Diocese of Westminster

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Westminster Abbey, which served as St Peter's Cathedral of the Diocese of Westminster

The Diocese of Westminster was a short-lived diocese of the Church of England, extant from 1540 - 1550.

The Diocese was created from part of the Diocese of London, and comprised Westminster (which was raised to the dignity of a city), and the county of Middlesex, with the exception of Fulham. Fulham was excluded as it was the site of Fulham Palace, residence of the Bishop of London.

The existing Westminster Abbey became the cathedral of Saint Peter, and Thomas Thirlby became Bishop of Westminster.

On Thirlby's resignation on March 29, 1550, the diocese was merged back into the Diocese of London. Westminster retained its city status, however. The cathedral became an abbey again six years later.

A Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Westminster was formed in 1850

[edit] Source

• Victoria County History of Middlesex, Volume I (1969)

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