Diocese of Charleston
Stored: Diocese of Charleston
| Diocese: Diocese of Charleston | |
| Status: | Active |
| Rite: | |
| Type: | Suffragan diocese |
| Ecclesiastical Province: | Province of Atlanta |
| Suffragan Dioceses: | |
| Metropolitan Archdiocese: | Archdiocese of Atlanta |
| Country: | United States |
| Region: | South Carolina |
| Bishop: | Jacques Fabre-Jeune |
| Website: | https://charlestondiocese.org |
| Newspaper: | https://themiscellany.org |
| Catholic Percentage: | 4.0% |
| Catholic Elementary Schools: | 22 |
| Catholic High Schools: | 4 |
| Deaneries: | 7 |
| Priests: | 140 |
| Existence: | 1820– |
| Predecessor Diocese: | |
| Successor Diocese: | |
| Catholic Hospitals: | 2 |
| Rating: | 3.5 |
The Diocese of Charleston, a suffragan diocese of the Latin Rite, is an active diocese encompassing the entire state of South Carolina in the United States. Founded in 1820 by Pope Pius VII, it is led by Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune as of 2022. As part of the Province of Atlanta, the diocese serves a growing Catholic community in a historically Protestant region, with 96 parishes and 21 missions. A notable aspect is its vibrant Eucharistic Congress, which drew over 2,000 participants in 2024, reflecting its dynamic role in fostering Catholic faith in the Southeast.
Establishment
The Diocese of Charleston was established on July 11, 1820, by Pope Pius VII to serve the Catholic population in the Carolinas and Georgia, initially covering a vast region. It was created as a missionary diocese to address the needs of Catholic immigrants and missionaries in the southeastern United States, without a direct predecessor diocese.[1]
History
Early Years
Founded in 1820 under Bishop John England, the diocese initially spanned South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. England, an Irish-born bishop, established the *United States Catholic Miscellany*, the first Catholic newspaper in the U.S., to promote catechesis in a Protestant-dominated region.[2]
Modern Era
In 1850, the creation of the Diocese of Savannah reduced Charleston’s territory to South Carolina alone. The diocese saw significant growth in the 20th and 21st centuries, particularly with Hispanic Catholic immigration, and rebuilt the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in 1907 after its destruction by fire.[3]
Geography
The Diocese of Charleston spans all 46 counties in South Carolina, including:
- Abbeville County
- Aiken County
- Allendale County
- Anderson County
- Bamberg County
- Barnwell County
- Beaufort County
- Berkeley County
- Calhoun County
- Charleston County
- Cherokee County
- Chester County
- Chesterfield County
- Clarendon County
- Colleton County
- Darlington County
- Dillon County
- Dorchester County
- Edgefield County
- Fairfield County
- Florence County
- Georgetown County
- Greenville County
- Greenwood County
- Hampton County
- Horry County
- Jasper County
- Kershaw County
- Lancaster County
- Laurens County
- Lee County
- Lexington County
- Marion County
- Marlboro County
- McCormick County
- Newberry County
- Oconee County
- Orangeburg County
- Pickens County
- Richland County
- Saluda County
- Spartanburg County
- Sumter County
- Union County
- Williamsburg County
- York County
It is part of the Province of Atlanta.[4]
Mother Church
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Charleston, a Gothic Revival structure completed in 1907, serves as the diocese’s mother church. It is a historic landmark hosting major diocesan liturgies and attracting visitors for its architectural beauty.[5]
Leadership
Current Bishop
Jacques Fabre-Jeune has served as bishop since May 13, 2022. A Haitian-born priest, he emphasizes evangelization and outreach to diverse communities.[6]
Auxiliary Bishops
The Diocese of Charleston currently has no auxiliary bishops.[2]
Past Bishops
| Name | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| John England | 1820–1842 | Founded diocese; established *United States Catholic Miscellany*; died in office. |
| Ignatius Aloysius Reynolds | 1844–1855 | Oversaw early growth; died in office. |
| Patrick Neeson Lynch | 1858–1882 | Led during Civil War; rebuilt diocese; died in office. |
| Henry P. Northrop | 1883–1916 | Oversaw cathedral reconstruction; died in office. |
| William T. Russell | 1917–1927 | Promoted education; died in office. |
| Emmet M. Walsh | 1927–1949 | Expanded parishes; died in office. |
| John J. Russell | 1950–1958 | Transferred to Diocese of Richmond. |
| Paul J. Hallinan | 1958–1962 | Became Archbishop of Archdiocese of Atlanta. |
| Ernest L. Unterkoefler | 1964–1990 | Focused on social justice; retired. |
| David B. Thompson | 1990–1999 | Strengthened administration; retired. |
| Robert J. Baker | 1999–2007 | Transferred to Diocese of Birmingham. |
| Robert E. Guglielmone | 2009–2020 | Retired. |
Theological and Cultural Orientation
The Diocese of Charleston leans slightly conservative (rating: 3.5). It offers regular Latin Masses in several parishes (rating: 4), emphasizes traditional teachings like pro-life advocacy alongside progressive outreach such as immigration and poverty programs (rating: 3), and is led by Bishop Fabre-Jeune, who balances evangelization and inclusivity (rating: 3.5).[7]
Statistics
