Diocese

What Diocese does

The Diocese of Plymouth is a territorial diocese of the Catholic Church covering Cornwall, Devon, and Dorset in the Southwest of England, founded in 1850. It functions as the ecclesiastical authority for the Catholic community across three counties, delivering sacramental services (Mass, baptism, marriage, confession), pastoral care, Catholic education, social action, and youth ministry through a network of more than 100 parish churches, Catholic primary and secondary schools, chaplaincies, and the Cathedral Church of St Mary and St Boniface in Plymouth. Governance is provided by the Diocesan Bishop under Catholic canon law and the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales; the diocese is led by Bishop Nicholas Hudson, who was appointed by Pope Leo XIV in October 2025 and installed on 29 November 2025 after a roughly two-year episcopal vacancy.

The Diocese's operational arms include Caritas Diocese of Plymouth (social action addressing refugees, elderly isolation, homelessness, and family hardship), the Vicariate for Safeguarding and Pastoral Care (compliant with Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency audits), the Office of Vocations, and a Youth Ministry team. Digital infrastructure is limited to a WordPress-based website (plymouth-diocese.org.uk), email newsletter, Facebook, Twitter/X, and YouTube channels used for live-streamed Mass and event coverage. Programs include the GATHER annual formation conference (130 delegates in 2026), Stay Awake youth events (280+ tickets in 2026), the Inspire Christian music festival at Buckfast Abbey, and participation in national gatherings such as FLAME at Wembley Arena.

As a religious nonprofit, the Diocese does not operate a commercial revenue model. Income is derived from parish collections, school-related funding, and charitable donations; the only priced offering referenced is the Inspire festival ticket at £25 per person. There are no funding rounds, commercial products, or investor backing. Strategic partners include CYMFED, CAFOD, SVP, Stella Maris, Catholic Children's Society Plymouth, Buckfast Abbey, and various Catholic social-justice and safeguarding organizations operating within the UK Catholic ecosystem.

Name

Diocese

Legal name

Diocese of Plymouth

Website

https://plymouth-diocese.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1850

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Diocese of Plymouth is the Catholic territorial diocese serving Cornwall, Devon, and Dorset, delivering sacramental, educational, and social services through 100+ parishes, schools, Caritas programs, and the Plymouth Cathedral.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Diocesan Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131)

akta.pro primary industry

Denominational & Ecclesiastical Governance Bodies (Dioceses, Synods, Conferences) (BPAGAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Religious Orders & Monastic Communities (Monasteries, Convents) (BPAGAJAC)

Keywords

• Catholic diocese services
• Pastoral care services
• Catholic education schools
• Youth ministry programs
• Social action outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Newton Abbot

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Diocese of Plymouth is the territorial Catholic diocese serving Cornwall, Devon, and Dorset in Southwest England. It delivers sacramental and pastoral services (Mass, baptism, marriage, confession) through a network of over 100 parishes, supports Catholic education through its school network, operates Caritas social action programs for vulnerable populations, and runs youth ministry and vocations programs. The Diocese also provides safeguarding services, formation events, and community outreach under the canonical authority of the Catholic Church.

Product overview

The Diocese of Plymouth is a religious organization serving the Catholic community across Cornwall, Devon, and Dorset in Southwest England. Its digital presence is centered on the Diocese website, which serves as a portal for spiritual services and parish information rather than a technology product. The organization offers various programs and services including safeguarding support, Caritas charitable initiatives, youth events, vocations support, and church/school finder services. The Diocese organizes events such as the GATHER conference, Stay Awake youth gatherings, and Inspire Christian music festival. No commercial technology products or platforms are offered.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Caritas Diocese of Plymouth: Social action and charitable arm of the diocese focused on Catholic Social Teaching, supporting refugees, elderly, homeless, and families.
• Office of Vocations

Products and services

• Caritas Social Action Services Social action and charitable arm of the Diocese supporting refugees and migrants, elderly and isolated individuals, homelessness initiatives, children and family life programs, and Catholic Social Teaching education across Cornwall, Devon, and Dorset.
• Safeguarding Services Comprehensive safeguarding support including training events, survivor support resources, and protection guidance for children and vulnerable adults across the Diocese, with CSSA audit compliance.
• Youth Events and Programs Organized youth retreats, pilgrimage events, summer camps, and gatherings aimed at young Catholics aged approximately 9-25 across the Diocese.
• Catholic Schools Network Network of Catholic primary and secondary schools across the Diocese including Notre Dame, St Boniface College, St Cuthbert Mayne, and other primary schools providing faith-based education.
• Office of Vocations Support and guidance office for those discerning religious vocations to the priesthood, with resources and contact information at priesthoodplymouth.co.uk.
• GATHER Annual Conference Annual diocesan conference featuring faith formation, synodality themes, and community building, with 130+ delegates at GATHER 2026 in Torquay.
• Stay Awake Youth Event Annual youth event featuring worship, keynote talks, workshops, youth groups, and Mass with Bishop Nicholas Hudson; Stay Awake 2026 sold 280+ tickets.
• Inspire Christian Music Festival Christian music festival held at Buckfast Abbey, priced at £25 per person, targeted at young Catholics aged 13-25.
• Sacramental and Pastoral Services Sacramental services including Mass, baptism, marriage, confession, and pastoral care delivered through the network of over 100 parish churches across Cornwall, Devon, and Dorset.

