The Vicariate Apostolic of the Western District was elevated to diocese status on 29 September 1850. The current bishop is the Right Reverend Declan Robert Lang , the 9th Bishop of Clifton.
| Tenure
| Incumbent
| Notes
|
| Vicariate Apostolic of the Western District
|
| 28 January 1688 to 1705 | Bishop Philip Michael Ellis , OSB, Vicar Apostolic of the Western District | Brother of the Order of Saint Benedict; resigned
|
| 20 September 1713 to 20 November 1744 | Bishop Matthew Pritchard , OFM, Vicar Apostolic of the Western District | Priest of Order of the Friars Minor; resigned
|
| 22 May 1750 to 11 July 1763 | Bishop Lawrence William York ,OSB, Vicar Apostolic of the Western District | Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of the Western District; retired
|
| 14 April 1770 to 25 November 1797 | Bishop Charles Walmesley, OSB, Vicar Apostolic of the Western District | Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of the Western District died in office
|
| 25 November 1797 to 17 October 1809 | Bishop William Gregory Sharrock , OSB, Vicar Apostolic of the Western District | Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Western District; died in office
|
| 18 October 1809 to 3 March 1829 | Bishop Peter Bernardine Collingridge , OFM, Vicar Apostolic of the Western District | Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of the Western District; died in office
|
| 3 March 1829 to 6 July 1843 | Bishop Peter Augustine Baines , OSB, Vicar Apostolic of the Western District | Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of the Western District; died in office
|
| 9 January 1844 to 16 October 1845 | Bishop Charles Michael Baggs , Vicar Apostolic of the Western District | Priest; died in office
|
| 12 May 1846 to 28 July 1848 | Bishop William Bernard Ullathorne , OSB, Vicar Apostolic of the Western District | Priest of the Order of Saint Benedict; appointed Vicar Apostolic of Central District
|
| 28 July 1848 to 29 September 1850 | Bishop Joseph William Hendren , OFM, Vicar Apostolic of the Western District | Priest of the Friars Minor; becoming Bishop
|
| Diocese of Clifton
|
| 29 September 1850 to 22 June 1851 | Joseph William Hendren , OFM, Bishop of Clifton | Hitherto Vicar Apostolic; appointed Bishop of Nottingham
|
| 27 June 1851 to 27 November 1854 | Thomas Burgess, Bishop of Clifton | Ordained 27 July 1851; died in office
|
| 29 January 1857 to 14 August 1893 | William Hugh Joseph Clifford , Bishop of Clifton | Priest; ordained 15 February 1857; died in office
|
| 16 April 1869 to 15 March 1878 | Bishop Charles Petre Eyre , Apostolic Administrator of the Western District | Priest; appointed Archbishop of Glasgow
|
| 20 March 1894 to 9 November 1901 | William Robert Brownlow , Bishop of Clifton | Priest; ordained 1 May 1894; died in office
|
| 15 March 1902 to 8 February 1931 | George Ambrose Burton , Bishop of Clifton | Priest; ordained 1 May 1902; died in office
|
| 18 December 1931 to 21 September 1948 | William Lee, Bishop of Clifton | Priest; ordained 26 January 1932; died in office
|
| 14 May 1949 to 31 August 1974 | Joseph Edward Rudderham , Bishop of Clifton | Priest of Northampton; ordained 26 July 1949; retired
|
| 20 December 1974 to 27 February 2001 | Mervyn Alban Alexander , Bishop of Clifton | Auxiliary Bishop of Clifton; retired
|
| 27 February 2001 to present | Declan Ronan Lang , Bishop of Clifton | Priest of Portsmouth; ordained 21 March 2001
|
