.12.24 (Irnham, England)
Ordained Priest:	1850.08.25
Consecrated Bishop:	1857.02.15
Died:	1893.08.14 (Bath, England † 69)

Bishop of Clifton (England) (1857.01.29 – 1893.08.14)

Bishop Thomas Lawrence Burgess
(1851.06.27 – 1854.11.27)

Born:	1791.10.01 (Chorley, England)
Ordained Priest:	1814
Consecrated Bishop:	1851.07.27
Died:	1854.11.27 (Bristol, England † 63)

Priest of Benedictine Confederation of the Order of Saint Benedict (Benedictines) (1814 – 1830)

Priest of Clifton (England) (1830 – 1851.06.27)

Bishop of Clifton (England) (1851.06.27 – 1854.11.27)

Bishop Joseph William Hendren, O.F.M. Rec.
(1850.09.29 – 1851.06.22)

Deus Meus et Omnia

Born:	1791.10.19 (Birmingham, England)
Ordained Priest:	1815.09.28
Consecrated Bishop:	1848.09.10
Died:	1866.11.14 (Taunton, England † 75)

Titular Bishop of Verinopolis (1848.07.28 – 1850.09.29)

Vicar Apostolic of Western District (England) (1848.07.28 – 1850.09.29)

Bishop of Clifton (England) (1850.09.29 – 1851.06.22)

Bishop of Nottingham (England) (1851.06.22 – 1853.02.23)

Titular Bishop of Martiria (1853.02.23 – 1866.11.14)

Vicars Apostolic of Western District (Roman Rite)

Bishop Joseph William Hendren, O.F.M. Rec.
(1848.07.28 – 1850.09.29)

(see above)

Bishop William Bernard Ullathorne (later Archbishop)
(1846.05.12 – 1848.07.28)

Born:	1806.05.07 (England)
Ordained Priest:	1831.09.24
Consecrated Bishop:	1846.06.21
Died:	1889.03.21 († 82)

Vicar Apostolic of Western District (England) (1846.05.12 – 1848.07.28)

Titular Bishop of Etalonia (1846.05.12 – 1850.09.29)

Vicar Apostolic of Central District (England) (1848.07.28 – 1850.09.29)

Bishop of Birmingham (England) (1850.09.29 – 1888.04.27)

Titular Archbishop of Cabassa (1888.04.27 – 1889.03.21)

Bishop Charles Michael Baggs
(1844.01.09 – 1845.10.16)

Born:	1806.05.21 (Ireland)
Ordained Priest:	1830.12.05
Consecrated Bishop:	1844.01.28
Died:	1845.10.16 († 39)

Titular Bishop of Pella (1844.01.09 – 1845.10.16)

Vicar Apostolic of Western District (England) (1844.01.09 – 1845.10.16)

Bishop Peter Augustine Baines, O.S.B.
(1829.03.03 – 1843.07.06)

Born:	1787.01.25 (England)
Ordained Priest:	1810.04.07
Consecrated Bishop:	1823.05.01
Died:	1843.07.06 († 56)

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Western District (England) (1823.02.04 – 1829.03.03)

Titular Bishop of Sigus (1823.02.04 – 1843.07.06)

Vicar Apostolic of Western District (England) (1829.03.03 – 1843.07.06)

Bishop Peter Bernardine Collingridge, O.F.M. Rec.
(1809.10.18 – 1829.03.03)

Born:	1757.03.10 (England)
Ordained Priest:	1784
Consecrated Bishop:	1807.10.11
Died:	1829.03.03 († 71)

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Western District (England) (1807.01.13 – 1809.10.18)

Titular Bishop of Thespia (1807.01.13 – 1829.03.03)

Vicar Apostolic of Western District (England) (1809.10.18 – 1829.03.03)

Bishop William Gregory Sharrock, O.S.B.
(1797.11.25 – 1809.10.17)

Born:	1742.03.30 (England)
Ordained Priest:	1766
Consecrated Bishop:	1780.08.12
Died:	1809.10.17 († 67)

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Western District (England) (1779.09.30 – 1797.11.25)

Titular Bishop of Telmissus (1779.09.30 – 1809.10.17)

Vicar Apostolic of Western District (England) (1797.11.25 – 1809.10.17)

Bishop Charles Walmesley, O.S.B.
(1770.04.14 – 1797.11.25)

Born:	1722.01.13 (England)
Ordained Priest:	1738.09.28
Consecrated Bishop:	1756.12.21
Died:	1797.11.25 († 75)

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Western District (England) (1756.06.15 – 1770.04.14)

Titular Bishop of Ramata (1756.06.15 – 1797.11.25)

Vicar Apostolic of Western District (England) (1770.04.14 – 1797.11.25)

Bishop Lawrence William York, O.S.B.
(1750.05.22 – 1763.07.11)

Born:	1687 (England)
Ordained Priest:	1711.12.18
Consecrated Bishop:	1741.08.10
Died:	1770.04.14 († 82)

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Western District (England) (1741.05.13 – 1750.05.22)

Titular Bishop of Nebbi (1741.05.13 – 1770.04.14)

Vicar Apostolic of Western District (England) (1750.05.22 – 1763.07.11)

Bishop Matthew Prichard, O.F.M.
(1713.09.20 – 1744.11.20)

Born:	1669 (Wales)
Ordained Priest:	1693
Consecrated Bishop:	1715.06.09
Died:	1750.05.22 († 80)

Vicar Apostolic of Western District (England) (1713.09.20 – 1744.11.20)

Titular Bishop of Myrina (1713.09.20 – 1750.05.22)

Bishop Philip Michael Ellis, O.S.B.
(1688.01.28 – 1705)

Born:	1652.09.08 (England)
Consecrated Bishop:	1688.05.06
Died:	1726.11.16 († 74)

Vicar Apostolic of Western District (England) (1688.01.28 – 1705)

Titular Bishop of Aureliopolis (1688.01.28 – 1708.10.03)

Bishop of Segni (Italy) (1708.10.03 – 1726.11.16)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: Bishop Peter Augustine Baines, O.S.B. (1823.02.04 – 1829.03.03)
Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: Bishop Peter Bernardine Collingridge, O.F.M. Rec. (1807.01.13 – 1809.10.18)
Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: Fr. James Jerome Sharrock, O.S.B. (1806.06.27 – 1808.04.01)
Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: Bishop William Gregory Sharrock, O.S.B. (1779.09.30 – 1797.11.25)
Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: Bishop Charles Walmesley, O.S.B. (1756.06.15 – 1770.04.14)
Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: Bishop Lawrence William York, O.S.B. (1741.05.13 – 1750.05.22)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Mervyn Alban Alexander (1972.03.08 – 1974.12.20)