Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese
of the Roman Catholic Church in the southern United States and comprises the entire state of South Carolina
, with Charleston
as its see
city. Currently, the diocese consists of 92 parishes and 24 missions throughout the state. It is led by the Most Rev. Robert Guglielmone
, the Thirteenth Bishop of Charleston
, who serves as pastor of the mother church
, Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist
in the City of Charleston
. Its first bishop was John England. Charleston is a suffragan diocese
of the Archdiocese of Atlanta
.
The diocese was created from territories of the Archdiocese of Baltimore
. The Diocese of Charleston was canonically erected on July 11, 1820 by Pope Pius VII
making it the seventh oldest Roman Catholic diocese in the United States. At that time, the diocese comprised the states of Georgia
, North Carolina
, & South Carolina
was the original motherchurch of the diocese. On December 11, 1861, it was destroyed in a fire that consumed most of the city. The Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist
was built to replace the original and sits on the foundation of the ruins.
Before the Roman Catholic Diocese of Raleigh
was formed, the Diocese of Charleston had a pro-cathedral in Wilmington, North Carolina
, that is now St. Mary Catholic Church
.
, successor to the U.S. Catholic Miscellany, the first Catholic newspaper in the United States, is the official newspaper of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston.
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 in the southern United States and comprises the entire state of South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, with Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
as its 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...
city. Currently, the diocese consists of 92 parishes and 24 missions throughout the state. It is led by the Most Rev. Robert Guglielmone
Robert Guglielmone
Robert Eric Guglielmone is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the thirteenth and current Bishop of Charleston.-Early life and education:...
, the Thirteenth Bishop of Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, who serves as pastor of the mother church
Mother Church
In Christianity, the term mother church or Mother Church may have one of the following meanings:# The first mission church in an area, or a pioneer cathedral# A basilica or cathedral# The main chapel of a province of a religious order...
, Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist
Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist (Charleston)
The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston, located in Charleston, South Carolina. The Most Reverend Robert E. Guglielmone, D.D., the thirteenth Bishop of Charleston, was ordained and installed on March 25, 2009.The first brownstone...
in the City of Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
. Its first bishop was John England. Charleston is a suffragan diocese
Suffragan Diocese
A suffragan diocese is a diocese in the Catholic Church that is overseen not only by its own diocesan bishop but also by a metropolitan bishop. The metropolitan is always an archbishop who governs his own archdiocese...
of the Archdiocese of Atlanta
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the southeastern United States. It is composed of the northern counties of the state of Georgia and is led by a prelate archbishop, who is also pastor of the mother church, the...
.
The diocese was created from territories of the Archdiocese of Baltimore
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore
The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Baltimore is a particular church of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. The archdiocese comprises the City of Baltimore as well as Allegany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Howard, and Washington Counties in Maryland...
. The Diocese of Charleston was canonically erected on July 11, 1820 by Pope Pius VII
Pope Pius VII
Pope Pius VII , born Barnaba Niccolò Maria Luigi Chiaramonti, was a monk, theologian and bishop, who reigned as Pope from 14 March 1800 to 20 August 1823.-Early life:...
making it the seventh oldest Roman Catholic diocese in the United States. At that time, the diocese comprised the states of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, & South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
Cathedral
Consecrated on April 6, 1854 the Cathedral of Saint John and Saint FinbarCathedral of Saint John and Saint Finbar
The Cathedral of St. John and St. Finbar was the first Roman Catholic cathedral in Charleston, South Carolina. Begun in 1850 and consecrated on April 6, 1854, it was destroyed on December 11, 1861, in a fire that ravaged much of Charleston. A new cathedral—the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist,...
was the original motherchurch of the diocese. On December 11, 1861, it was destroyed in a fire that consumed most of the city. The Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist
Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist (Charleston)
The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston, located in Charleston, South Carolina. The Most Reverend Robert E. Guglielmone, D.D., the thirteenth Bishop of Charleston, was ordained and installed on March 25, 2009.The first brownstone...
was built to replace the original and sits on the foundation of the ruins.
Before the Roman Catholic Diocese of Raleigh
Roman Catholic Diocese of Raleigh
The Diocese of Raleigh is a Roman Catholic diocese that covers the eastern half of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The bishop is seated at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Raleigh, North Carolina.- Establishment :...
was formed, the Diocese of Charleston had a pro-cathedral in Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
, that is now St. Mary Catholic Church
St. Mary Catholic Church (Wilmington, North Carolina)
Saint Mary Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Wilmington, North Carolina, in the Diocese of Raleigh.-Architecture:Its historic main church is of the Spanish Baroque style. It was designed by Spanish architect Rafael Guastavino, who is known for his work on the Biltmore Estate, Basilica...
