The Diocese of Coutances (–Avranches) (Latin: Dioecesis Constantiensis (–Abrincensis); French: Diocèse de Coutances (–Avranches)) is a Latin diocese of the Catholic Church in France. Its mother church is the Cathedral of Coutance in the commune of Coutances in France. The diocese is suffragan of the Archbishop of Rouen and comprises the entire department of Manche. It was enlarged in 1802 by the addition of the former Diocese of Avranches and of two archdeaconries from the Diocese of Bayeux. Since 1854 its bishops have held the title of Bishop of Coutances (–Avranches).
In 2021, in the Diocese of Coutances there was one priest for every 3,523 Catholics.
History of the Diocese of Coutances The diocese of Coutances was founded in Frankish times but the bishop had to flee to Rouen in the ninth century due to Viking raids and was not able to return until at least 1025 despite the Christianisation of the Duchy of Normandy.
The Bishop of Coutances exercised ecclesiastical jurisdiction over the Channel Islands, mostly in Alderney where the Bishop also held partial authority over the Leader of Alderney, until the Reformation, despite the secular division of Normandy in 1204. The final rupture occurred definitively in 1569 when Queen Elizabeth I demanded that the Bishops hand the island over to the Bishop of Winchester.
In 1757 the city of Coutances had a population of about 12,000 Catholics. The cathedral was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Its Chapter was composed of eight dignities (the Cantor, four Archdeacons, the Scholasticus, the Treasurer, and the Penitentiary) and twenty-five Canons. There were also six Choral Vicars, forty-two chaplains, fourteen choristers and six boy singers, and a body of musicians. The Cantor has existed from the 11th century. The four archdeacons were: Coutances, Baptois, Val-de-Vire and Cotentin.Pouillés (surveys of benefices) of the diocese of Coutances, in: In the city were two parishes (Saint-Pierre and Saint-Nicolas), two houses of male religious, and two monasteries of monks. The entire diocese had some 500 parishes.Gallia christiana XI, p. 863, 908. Lecanu, II, pp. 95–114. Ritzler, VI, p. 179 note 1.
The diocese contained seven houses of Benedictine monks: Saint-Sever, Lessay, Saint-Sauveur le Vicomte, Montebourg, Hambie, Notre-Dame de Protection (Valognes, 1626, women), and Notre-Dame des Anges (Coutances, 1633, women). There was a house of Premonstratensians at Blanchelande; and two houses of Augustinians, at Saint-Lô and Notre-Dame de Voeu at Cherbourg.Gallia christiana XI, pp. 912–913. Jean, p. 352. All were abolished by will of the Constituent Assembly in 1790, and their properties confiscated and sold. Monastic vows were dissolved and forbidden. On 12 April 1791 the priests of the seminary were expelled for refusing to take the Oath to the Constitution. On 15 January 1793 the turn came of the houses of women to be closed and confiscated, and their inhabitants forcibly ejected.Lecanu, II, p. 106.
History of the Diocese of Avranches
The Cathedral of Avranches, situated in a town of some 2500 inhabitants in 1764, was dedicated to Saint Andrew on 17 September 1211. The Chapter of the cathedral had six dignities (the Dean, the Cantor, the Treasurer, the Scholasticus and the two Archdeacons) and eighteen Canons. The archdeacons were named Archidiaconus Abricensis and Archidiaconus Vallis Moretonii.Pouillés of the diocese of Avranches: The town contained three parishes, one community of male religious and one monastery of monks. The entire diocese contained 170 parishes.Gallia christiana XI, pp. 466–467. Ritzler, VI, p. 61 note 1. In the nineteenth century the diocese of Avranches had 177 parishes and was the smallest diocese in the Province of Rouen: Jean, p. 343.
The Diocese of Avranches was abolished during the French Revolution by the Legislative Assembly, under the Civil Constitution of the Clergy (1790). Its territory was subsumed into the new diocese, called 'Manche', with its seat at Coutances, which was part of the Metropolitanate called the 'Côtes de la Manche' (which included eight new 'départements'), with its seat at Rouen (Seine-Inférieure). When the Concordat of 1801 was struck between Pope Pius VII and First Consul Bonaparte, the Diocese of Avranches was not revived.
