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Diocese of Argyll and the Isles

*Dioecesis Ergadiensis et Insularum*

*Sgìre-easbaig Earraghàidheal 's nan Eilean* (Scottish Gaelic)
Diocese of Argyll and the Isles; Dioecesis Ergadiensis et Insularum; Sgìre-easbaig Earraghàidheal 's nan Eilean (Scottish Gaelic)
Location
Country	Scotland
Territory	Most of Argyll and Bute, southern part of Highland, and Outer Hebrides, plus the Isle of Arran
Ecclesiastical province	St Andrews and Edinburgh
Metropolitan	St Andrews and Edinburgh
Statistics
Area	31,080 km2 (12,000 sq mi)
Population; - Total; - Catholics	(as of 2015); 74,546; 10,660 (14.3%)
Parishes	25
Information
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Rite	Latin Rite
Established	4 March 1878
Cathedral	St Columba's Cathedral, Oban
Secular priests	29
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Bishop	Brian McGee
Metropolitan Archbishop	Leo Cushley
Episcopal Vicars	James L. Canon MacNeil; Donald J. Canon MacKay; John P. Mackinnon;
Website
	www.rcdai.org.uk

The Diocese of Argyll and the Isles (Latin: Diocesis Ergadiensis et Insularum) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in Scotland, in the Province of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh.^[1]

Overview

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.^[1]

History

The diocese was erected on 5 March 1878 following the restoration of the Scottish Catholic hierarchy. On 28 December 2015 Pope Francis appointed Father Brian McGee to succeed the Right Reverend Joseph Toal as eleventh Bishop of Argyll and the Isles.^[1]

Timeline

After its establishment in 1878, the seat of the diocese was in various buildings each overlapping the same site:^[2]

5 March 1878: The Scottish Catholic hierarchy is restored and the Diocese of Argyll and the Isles is erected. There was no cathedral, and the bishop resided in, what became, the Cathedral House. It was bought from the Society of Jesus who previously used it as a summer retreat house.
Early 1880s: A wooden building served as the pro-cathedral for the diocese. It was located on the site of the Cathedral Hall.
1886: A church made of corrugated iron became the pro-cathedral. It was known as the 'Tin Cathedral' and was given to the diocese by the Marquess of Bute.
1919: Bishop Donald Martin decided to build a permanent cathedral.
14 September 1932: The foundation stone of St Columba's Cathedral was laid.
29 October 1933: The 'Tin Cathedral' was demolished to allow space for the cathedral to be finished. Worship continued in the Cathedral Hall.^[3]
25 December 1934: The cathedral was opened.

Deaneries and parishes

The diocese is organised into three deaneries each with several parishes:^[4]

St Andrew's Deanery

Dean: Fr Michael Hutson

- Parishes
St Columba's Cathedral, Oban
The Visitation, Taynuilt
St Andrew, Rothesay
St Margaret, Lochgilphead
St Mun, Dunoon
St Kieran, Campbeltown
Holy Cross, Brodick
St Margaret's Deanery

Dean: Fr Roddy McAuley

- Parishes:
St Mary, Arisaig
St Margaret, Roybridge
Our Lady of the Assumption, Portree
Our Lady of the Angels, Mingarry
St Mun, Ballachulish
St Mary, Fort William
St John's, Caol
Our Lady of the Rosary and St Columba, Kingussie
St Mary & St Finnan, Glenfinnan
Our Lady of Perpetual Succour & St Cumin, Morar
St Michael's Deanery

Dean: Fr Michael MacDonald

- Parishes:
Our Holy Redeemer, Stornoway
St Barr, Northbay
St Michael, Eriskay
St Peter, Daliburgh
Our Lady, Star of the Sea, Castlebay
St Mary, Bornish
St Mary, Benbecula
St Michael, Ardkenneth^[5]

Education

There are Catholic primary schools in Rothesay, Oban, Dunoon and Fort William.^[6]

Bishops

Past and present ordinaries

The following is a list of the Bishops of Argyll and the Isles:^[1]

Angus MacDonald (appointed 22 March 1878 – translated to the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh on 15 July 1892)
George John Smith (appointed 31 December 1892 – died 18 January 1918)
Donald Martin (appointed 2 April 1919 – died 6 December 1938)
Donald Alphonsus Campbell (appointed 5 October 1939 – translated to the Archdiocese of Glasgow on 6 January 1945)
Kenneth Grant (appointed 15 December 1945 – died 7 September 1959)
Stephen McGill, P.S.S. (appointed 4 April 1960 – translated to the Diocese of Paisley 25 July 1968)
Colin Aloysius MacPherson (appointed 2 December 1968 – died 24 March 1990)
Roderick Wright (appointed 11 December 1990 – resigned 19 September 1996)
(Keith O'Brien, appointed apostolic administrator June 1996 – resigned October 1999)
Ian Murray (appointed 3 November 1999 – retired 16 October 2008)
Joseph Anthony Toal (appointed 16 October 2008 - translated to Diocese of Motherwell 23 June 2014)
sede vacante (23 June 2014 - 28 December 2015)
Brian McGee (appointed 28 December 2015)