.
List of Bishops
The complete list of Bishops is as follows:- Right Rev. John England 1820 -1842
- Right Rev. Ignatius A. ReynoldsIgnatius A. ReynoldsIgnatius Aloysius Reynolds was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Charleston from 1844 until his death in 1855....
1843 -1855 - Right Rev. Patrick N. Lynch 1857 -1882
- Right Rev. Henry P. NorthropHenry P. NorthropHenry Pinckney Northrop was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Vicar Apostolic of North Carolina and Bishop of Charleston .-Biography:...
1883 -1916 - Most Rev. William Thomas RussellWilliam Thomas RussellWilliam Thomas Russell was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Charleston from 1917 until his death in 1927.-Early life and education:...
1916 -1927 - Most Rev. Emmet M. WalshEmmet M. WalshEmmet Michael Walsh was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Charleston, South Carolina and Bishop of Youngstown, Ohio .-Biography:...
1927 -1949 - Most Rev. John J. RussellJohn Joyce RussellJohn Joyce Russell was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, serving as Bishop of Richmond from 1958 to 1973....
1950 -1958 - Most Rev. Paul John HallinanPaul John HallinanPaul John Hallinan was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Charleston and Archbishop of Atlanta . He was known as a champion of racial equality and liturgical reform.-Early life and education:Paul Hallinan was born in Painesville, Ohio, to Clarence C. and...
1958 -1962 - Most Rev. Francis Frederick RehFrancis Frederick RehFrancis Frederick Reh was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Charleston , rector of the Pontifical North American College , and Bishop of Saginaw ....
1962 -1964 - Most Rev. Ernest Leo UnterkoeflerErnest Leo UnterkoeflerErnest Leo Unterkoefler was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Charleston from 1964 to 1990.-Biography:...
1964 -1990 - Most Rev. David B. ThompsonDavid B. ThompsonDavid Bernard Thompson is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Charleston from 1990 to 1999.-Biography:David Thompson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After studying at St...
1990 -1999 - Most Rev. Robert J. Baker 1999 -2007
- Most Rev. Robert E. Guglielmone 2009 – present
Newspaper
The Catholic MiscellanyThe Catholic Miscellany
The Catholic Miscellany, successor to the U.S. Catholic Miscellany, the first Catholic newspaper in the United States, is the official newspaper of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston. It was founded by Bishop John England, the first bishop of Charleston in 1822. He had been assigned to the...
, successor to the U.S. Catholic Miscellany, the first Catholic newspaper in the United States, is the official newspaper of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston.
Schools
- Superintendent of Schools:
- Sr. Canice Adams, SSCM, Interim-Superintendent
- Jacqualine Kasprowski, Interim-Superintendent
Diocesan High schools
- Bishop England High SchoolBishop England High SchoolBishop England High School is the largest diocesan Catholic four-year high school in South Carolina. Until 1998, the school was located on Calhoun Street in downtown Charleston.It is now located on Daniel Island in the city of Charleston...
– CharlestonCharleston, South CarolinaCharleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the... - Cardinal Newman High School – Forest AcresForest Acres, South CarolinaForest Acres is an upscale city in Richland County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 10,558 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Columbia, South Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
- Bishop Baker High School – Planned to be built in Myrtle BeachMyrtle Beach, South CarolinaMyrtle Beach is a coastal city on the east coast of the United States in Horry County, South Carolina. It is situated on the center of a large and continuous stretch of beach known as the Grand Strand in northeastern South Carolina. It is considered to be a major tourist destination in the...
- Pope John Paul II High School – Planned to be built in BeaufortBeaufort, South CarolinaBeaufort is a city in and the county seat of Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. Chartered in 1711, it is the second-oldest city in South Carolina, behind Charleston. The city's population was 12,361 in the 2010 census. It is located in the Hilton Head Island-Beaufort Micropolitan...
Private High schools
- St. Joseph's Catholic School – GreenvilleGreenville, South Carolina-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
- St. Francis Xavier High SchoolSt. Francis Xavier High School (Sumter, South Carolina)St. Francis Xavier High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Sumter, South Carolina. It is run independent of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston.-Background:...
