In 1688 the Portsmouth area came under the authority of the
Vicar Apostolic of the London District. On the
restoration of the Catholic hierarchy in England and Wales in 1850 Portsmouth became part of the
Diocese of Southwark. On 19 May 1882 the
Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth was created, and consists of the counties of
Hampshire and
Dorset, together with
Berkshire and
Oxfordshire south of the
River Thames, plus the
Isle of Wight and the
Channel Islands. ==List of the Catholic bishops of Portsmouth==