The Catholic Church across Yorkshire's historic West Riding since 1878

The Catholic Church across Yorkshire's historic West Riding since 1878

About Us

You have arrived at the website of the Diocese of Leeds: the Catholic Church across Yorkshire’s historic West Riding since 1878.

The territory of the Leeds Diocese now covers parts of five counties; it comprises the Catholic communities in the northern part of what is now West Yorkshire together with some areas of  North and East Yorkshire, e.g. Ripon, Selby and Howden – and some parishes now in Lancashire (Barnoldswick) and Greater Manchester (Uppermill).

Within the Diocese about 26,000 Catholics attend Mass on any particular Sunday and during the last year, some 2,214 children were baptised into the Church.

In addition to more than 100 churches in its parishes, there are also 93 schools, both primary and secondary, a sixth-form college, the country’s only Catholic special school for the deaf and one of only three UK universities with a modern Catholic foundation. The Diocese is presided over by the Bishop of Leeds, whose residence and administrative offices are in Headingley.

Such are the bare bones of the Leeds Diocese. Many questions remain.  Who are these Yorkshire Catholics? What do they believe?  What binds them together? If they differ from other Christians, what makes them separate?  In general what does the Catholic Church say about itself anyway?

Visitors to our website are invited to use these pages to gain some insight into what we are and what we believe. It is a simple guide, composed in plain words, plainly put together. Please read and enjoy!