Chronology of Catholic Dioceses:Namibia

See a list of abbreviations used in this list. See also our listing of current ecclesial jurisdictions.

Regarding Cape of Good Hope prior to 1806:
1514: Funchal (established by the Portuguese, see footnote) - Portugal
1533: Goa (D, separated from Funchal) - India
1534: São Tomé / São Tomé e Príncipe (detached from Funchal) - São Tomé and Principe
1612: Mozambique (Prel., separated from Goa) - (Portuguese East Africa) Mozambique
Regarding Cape of Good Hope 1806:
1622: England (AV, established by the "Propaganda Fide" in Rome) - England
1688: District of London (AV, new name, previously England AV) - England
Regarding Mauritius 1818:
0250~: Paris - France
1622: Paris (AD) - France
1711: Bourbon / later a.k.a. Indian Ocean (AP, established from France [Paris?]) - Reunion, Indian Ocean, etc.
1722: Isle-de-France (AVP, detached from Bourbon AP) - Mauritius
1772: Isle-de-France (AP) - Mauritius
1818: Mauritius (AV, and new name, previously Isle-de-France AP) - Mauritius
Failed attempt:
1798: Mission covering the area from Cape of Good Hope, to Japan, Australia and adjacent Islands, attempted established. The attempt never came to anything.
(1806: The area of South Africa becomes dependent of the Ap. Vicariate of England; detached from São Tomé [covering coast northwest of the Cape] and from Mozambique [Prel., covering coast east of the Cape]) - South Africa
1818: Cape of Good Hope and Madagascar (AV, detached from London AV) - South Africa / Madagascar
1819: Cape of Good Hope and Mauritius (AV, new name, union of Cape of Good Hope and Madagascar, and of Mauritius) - Mauritius, South Africa, Madagascar
1829: Cape of Good Hope (AV, new name, previously Cape of Good Hope and Muritius) - South Africa
Regarding Lower Cimbebasia (and thus northern Namibia):
1842: The Two Guineas and Senegambia (AP, detached from São Tomé, and from Funchal) - West African coast from the Senegal River to the Oranje River, except Angola
1846: The Two Guineas and Senegambia (AV) - West African coast from the Senegal River to the Oranje River, except Angola
1863: Gabon (new name, previously The Two Guineas and Senegambia AV) - West African coast from Guinea to the Oranje River, except Angola
1879: Cimbebasia (AP, detached from Gabon / previously the Two Guineas) - Angola, Namibia
Regarding Great Namaqualand (and thus southern Namibia):
1847: Cape of Good Hope - Eastern District (AV, new name, previously Cape of Good Hope) - South Africa
1847: Cape of Good Hope - Western District (AV) - South Africa
1875: Cape of Good Hope - Central District (AP, detached from Cape of Good Hope - Western District) - South Africa
1885: Orange River (AP, detached from Cape of Good Hope - Central District AP) - South Africa
1898: Orange River (AV) - South Africa
1892: Lower Cimbebasia in Portuguese Angola (AP, detached from Cimbebasia AP) - (South West Africa) Namibia
1909: Great Namaqualand (AP, detached from Orange River) - (South West Africa) Namibia
1921: Cimbebasia (AV and new name, previously Lower Cimbebasia in Portuguese Angola AP) - (South West Africa) Namibia
1926: Windhoek (AV, new name, previously Cimbebasia AV) - (South West Africa) Namibia
1930: Great Namaqualand (AV) - (South West Africa) Namibia
1949: Keetmanshoop (AV, new name, previously Great Namaqualand AP) - (South West Africa) Namibia
1994: Keetmanshoop (D) - Namibia
1994: Windhoek (Metr.) - Namibia
1994: Rundu (AV, detached from Windhoek) - Namibia