CULM, Diocese of. — In Poland (Polish Chełmno), founded in 1218, organized in 1243 by Guglielmo, bishop of Modena and papal legate of Innocent IV. Suffragan of Gniezno (Gnesna); from 1255 suffragan of Riga, and from 1466 again of Gniezno. Episcopal residence at Chełmno, from 1251 at Chełmża, and from 1821 at Pelplin. First bishop: Krystyn of Oliwa.
Area: 16,500 sq. km. Catholics: 1,588,000. Parishes: 339. Churches: 469, of which: parish churches: 339; filial churches: 14; convent churches: 4; chapels: 112. Diocesan priests: 390, of whom: bishops: 1; parish priests and administrators: 280; vicars: 48; catechists: 25. Priests from other dioceses: 49. Regular priests: 94. Religious women: 579. Seminaries: 167; religious houses: male, 17; female, 85. Educational institutions: male: 4; female: 3. Charitable, welfare, and medical institutions: 59. Churches destroyed: 10; damaged: 110; permanently closed: 60. Pilgrimage centers: Piaseczno, Chełmno, Chełmonice, Rywald, Sianowo, Swarzewo, Wejherowo, Wielę. At Pelplin, a Gothic cathedral from 1258; at Chełmno, a former Gothic cathedral from the 14th century; at Toruń, the Gothic Church of Our Lady (1350–70), the Gothic Church of St James (1309–40), and the Church of St John (1250); at Chełmża, the Church of the Holy Cross from the 15th century, replacing the old one from the 13th century. Eminent bishops: Wibold de Velstey (d. 1400), Paolo z Grabowy (d. 1479); Pietro Kostka (d. 1595), Andrzej Stanisław Kostka Załuski, founder of the Załuski Library in Warsaw together with his brother, bishop of Kiev (1695–1758).