CAMPANHA, Diocese of. - In Brazil, located in the southern part of the State of Minas Geraes, suffragan of the archdiocese of Marianna. Population of 550,000 inhabitants, of whom 500,000 are Catholics; area approx. 20,400 sq. km. The territory is predominantly mountainous and very rich in gold deposits and in extremely abundant mineral water springs. The diocese has 155 churches and 54 parishes; it has 62 diocesan priests and 27 regulars (1948); a minor seminary. Titular: Our Lady of Mount Carmel. A city since 1840, C. is situated at 878 m. above sea level, and has a population of over 20,000 souls.
The city of C. was founded in 1737 by an expedition of explorers of the sertão, called "bandeirantes." It is surrounded by deep crevices in the terrain, vestiges of the earliest searches for gold and diamonds. It was successively called S. Antonio do Vale da Fiedade da Campanha do Rio Verde, Campanha da Princesa and C. In the city resided one of the conspirators of the Inconfidência mineira, an important insurrectionary movement against Portuguese rule, which failed in 1789: the poet Alvarenga Peixoto. C. also played a great part in other movements for independence, especially in the one that prepared the overthrow of the throne and the establishment of the republican regime.
The diocese, whose territory was formerly included in the immense diocese of Marianna, and then in that of Porto Alegre, was detached from the latter by consistorial decree of 8 Sept. 1907, and erected with the bull Spirituali fidelium of the same day.
The city of C., which still preserves its colonial appearance, is called the Atenas mineira for its quiet seclusion and its numerous cultural institutes. It possesses a vast cathedral in the colonial style, with valuable works in gilded carved wood; furthermore a historical museum, created by the present bishop and named after him.
Bibliography2 works
Maurilio Cesar de Lima