Roman Catholic Diocese of Christchurch

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

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.^[1] 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.^[2]

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