CHENGTING, DIOCESE of. - When the diocese of Pechino was suppressed in 1856, three apostolic vicariates were established in the civil province of Hopeh, then called Celi or Chihli, by a brief of 3 May of that same year: the one whose capital was at C. was called the apostolic vicariate of western Celi and retained this designation until 3 Dec. 1924, when it took its name from the city of residence of the Ordinary. From the outset it was entrusted to the Congregation of the Mission: the Lazarists. In 1924 the apostolic prefecture of Lihsen, Ankwo (v.), was erected, taking part of its territory from C.; in 1929 the apostolic prefecture of Shunteh was erected by division of C. On 11 Apr. 1946 C. was elevated to a diocese suffragan of Pechino.
At present C. covers approximately 18,000 sq. km. The total population, as of 30 June 1947, was approximately 4,000,000 inhabitants, of whom 52,000 were Catholics. Besides the bishop, a Chinese Lazarist, there were 53 foreign priests, for the most part Dutch, and 16 native priests; the lay religious numbered 35, including 1 Chinese; the women religious, 7 foreign and 121 indigenous. Within the territory of the diocese of C., since 1928, a Trappist monastery has been founded under the title of Our Lady of Joy: its personnel is included among those reported above.
The mission of C. suffered greatly during the conflict between China and Japan.