Fonds F982 - Catholic Church. Archdiocese of Kingston fonds

The Diocese of Kingston was established on 27 January 1826 by a Papal Bull from Pope Leo XII, with the Right Reverand Alexander Macdonnell proclaimed as Bishop of Kingston and Regiopolis. A subsequent directive, dated 25 February 1826, confirmed that Kingston was created a separate See and suffragan to Quebec. Prior to this time, the Diocese was a part of the Vicariate Apostolic of Upper Canada, which was erected on 12 January 1819.

The Diocese was reduced in size twice by the creation of the Diocese of Peterborough on 11 July 1882, combining elements of the Vicariate Apostolic of Northern Canada (Muskoka and Parry Sound Districts) and the Diocese of Kingston (Peterborough, Northumberland, Durham, and Victoria Counties), and the Diocese of Alexandria in Ontario (from the Glengarry, Stormont, and Cornwall Counties of the Diocese of Kingston) on 28 January 1890.

On 28 December 1889, Pope Leo XIII declared Kingston a Metropolitan See, thereby creating the Archidiocese of Kingston. Alexandria, which became Alexandria-Cornwall on 17 September 1976, was declared suffragan to Kingston Archdiocese on 28 January 1890. The Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie was created on 16 September 1904, and became the third suffragan of the Archdiocese of Kingston.