The Diocese of Christchurch (Dioecesis Christopolitana) is a Latin Catholic suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of Wellington. Its cathedral and see city are located in Christchurch, the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand. It was formed on 5 May 1887 from a portion of the territory of the Diocese of Wellington, which was elevated to archdiocese later that same month.
Bishops of Christchurch TenureIncumbentLife1887–1915 John Grimes SM 1842–19151915–1943 Matthew Brodie 1871–19431944–1950 Patrick Lyons 1903–19671950–1964 Edward Joyce 1904–19641964–1985 Brian Ashby 1923–19881985–1987 Denis Hanrahan 1933–19871987–1995 Basil Meeking 1929–20201995–2007 John Cunneen 1932–20102007–2016 Barry Jones 1941–20162017–2021 Paul Martin SM 1967–2022–present Michael Gielen1971–
Lyons was translated to become Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney, Australia in 1950. Martin was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Wellington, New Zealand in 2021.
Current bishop Michael Gielen
Bishops other than ordinaries Coadjutor bishops Denis William Hanrahan (1984–1985) Barry Jones (2006–2007)
Auxiliary bishops John Cunneen (1992–1995), appointed Bishop here
Affiliated bishops Charles Drennan, appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Palmerston North in 2011; succeeded 2012; resigned 2019 Stephen Lowe, appointed Bishop of Hamilton in New Zealand in 2014
Cathedral and churches
Cathedrals
Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament (demolished) Christchurch Catholic Cathedral (in 2025, construction uncommenced)
Pro-cathedral
St Mary's Pro-Cathedral
Churches Chapel of the Snows at McMurdo Station on Ross Island, Antarctica. For 57 years, the diocese was responsible for sending priests to the non-denominational Christian. This practice was stopped in 2015. It is the second southernmost religious building in the world. Sacred Heart Basilica, Timaru. Despite its name, it is not designated a basilica by the Catholic Church. The Basilica is also one of the "most noteworthy examples of ecclesiastical architecture" in New Zealand with elements of "Roman and Byzantine architecture with touches of Art Nouveau decoration." Designed by Francis Petre. St Joseph's Church, Darfield built in 1936, following a fire which gutted the previous wooden structure in 1934 St Mary's Catholic Church, Hokitika. Following a structural assessment triggered by the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, the church was closed to the public in June 2012.
Secondary schools
Catholic Cathedral College, Christchurch John Paul II High School, Greymouth Marian College, Christchurch Roncalli College, Timaru St Bede's College, Papanui, Christchurch St Thomas of Canterbury College, Sockburn, Christchurch Villa Maria College, Upper Riccarton, Christchurch
See also Holy Cross Seminary Holy Name Seminary Father Bernard O'Brien SJ Roman Catholicism in New Zealand List of New Zealand Catholic bishops
References
External links
Catholic Diocese of Christchurch