TAICHOW, DIOCESI of. — In the central-eastern part of Chekiang province, in central China.
It was erected as an apostolic vicariate on 10 August 1926, with five civil subprefectures Ningpo (v.), and was entrusted to the care of « patrum Sinensium Congregationis Missionis », that is, to the Chinese Lazarists of the regular province of South China. On 11 April 1946, with the establishment of the episcopal hierarchy in China, it was elevated to a suffragan diocese of Hangchow.
It covers an area of 3,135 sq. km. As of 30 June 1948, out of a total population of approximately 2,000,000 inhabitants, there were 7,813 Catholics and 383 catechumens; 15 priests; 8 seminarians, of whom 1 was a major seminarian; 35 sisters, all Chinese; and 49 catechists. Its institutions included 1 orphanage, 3 medical dispensaries, 1 home for the elderly, and 15 elementary schools.
The first missionary activity in the territory of T. was undertaken by the Chinese Lazarist priest Fou, summoned there in 1867 by two compatriots, the only Christians in the area. In 1869 the Rev. Sin, a member of the Chinese secular clergy, was sent there from Ningpo; he died of cholera one month after his arrival. In February 1870 a third priest arrived, the Italian Lazarist Rizzi. At their deaths, which occurred in the same year (1890), Fou and Rizzi left 190 Catholics. The bodies of these three first missionaries rest beside one another in the oratory of Sao-Tchao. Foreign and indigenous Lazarists subsequently arrived, and evangelization progressed: the number of sacred places and colleges was increased, as was the work of the Holy Childhood, directed by the indigenous virgins of the Association of Purgatory; thus the territory eventually passed into the care of the local clergy.