Changteh, Diocese of

CHANGTEH, 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 received the name of apostolic vicariate of C.; in 1925 it ceded part of its territory for the apostolic prefecture of Shenchow, Yuanling (v.); in 1931 it was divided again, giving rise Lichow (v.) Yochow (v.). From 1879 it was entrusted to the Order of Hermits of St. Augustine. At that time there was only one missionary center at Kiakai-tse, on which depended the Christian communities of Hofu, C., and Yuenkiang: in all there were 45 Catholics, Hengchow (v.). At present its area is 11,400 sq. km.; its inhabitants, as of 30 June 1947, numbered approximately 3,000,000, of whom 6,576 were Catholics; the missionary personnel consisted of 12 Augustinian Fathers, including 3 Chinese, and 1 priest of the Chinese secular clergy, 11 lay religious, and 5 sisters, including 3 Chinese.