– SumterSumter, South Carolina-Demographics:, there were 59,180 people, 34,717 households, and 4,049 families living in the city. The population density was 4,469.5 people per square mile . There were 416,032 housing units at an average density of 603.0 per square mile...
Parochial Elementary schools
- Saint John Catholic School – North CharlestonNorth Charleston, South CarolinaNorth Charleston is the 3rd largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina with incorporated areas in Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties. On June 12, 1972 the city of North Charleston incorporated and was the 9th largest city in South Carolina. According to the 2010 Census, North...
- Blessed Sacrament School – CharlestonCharleston, South CarolinaCharleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
- Charleston Catholic School – CharlestonCharleston, South CarolinaCharleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
- Christ Our King-Stella Maris – Mount Pleasant
- Nativity School – CharlestonCharleston, South CarolinaCharleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
- St. John Neumann Catholic School – ColumbiaColumbia, South CarolinaColumbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
- St. Joseph Catholic SchoolSt. Joseph Catholic SchoolThe St. Joseph Catholic School System is a parochial school located in Bryan, Texas. It was established by Father Joseph Pelnar in 1894. Grading curriculum ranges from Pre-K to 12th grade.- History :...
– ColumbiaColumbia, South CarolinaColumbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan... - St. Joseph Catholic SchoolSt. Joseph Catholic SchoolThe St. Joseph Catholic School System is a parochial school located in Bryan, Texas. It was established by Father Joseph Pelnar in 1894. Grading curriculum ranges from Pre-K to 12th grade.- History :...
– AndersonAnderson, South CarolinaAnderson is a city in and the county seat of Anderson County, South Carolina, United States. The population was estimated at 26,242 in 2006, and the city was the center of an urbanized area of 70,530... - St. Martin de Porres Catholic School – ColumbiaColumbia, South CarolinaColumbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
- St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic School – AikenAiken, South CarolinaAiken is a city in and the county seat of Aiken County, South Carolina, United States. With Augusta, Georgia, it is one of the two largest cities of the Central Savannah River Area. It is part of the Augusta-Richmond County Metropolitan Statistical Area. Aiken is home to the University of South...
- St. Peter Catholic SchoolSt. Peter Catholic SchoolSt. Peter Catholic School may refer to;* St. Peter Catholic High School, Ottawa, Canada* St Peter Catholic School, Guelph, Ontario, Canada* St. Peter's RC Secondary School, Solihull, United Kingdom* St Peter's RC Primary School, Aberdeen, United Kingdom...
– ColumbiaColumbia, South CarolinaColumbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan... - Summerville Catholic School – SummervilleSummerville, South CarolinaSummerville is a town in the U.S. state of South Carolina situated mostly in Dorchester County with small portions in Berkeley, and Charleston counties. It is part of the Charleston-North Charleston-Summerville Metropolitan Statistical Area as designated for statistical purposes by the U.S. Office...
- Prince of Peace Catholic School – TaylorsTaylors, South CarolinaTaylors is a census-designated place in Greenville County, United States. The population was 20,125 at the 2000 census. Taylors is the Greenville/Spartanburg area's largest suburb although it is not incorporated as a city. It is part of the Greenville–Mauldin–Easley Metropolitan...
- St. Paul the Apostle Catholic School – SpartanburgSpartanburg, South CarolinathgSpartanburg is the largest city in and the county seat of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. It is the second-largest city of the three primary cities in the Upstate region of South Carolina, and is located northwest of Columbia, west of Charlotte, and about northeast of...
- St. Francis by the Sea Catholic School – Hilton Head
- St. Anthony Catholic School - FlorenceFlorence, South Carolina-Municipal government and politics:The City of Florence has a council-manager form of government. The mayor and city council are elected every four years, with no term limits...
- St. Anne Catholic School - SumterSumter, South Carolina-Demographics:, there were 59,180 people, 34,717 households, and 4,049 families living in the city. The population density was 4,469.5 people per square mile . There were 416,032 housing units at an average density of 603.0 per square mile...
See also
- List of Roman Catholic Churches in the Diocese of Charleston
- The Catholic MiscellanyThe Catholic MiscellanyThe Catholic Miscellany, successor to the U.S. Catholic Miscellany, the first Catholic newspaper in the United States, is the official newspaper of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston. It was founded by Bishop John England, the first bishop of Charleston in 1822. He had been assigned to the...