History
St Fergus (d. 583) is named as first Bishop of Down. The diocese of Connor was founded in 480 by St Macnissi, and St Malachy was bishop there (1124). The dioceses of Down and Connor were permanently joined in 1439.
In 1670, as an effect of the Reformation, wars, and penal laws, in the whole of Down and Connor there were only 2500 Catholic families. When at length the pressure of penal legislation was removed Catholicism revived rapidly. In the period 1810-1840 no less than forty new Roman Catholic churches were built. The progress thus made under Dr Crolly (1825–1835) and Dr Denvir (1835–65) was continued under Dr Dorrian (1865–86) and Dr MacAlister (1886–95); but none showed greater energy and zeal than Dr Henry (1895–1908).
Read more about this topic: Roman Catholic Diocese Of Down And Connor
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