Changteh [Changde], Diocese of

CHANGTEH [CHANGDE], Diocese of. - It is located in China, in the civil province of Hunan. From 1879 to 1924 it was called the apostolic vicariate of Northern Hunan; by decree of 3 Dec. 1924 it took the name of apostolic vicariate of C.; in 1925 it ceded part of its territory for the apostolic prefecture of Shenchow, now the diocese of Yuanling (v.); in 1931 it was again divided, giving rise to the apostolic prefectures of Lichow (v.) and Yochow (v.). From 1879 it was entrusted to the Order of the Hermits of St. Augustine. At that time there existed only one missionary center, at Kiakai-tse, to which the Christian communities of Hofu, C. and Yuenkiang belonged: there were 45 Catholics in all, natives of the territory of Hengchow (v.). At present the area is 11,400 sq km; the inhabitants, as of 30 June 1947, numbered about 3,000,000, of whom 6,576 were Catholics; the missionary staff consisted of 12 Augustinian fathers, of whom 3 were Chinese, and 1 priest of the Chinese secular clergy, 11 lay religious and 5 sisters, of whom 3 were Chinese.

Adamo Pucci