Quantifiable outcome

• 150+ young people engaged at FLAME 2019 national Catholic youth event
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• CYMFED (Catholic Youth Ministry Federation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in organizing the biennial FLAME national Catholic youth event, the largest Catholic youth gathering in the country attracting 8,000+ young Catholics to Wembley Arena.
• Diocese of WestminstercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of FLAME national Catholic youth event with CYMFED, bringing together young Catholics from across England and Wales.
• Caritas Diocese of PlymouthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternal diocesan social action agency implementing Catholic Social Teaching through programs for refugees, elderly, homeless, and vulnerable populations.
• CAFODmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatholic Agency for Overseas Development - partner in international development, social justice advocacy, and education programs.
• Catholic Children's Society PlymouthmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiocesan children's charity supporting children and families in need through various welfare programs.
• SVP (St Vincent de Paul Society)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Catholic voluntary organization dedicated to tackling poverty and disadvantage through practical action.
• Stella MarismajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatholic maritime charity supporting seafarers and fishermen, particularly active in the port of Plymouth.
• Buckfast AbbeymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBenedictine monastery providing venue for diocesan events, retreats, conferences, and the Inspire Christian music festival.
• School for SynodalitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides formation and training in synodal processes for the GATHER annual conference and diocesan synodality initiatives.
• The God Who SpeaksmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiblical Apostolate initiative of the Bishops' Conference contributing speakers and resources to diocesan formation events.
• The Cardinal Hume CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity providing services to homeless and vulnerable people, supported through Diocese of Westminster connections.
• Providence RowminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatholic charity supporting homeless women in London, connected through Bishop Nicholas Hudson's trustee role.
• The Romero TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable trust honoring Archbishop Oscar Romero, Bishop Nicholas Hudson serves as trustee.
• Justice and CaremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization dedicated to tackling modern slavery, providing guest speakers and expertise for Caritas diocesan events on exploitation awareness.
• Clewer InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChristian organization working to address modern slavery, providing training and expertise for Parish Safeguarding Representatives Conference.
• World Apostolate of Fatima in England and WalesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArranging pilgrim visits of National Statues of Our Lady of Fatima to cathedrals including Plymouth Cathedral.
• Missio / Mill Hill MissionariesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMissionary organization providing international mission experiences for diocesan seminarians in Kenya.
• Pauline Books and MediaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCatholic publishing and media company providing resources at diocesan events like GATHER conferences.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Diocese of Shrewsbury: Catholic diocese covering Cheshire, Shropshire, and parts of Greater Manchester, Merseyside, and Lancashire. Comparable regional Catholic diocese with similar parish, school, and safeguarding structures.
• Diocese of Leeds: Catholic diocese covering West Yorkshire and parts of North Yorkshire. Comparable regional Catholic territorial diocese with parishes, schools, and safeguarding structures of similar scale.
• Diocese of East Anglia: Catholic diocese covering Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, and Peterborough. Comparable as a regional Catholic territorial diocese in a Catholic-minority part of England with similar parish structures and school networks.
• Archdiocese of Birmingham: Catholic archdiocese covering the Midlands. Directly comparable as a metropolitan Catholic territorial diocese with parishes, schools, Caritas-style social action, and youth ministry programs of similar scope.
• Diocese of Westminster: The Catholic territorial diocese covering most of London and southern England. Directly comparable as another Catholic diocesan governance body in England and Wales, with shared national structures including CYMFED (co-organizer of the FLAME youth event referenced in Plymouth's partnerships).
• Diocese of Clifton: Catholic diocese covering Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire, and Dorset (overlapping territory with Plymouth in Dorset). Closely comparable territorial diocese sharing regional Southwest England parishes and overlapping Catholic community.
• Diocese of Portsmouth: Catholic diocese covering Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Berkshire, Dorset (overlap), and Oxfordshire. Comparable as a neighboring southern-coast Catholic territorial diocese with overlapping geography and similar program offerings.
• Diocese of Hallam: Catholic diocese covering South Yorkshire, parts of the East Riding, and North Lincolnshire. Comparable regional Catholic territorial diocese with similar parish and school footprint in a Catholic-minority area.
• Archdiocese of Southwark: Catholic archdiocese covering South London, Kent, Surrey, Sussex, and Hampshire. Directly comparable territorial Catholic governance body where Bishop Hudson previously served as a priest, sharing canonical structure and similar parish/school network model.
• Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle: Catholic diocese covering the North East of England from the Tees to the Scottish border. Comparable as a regional Catholic territorial diocese with similar geographic dispersion, parish network, and Catholic-minority operating context.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PlymouthDiocese
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC8KUEwsXFK3VBLEfn4H1tBw
• Facebookfacebook.com/plymouthdiocese

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Diocese