List of bishops Bishops of Coutances to 1050
Ereptiolus,Duchesne, pp. 237–238. c. 430–473 Exuperus (or Exuperatus), c. 473–500Gams, p. 542. Leontianus, c.500–512Leontianus attended the Council of Orléans in 511. C. De Clercq, Concilia Galliae, A. 511 – A. 695 (Turnholt: Brepols 1963), pp. 14, 15, 19 (ex Briovere Leontianus). Duchesne, p. 239 no. 1. Possessor, c. 512–523Possessor: Duchesne, p. 239 no. 2. Lauto (Saint-Lô), c. 525–565Lauto was present at the councils of Orléans in 533, 538 and 549. De Clercq, pp. 103, 127, 159 (Lauto episcopus ecclesiae Constantine vel Briouerensis). Gams, p. 542. Duchesne, p. 239 no. 3. Romacharius (Rumpharius), c. 566–600 ?Romacharius took part in the dedication of the church of Nantes before 573. He is mentioned by Venantius Fortunatus. Gregory of Tours, Historia Francorum VIII, 31, notes that he was present at the funeral of his Metropolitan Praetextatus of Rouen in 586. Gams, p. 542. Duchesne, p. 240 no. 4. Saint UrsinusUrsinus possibly however bishop of Constance; the town of Saint-Ursin in Saint-Jean-des-Champs is perhaps named after him. Gams, p. 542. Ulfobertus, c. 600–610 Lupicinus, c. 610–640 Nepus Chairibonus, attested 650Chairibonus attended the Council of Châlon-sur-Saône in 650. Duchesne, p. 240 no. 4. De Clercq, p. 309. Waldomar (or Baldomer), c. 650–660 Hulderic, c. 660–674 Frodemundus, 677–690Frodemundus (Frémond) founded a monastery at Le Ham on 15 August 679; the dedicatory inscription survives. Lecanu, I, pp. 83–86. Duchesne, p. 240, no. 6. WilbertWillebertus is said to have been present at a Council of Rouen in 693. Gallia christiana XI, p. 866. Absent from Mansi and De Clercq. (or Aldebert) Agathius Livin Wilfrid Joshua Leon Angulon Hubert Willard, c. 820– c. 840Widlardus is mentioned in documents of 829 and 835. Duchesne, p. 240 no. 7. Herluin, c. 840–862Herluinus is mentioned in documents between 843 and 862. Duchesne, p. 240 no. 8. Sigenand (or Seginand), c. 862–880Siginandus was present at the Council of Soissons in 866, and at the Council of Ponthion in 876. Duchesne, p. 240 no. 9. Lista (or Listus), c. 880–888/90Bishop Lista was killed at St.-Lô during a siege by the Northmen, after they had sacked Paris and the valley of the Seine, according to the narrative of Abbot Regino of Prüm in his Chronicon, pp. 134–135. Gallia christiana XI, pp. 867–868 Raguenard, c. 898–??? Herlebaud (or Erleboldus)Herlebaldus is mentioned in a charter of Charles the Simple on 22 February 906. Duchesne, p. 241 no. 12. Agebert
Bishops in exile at Rouen Theodoric (Thierry), c. 911Bishop Theoderic was forced into exile at Rouen by the Vikings in 911, according to the Black Book of the Chapter of Coutances. Gallia christiana XI, p. 868; Instrumenta no. 1, pp. 217–224, at p. 217. Herbert I Algerund (Algeronde) Gilbert (Gillebert) Hugues I (Hugh), c. 989–1025Bishop Hugues was present at the dedication of the Abbey of Fécamp in 990. He subscribed a charter for Duke Richard II of Normandy in 1020. Gallia christiana XI, p. 869.
