Established on 15 October 1696 as an apostolic vicariate, its episcopal see is the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (colloquially known as Ping'anqiao Church) located in the city of Chengdu. The Diocese of Chengdu is the first bishopric of the Catholic Church in Sichuan (Szechwan), since the separation of the mission's eastern territory in 1856, it was designated Western Szechwan Mission.
Extent
Map of Western Szechwan Mission, prepared by Adrien Launay [fr], 1889.
Genealogy of MEP ecclesiastical jurisdiction in Sichuan (Szechwan), with its three attachments: Tibet, Yunnan and Guizhou (Kweichow).
The diocese, based in Chengdu, covers 4 cities, namely, Chengdu (Tchen-tou-fou), Deyang (Te-yang-hien), Guangyuan (Koang-yuen-hien) and Mianyang (Mien-tcheou-hien), and 37 districts and counties, totaling an area of 54,900 square kilometers.[1]
Established on 15 October 1696 as Apostolic Vicariate of Szechwan (Vicariatus Apostolicus Seciuensis), on territory split off from the Apostolic Vicariate of Fokien
Lost territories repeatedly: on 28 August 1840 to re-establish the Apostolic Vicariate of Yunnan and on 27 March 1846 to re-establish the Apostolic Vicariate of Kweichow and establish the Apostolic Vicariate of Lhasa
Renamed on 2 April 1856 as Apostolic Vicariate of Northwestern Szechwan (Vicariatus Apostolicus Seciuensis Septentrionalis-Occidentalis), having lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Eastern Szechwan)
Johannes Müllener [ru] (Lazarists, abbreviated C.M.) (born in the Duchies of Bremen and Verden, present-day Germany) (8 December 1716 - death 17 December 1742), Titular Bishop of Myriophytos (1715.09.02 – 1742.12.17)
Luigi Maria Maggi, gallicized as Louis Marie Maggi (Dominican Order, abbreviated O.P.) (born in Italy) (December 17, 1742 - August 20, 1743), Titular Bishop of Baris in Hellesponto (1738.10.08 – 1743.08.20), initially as Coadjutor Apostolic Vicar of Szechwan (1738.10.08 – 1742.12.17)
Joachim-Enjobert de Martiliat, M.E.P. (born in France) (August 20, 1743 - death 24 August 1755), Titular Bishop of Echinus (1739.10.02 – 1755.08.24), initially as Coadjutor Apostolic Vicar of Yunnan (1739.10.02 – 1743.08.20)
Pierre-Jean Kerhervé, M.E.P. (born in France) (1762.07.27 – death 1766.01.22 not possessed), Titular Bishop of Gortyna (1762.07.27 – 1766.01.22)
François Pottier [fr], M.E.P. (born in France) (24 January 1767 – death 28 September 1792), Titular Bishop of Agathopolis (1767.01.24 – 1792.09.28)
SaintGabriel-Taurin Dufresse, M.E.P. (born in France) (15 November 1801 – death 14 September 1815), Titular Bishop of Tabraca (1798.07.24 – 1815.09.14), initially as Coadjutor Apostolic Vicar of Szechwan (1798.07.24 – 1801.11.15)
Giacomo Luigi Fontana [zh], gallicized as Jacques Louis Fontana, M.E.P. (born in the Kingdom of Sardinia, present-day Italy) (July 1817 – 11 July 1838), Titular Bishop of Sinita (1817.05.24 – 1838.07.11), later Apostolic Vicar of Hupeh and Hunan (central China) (1838 – death 1838.07.11)
Jacques-Léonard Pérocheau, M.E.P. (born in France) (11 July 1838 – 2 April 1856 see below), Titular Bishop of Maxula (1817.09.30 – 1861.05.06), initially as Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Szechwan (1817.09.30 – 1838.07.11)
Annet-Théophile Pinchon [fr], M.E.P. (born in France) (6 May 1861 – death 26 October 1891), Titular Bishop of Polemonium [it] (1859.04.23 – 1891.10.26), initially as Coadjutor Apostolic Vicar of Northwestern Szechwan (1859.04.23 – 1861.05.06)
Marie-Julien Dunand, M.E.P. (born in France) (21 April 1893 – death 4 August 1915), Titular Bishop of Calœ (1893.08.21 – 1915.08.04)