The diocese covers 31,055 square miles (80,432 km²), serves approximately 200,000 registered Catholics across 96 parishes and 21 missions, and has a total population of about 5,000,000.[8]
Religious Communities
Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia
The Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia operate schools and catechetical programs. Address: 2431/2 Rutledge Ave, Charleston, SC 29403. Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia[9]
Franciscan Friars
The Franciscan Friars support parish ministries and outreach programs. Address: 1204 Middle St, Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482. Franciscan Friars[9]
Parishes
| Diocese of Charleston |
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| This map created from a Cargo query () |
The Diocese of Charleston serves 96 parishes and 21 missions across 7 deaneries, covering all of South Carolina. It includes diverse parishes with Spanish-language Masses and one Maronite Rite parish.[10]
Mission and Services
Catholic Education
The diocese manages 26 schools:
| School Name | City | Type | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bishop England High School | Charleston | High School | Bishop England |
| Blessed Sacrament School | Charleston | Elementary | Blessed Sacrament |
| Cardinal Newman School | Columbia | High School | Cardinal Newman |
| Charleston Catholic School | Charleston | Elementary | Charleston Catholic |
| Christ Our King-Stella Maris School | Mount Pleasant | Elementary | Christ Our King-Stella Maris |
| Divine Redeemer School | Hanahan | Elementary | Divine Redeemer |
| Holy Trinity Catholic School | Longs | Elementary | Holy Trinity |
| John Paul II Catholic School | Okatie | High School | John Paul II |
| Nativity School | Charleston | Elementary | Nativity School |
| Our Lady of Mercy School | Hilton Head | Elementary | Our Lady of Mercy |
| Our Lady of Peace School | North Augusta | Elementary | Our Lady of Peace |
| Our Lady of the Rosary School | Greenville | Elementary | Our Lady of the Rosary |
| Prince of Peace Catholic School | Taylors | Elementary | Prince of Peace |
| St. Andrew Catholic School | Myrtle Beach | Elementary | St. Andrew |
| St. Anne Catholic School | Rock Hill | Elementary | St. Anne |
| St. Anne-St. Jude Catholic School | Sumter | Elementary | St. Anne-St. Jude |
| St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School | Greenville | Elementary | St. Anthony |
| St. Benedict Catholic School | Mount Pleasant | Elementary | St. Benedict |
| St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School | Myrtle Beach | Elementary | St. Elizabeth Ann Seton |
| St. Francis by the Sea Catholic School | Hilton Head | Elementary | St. Francis |
| St. Gregory the Great Catholic School | Bluffton | Elementary | St. Gregory |
| St. John Catholic School | North Charleston | Elementary | St. John |
| St. Joseph Catholic School | Anderson | Elementary | St. Joseph |
| St. Joseph Catholic School | Columbia | Elementary | St. Joseph |
| St. Mary Help of Christians School | Aiken | Elementary | St. Mary |
| St. Michael Catholic School | Murrells Inlet | Elementary | St. Michael |
| St. Peter’s Catholic School | Beaufort | Elementary | St. Peter’s |
Community Outreach
Catholic Charities of South Carolina provides food assistance, immigration services, and disaster relief, serving over 50,000 people annually.[12]
Notable Events or Figures
- In 2024, the diocese’s Eucharistic Congress, featuring Catholic speaker Edward Sri, drew over 2,000 participants, emphasizing Eucharistic devotion.
- Bishop John England, the founding bishop, is renowned for establishing the first U.S. Catholic newspaper.[13]
References
- ↑ "History". https://charlestondiocese.org/about/history. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Diocese of Charleston". https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dchar.html. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ↑ "History". https://charlestondiocese.org/about/history. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ↑ "Parish Directory". https://charlestondiocese.org/parishes. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ↑ "Cathedral History". https://charlestoncathedral.com/history. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ↑ "Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune". https://charlestondiocese.org/bishop-fabre-jeune. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ↑ "About the Diocese". https://charlestondiocese.org/about. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ↑ "Diocesan Statistics". https://charlestondiocese.org/about/statistics. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Religious Communities". https://charlestondiocese.org/religious-communities. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ↑ "Parish Directory". https://charlestondiocese.org/parishes. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ↑ "School Directory". https://charlestondiocese.org/schools. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ↑ "Our Services". https://catholiccharitiessc.org. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ↑ "2024 Eucharistic Congress". https://themiscellany.org/2024-eucharistic-congress. Retrieved 2025-06-05.