Roman Catholic Diocese of Clifton

The Diocese of Clifton is a Roman Catholic diocese covering the West of England. It includes the City and County of Bristol and stretches across Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Bath and North East Somerset. The diocese was established in 1850 and has been part of the ecclesiastical province of Birmingham since 1911. It forms part of the Catholic Association Pilgrimage and is centred at the Cathedral Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Clifton, Bristol. The diocese is worth visiting for its historic significance and spiritual heritage. It was erected in 1850 after the restoration of the Catholic hierarchy in England, following centuries of suppression during the Reformation. The diocese has a rich history tied to figures like Bishop William Clifford, who guided it to prosperity in the 19th century. It also played a role in the preservation of Catholic education through institutions like Prior Park College near Bath. The current bishop, John Bosco MacDonald, was appointed in 2024, continuing the diocese’s long tradition. Visitors to the diocese will find a network of 104 parishes and 99 chapels spread across the region. Each parish is led by priests from diocesan or religious orders, including Benedictines and Franciscans. The diocese is divided into nine pastoral areas, each named after a saint associated with the region. Landmarks like Bath’s Our Lady and St Alphege, Gloucester’s St Wulstan, and the cathedral in Clifton stand as key sites. The diocese also maintains archives catalogued by Bishop George Ambrose Burton, reflecting its scholarly and spiritual depth.