CLIFTON, DIOCESE of. - In the S. of the Bristol Channel (England); it comprises the county borough of Bristol and the counties of Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Wiltshire.
The present territory formed part in the Middle Ages of the dioceses of Bath, Salisbury, and Worcester, and from 1623 of the apostolic vicariate of England. In 1688 the apostolic vicariate of the West was erected, with its seat in C. This
vicariate, larger than the present diocese of C., lost Wales in 1840, and subsequently also the southern territory (Plymouth), when in 1850 it became a diocese, at first suffragan to Westminster and then (from 1911) to Birmingham. The bishop resides at Bristol. There are 57 parishes, 130 diocesan priests, and 136 regular priests. Catholics: 49,600 out of 1,500,000 inhabitants (1948). The pro-cathedral is dedicated to the Holy Apostles. The patrons of the diocese are the Immaculate Conception and the holy Apostles Peter and Paul.