KROONSTAD, DIOCESE of. - It is situated in the Orange Free State and was erected as the apostolic prefecture of K. on 26 Nov. 1923, with territory detached from the apostolic vicariate of Kimberley, and entrusted to the Congregation of the Holy Spirit. Previously missionary work had been carried out intermittently and almost exclusively for the benefit of foreign Catholics. At the time of the erection of the apostolic prefecture there were 700 foreign Catholics and 300 indigenous Catholics, and a few catechumens.
On 8 Apr. 1935 it was raised to an apostolic vicariate, which on 12 Feb. 1948 was divided into two parts: the northern part, under the name of K., was entrusted to the Dominicans, and the southern part was constituted as the apostolic vicariate of Betlemme, which remained with the Congregation of the Holy Spirit. With the establishment of the ecclesiastical hierarchy in the South African Union, on 11 Jan. 1951, it was raised to a diocese. The indigenous people belong to various tribes with different languages: many speak Afrikaans and English. Eighty per cent of the Europeans are descended from the Huguenots who immigrated there.
It has an area of approximately 29,898 sq. km., with approximately 245,000 inhabitants, of whom 9,317 are indigenous Catholics, 713 foreign Catholics, and 213 of mixed race; catechumens, 1,840; Protestants, 162,000; Jews, 1,650; pagans, 71. There are 12 Dominican missionaries, 8 brothers, 45 sisters, and 27 catechists working there. Quasi-parishes, 1; principal stations, 4; secondary stations, 39; churches, 3; chapels, 14. Elementary schools, 9, with 1,978 pupils; secondary schools, 2, with 162 pupils; vocational school, 1, with 75 girls. Various charitable works and Catholic Action associations flourish.