The Catholic Church in Great Britain.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 8, 20 February 1902, Page 7

The Catholic Church in Great Britain.

From the general summary in the Catholic Directory of Grea Britain we learn that the number of English Bishops is now 17 instead of 19, Westminster having during the year (1901) lost a Bishop through translation and Clifton another by death. Scotland has seven Bishops, so that the Hierarchy of Grtat Britain numbers altogether 24 Bifehops. There has been in England an increase of nearly 200 priests in the year, the number last year being 2,837, and this year 3.018. The number of the places of worship last year was 1,536, and this year it is 1,572. The corresponding figures for Scotland are : Priests in 1901, 461 ; priests in 1902, 482 ; places of worship in 1901 350 ; places of worship in 1902, 354. The tntal number of priests for Great Britain was 3 298 last year ; this year it is 3,500 ; the total of the places of worship was 1,886 in 1901 ; it is 1,926 this year. Of the clergy 1,107 are Regulars, in whom are included some of the French exiles. It is, however, evident that the number of the emigies is not large, as tbe total increase in the Regulars is only 117 — from 990 to 1,107. The estimated Catholic population of the United Kingdom has risen by a quarter of a million. Last year it was set down as nearly five millions; this year it is given as five millions and a quarter — .namely, Kngland 1,500,000 (the same figures as last year) ; Scotland 433,000 (figures for last year, 365,000) , Ireland (according to census of 1901, 3,310,028. Including British America (with a Catholic population of about 2,600,000), Australia, India, and all other possessions, the total Catholic population of the British Empire is about ten millions and a half.