Roman Catholic Diocese of Argyll and the Isles
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Argyll and the Isles (Latin
Diocesis Ergadiensis et Insularum) is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese
of the Roman Catholic Church
in Scotland
, in the Province of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh.
The diocese covers an area of 31,080 km² and has a Catholic population of 10,546 (14.1%) out of a total population of 74,546 (2006 figures). The see
is in the town of Oban
where the seat is located at St. Columba's Cathedral
.
The diocese was erected on March 5, 1878 following the restoration of the Scottish Catholic hierarchy. On 16 October 2008 Pope Benedict XVI
appointed Monsignor Joseph Toal to succeed the Right Reverend Ian Murray as tenth Bishop of Argyll and the Isles
.
:
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
Diocesis Ergadiensis et Insularum) is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, in the Province of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh.
The diocese covers an area of 31,080 km² and has a Catholic population of 10,546 (14.1%) out of a total population of 74,546 (2006 figures). The see
Episcopal See
An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
is in the town of Oban
Oban
Oban Oban Oban ( is a resort town within the Argyll and Bute council area of Scotland. It has a total resident population of 8,120. Despite its small size, it is the largest town between Helensburgh and Fort William and during the tourist season the town can be crowded by up to 25,000 people. Oban...
where the seat is located at St. Columba's Cathedral
St. Columba's Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of St Columba in Oban is the seat of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Argyll and the Isles and mother church of the Diocese of Argyll and the Isles...
.
The diocese was erected on March 5, 1878 following the restoration of the Scottish Catholic hierarchy. On 16 October 2008 Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
appointed Monsignor Joseph Toal to succeed the Right Reverend Ian Murray as tenth Bishop of Argyll and the Isles
Bishop of Argyll and the Isles (Catholic)
The Bishop of Argyll and The Isles is the ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Argyll and the Isles in the Province of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh, Scotland....
.
Past and present ordinaries
The following is a list of the Bishops of Argyll and the Isles- Angus MacDonaldAngus MacDonald (archbishop)Angus MacDonald was a Roman Catholic bishop who served as the third Archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh in Scotland from 1892 to 1900.-Early life:...
(appointed 22 March 1878 – translated to the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh on 15 July 1892) - George John SmithGeorge John Smith (bishop)George John Smith was a Scottish Roman Catholic clergyman who served as the Bishop of Argyll and the Isles from 1892 to 1918.Born in Cuttlebrae, Banffshire, Scotland on 24 January 1840, he was ordained to the priesthood on 17 December 1864...
(appointed 31 December 1892 – died 18 January 1918) - Donald MartinDonald Martin (bishop)Donald Martin was a Scottish Roman Catholic clergyman who served as the Bishop of Argyll and the Isles from 1919 to 1938.Born in Salen on the Ardnamurchan peninsula, Scotland on 6 October 1873, he was ordained to the priesthood on 23 September 1905...
(appointed 2 April 1919 – died 6 December 1938) - Donald Alphonsus CampbellDonald Alphonsus CampbellDonald Alphonsus Campbell was a Scottish prelate who served as the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Glasgow from 1945 to 1963.Born in Bohunhin, Glen Roy, Inverness-shire on 8 December 1894, he was ordained to the priesthood on 3 April 1920...
(appointed 5 October 1939 – translated to the Archdiocese of GlasgowRoman Catholic Archdiocese of GlasgowThe Archdiocese of Glasgow is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland. Glasgow first became an archbishopric in 1492, eventually securing the dioceses of Galloway, Argyll and the Isles as suffragans....
on 6 January 1945) - Kenneth GrantKenneth Grant (bishop)Kenneth Grant was a Scottish Roman Catholic clergyman who served as the Bishop of Argyll and the Isles from 1945 to 1959.Born in Fort William, Scotland on 18 March 1900, he was ordained to the priesthood of Glasgow on 24 April 1927...
(appointed 15 December 1945 – died 7 September 1959) - Stephen McGillStephen McGillThe Right Reverend Stephen McGill PSS was the sixth Bishop of Argyll and the Isles and second Bishop of Paisley.-Early life:...
, P.S.S. (appointed 4 April 1960 – translated to the Diocese of Paisley 25 July 1968) - Colin Aloysius MacPhersonColin Aloysius MacPhersonColin Aloysius MacPherson was a Scottish Roman Catholic clergyman who served as the Bishop of Argyll and the Isles from 1968 to 1990....
(appointed 2 December 1968 – died 24 March 1990) - Roderick WrightRoderick WrightRoderick Wright was a former Scottish Roman Catholic bishop who served as the Bishop of Argyll and the Isles from 1990 to 1996.-Early life:...
(appointed 11 December 1990 – resigned 19 September 1996) - (Keith Michael Patrick O'BrienKeith Michael Patrick O'BrienKeith Michael Patrick O'Brien is a Scottish Cardinal and the Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh of the Roman Catholic Church. O'Brien is currently the only living Cardinal from Scotland....
, appointed apostolic administratorApostolic AdministratorAn apostolic administrator in the Roman Catholic Church is a prelate appointed by the Pope to serve as the ordinary for an apostolic administration...
June 1996 – resigned October 1999) - Ian MurrayIan Murray (bishop)Ian Murray is the Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Argyll and the Isles, Scotland.-Early life:Murray is the eldest of the four children of John and Margaret Murray. He was educated at St. Machan's Primary School and St. Ninian's High School in Kirkintilloch and the National Junior Seminary of St...
(appointed 3 November 1999 – retired 16 October 2008) - Joseph Anthony ToalJoseph ToalJoseph Anthony Toal is a Roman Catholic bishop. He is the current Bishop of Argyll and the Isles in Scotland.Born in Roy Bridge, Inverness-shire, Scotland on 13 October 1956, he was ordained a priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Argyll and the Isles at St Columba's Cathedral in Oban on 10...
(current bishop, appointed 16 October 2008)