Bishops in Saint–Lô Herbert II, c. 1025–1026, left Rouen and installed himself at Saint–LôHerbert was transferred to Lisieux in his second year as Bishop of Coutances. Gallia christiana XI, p. 869. Robert I, c. 1026–1048, also bishop of Lisieux
from 1050 to 1400
Geoffrey de Montbray, 1049–1093Bishop Geoffrey was consecrated at Rouen on 10 April 1048. He left Saint–Lô and returned the seat of the diocese to Coutances. The new cathedral was consecrated on 8 December 1056. He was justiciar for William the Conqueror. He died at Coutances on 3 February 1093. Raoul, 1093–1110 Roger, c. 1114–1123 Richard de Brix (alias de Bruce), 1124–1131 Algare (Algarus, Algardus or Algarius), 1132–1151, previously prior of Bodmin Richard de Bohon, 1151–1179 Guillaume de Tournebu, 1184–1202 Vivien de L'Étang (de L'Estang), 1202–1208 Hugues de Morville,Hugues had been Archdeacon of Coutances before being elected Bishop. He was consecrated at Rouen by Archbishop Robert Poulain (Pullus). Philippe III granted him the patronage of the churches of Cherbourg and Tourlaville in 1208. Toustain de Billy, I, pp. 310–386. 1208–1238, principal restorer of the cathedral Gilles de Caen (or Gilon), 1246–1248 Jean d'Essay, 1251–1274Jean d'Essay died on 31 October 1274. Toustain de Billy. II, pp. 1–53. Eubel, I, p. 205. Eustache, O.Min., 1282–1291Eustache was provided by the Pope in 1282. He died on 7 August 1291. Toustain de Billy. II, pp. 54–75. Eubel, I, p. 205. Robert de Harcourt,Robert d'Harcourt was elected bishop in 1291. He founded the Collège d'Harcourt at Paris. He died on 7 March 1315. Toustain de Billy. II, pp. 76–114. Eubel, I, p. 205. 1291–1315 Guillaume de Thieuville,Guillaume de Thieville was the last bishop of Coutances to be elected by the Cathedral Chapter. Thereafter bishops were chosen by agreement between the King of France and the Pope. Hayden, The Catholicisms of Coutances ch. 3. Toustain de Billy. II, pp. 115–149. 1315–1345 Louis Herpin d'Erquery,Louis Herpin was the first bishop known to have appointed a suffragan, one Bishop Jean. Hayden, The Catholicisms of Coutances ch. 3. Toustain de Billy. II, pp. 150–162. 1346–1370 Sylvestre de La Cervelle,A rare reformer, Bishop Sylvestre held synods in 1372, 1375 and 1377 to reform the clergy. Hayden, The Catholicisms of Coutances ch. 3. Toustain de Billy. II, pp. 163–172. 1371–1386 Nicolas de Tholon (Toulon), 1386–1387Nicolas de Tholon, probably a Burgundian from Toulon-sur-l'Allier and not from Toulon in the Dauphiné, was a Doctor of law. He was a chaplain of the Cathedral of Autun (1362), then Canon (1365) and Praecentor of Autun. He was Chancellor of the Duchy of Burgundy for Philippe le Hardi, who was then a regent of Charles V. He was appointed to the diocese of Coutances by Pope Clement VII on 5 October 1386. He was transferred to the diocese of Autun on 26 August 1387. He died on 20 December 1400. Toustain de Billy. II, pp. 173–174. Eubel, I, pp. 73, 205. (Avignon Obedience) Guillaume de Crèvecoeur,Guillaume de Crevecoeur was non-resident, almoner of Duke Philip the Bold of Burgundy. He was appointed by Clement VII on 27 August 1387. He died on 10 April 1408. Toustain de Billy. II, pp. 175–188. Eubel, I, 205. 1387–1408
from 1400 to 1600
Aegidius (Gilles des Champs),Aegidius was a native of Rouen, the son of Robert de Champs, Seigneur de Tourville, First-Captain of Rouen. Gilles was Master of theology and a Canon of Rouen (1380), as well as Theologian and Confessor of King Charles VI (1404), who later appointed him one of his Aumoniers. He was ambassador of Charles VI to the Council of Pisa, which opened in March 1409. He was appointed Bishop of Coutances on 2 October 1409 by the Pisan pope Alexander V. He was made a cardinal by John XXIII on 6 June 1411, though he never appeared in the Papal Court to be invested and to receive a titular church. He continued as Administrator of Coutances until his death. He died on 5 (or 15) March 1413. Toustain de Billy, pp. 189–201. Eubel, I, pp. 33, no. 11; 205. 1408–1413 (Appointed by Alexander V) Jean de Marle, 1414–1418Jean de Marle was the son of Henri de Marle, First President of the Parlement of Paris. Jean was a Master of arts, Licenciate in Canon Law, Protonotary Apostolic, and Canon of Bayeux. He was appointed Bishop of Coutances by John XXIII on 2 April 1414, and had the misfortune to be Bishop during the English invasion of Normandy, leading to the Battle of Agincourt. He died on 12 June 1418. Toustain de Billy, pp. 202–206. Eubel, I, p. 205.