Since the general reorganization of the French hierarchy of 8 December 2002, the diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Rennes, Dol, and Saint-Malo.
260–270; [1] he is connected with the cycle of legends that centre about Firmin of Amiens, who is said to have evangelized Bauvais, and is contradicted by Angevin tradition from before the thirteenth century.
[2] Among the names of the Diocese of Angers during the first centuries of its existence are those of Maurilius, disciple of Martin of Tours, and at an earlier period hermit of Chalonnes, who made a vigorous stand against idolatry, and died in 427.
Bernier, who played a great role in the wars of La Vendée and in the negotiations that led to the Concordat, was curé of St. Laud in Angers.
[13] Bishop Nicolas Gellent (1260–1291) held diocesan synods, usually at Pentecost and/or the Feast of Saint Luke (October 18), in 1261, in 1262, in 1263, 1265, 1266, 1269, 1270, 1271, 1272, 1273, 1274, 1275, 1276, 1277, 1280, 1281, 1282, and 1291.
[26] The synod of 1600 was particularly vigorous, with 26 canons, calling for clerical residence in their benefices, rquiring preachers to warn against attending Protestant services, and demanding better education for the clergy.
[34] On 12 June 1654, Bishop Arnaud published a decree forbidding dueling; his strong stand brought a letter of thanks and appreciation from King Louis XIV.
[37] Having returned from Paris, where he subscribed to a declaration of the French hierarchy in favor of Pope Clement XI's bull "Unigenitus", Bishop Michel Poncet de la Rivière (1706–1730) held a diocesan synod on 16 May 1714, in which he preached a powerful denunciation of Jansenism.
[39] Bishop Jean de Vaugirault (1731–1758), who had been Vicar-General of Angers, shortly after his appointment in January 1731 held a synod in which he re-enacted all the legislation of his predecessors.
[50] In 1334, Archbishop Stephen of Tours freed the Chapter from episcopal jurisdiction; in 1468, Pope Paul II did likewise.
[51] In addition, there were seven collegiate churches inside the city of Angers, each served by a Chapter of canons: S. Jelianus, S. Laudus, S. Magnobodus, S. Martinus, S. Maurilius, S. Petrus, and Sanctissima Trinitas.
[55] Struck by the low quality of the formation of the clergy over which he had come to rule, Bishop Henri Arnaud, in 1651, ordered that all aspirants to ordination to the priesthood must undertake a ten-day retreat, under the direction of the Oratorian fathers.
In the first half of the 11th century, it attracted Master Sigo, a student of Fulbert of Chartres (died 1028), who became abbot of Saint-Florent of Saumurs (1055-70).
[59] It also claimed Master Hilduin, another of Fulbert's pupils, who became Prior of Saint-Aubin in Angers and then, in 1033, Abbot of Saint-Nicolas.
By the end of the 14th century, there were five officially recognized universities in France: Paris (1200), Toulouse (1229), Montpellier (1289), Orléans (1312), and Angers (1364).
[66] In consequence of the law of 1875 giving liberty in the matter of higher education, the University of Angers was returned to private hands, and became a Catholic institution.
[67] Formed from the National Assembly on 9 July 1789 during the first stages of the French Revolution, the National Constituent Assembly ordered the replacement of political subdivisions of the ancien régime with subdivisions called "departments", to be characterized by a single administrative city in the center of a compact area.
[69] The National Constituent Assembly then, on 6 February 1790, instructed its ecclesiastical committee to prepare a plan for the reorganization of the clergy.
At the end of May, its work was presented as a draft Civil Constitution of the Clergy, which, after vigorous debate, was approved on 12 July 1790.
[71] In 1791, Bishop Couët du Viviers de Lorry refused to take the oath to the Civil Constitution, and fled to Rouen.
On 6 Febnruary 1791, the departmental electors met in the cathedral of S. Maurice and elected Hugues Pelletier, Prior-curé of Beaufort as their constitutional bishop.
[73] The pope then recreated the French ecclesiastical order, with the bull "Qui Christi Domini," respecting in most ways the changes introduced during the Revolution, including the reduction in the number of archdioceses and dioceses.
In 1219 Pope Callixtus II went in person to Angers where, on 7 September 1119, he consecrated the church of S. Maria Caritatis attached to Ronceray Abbey.
[77] The Diocese of Angers includes Fontevrault, an abbey founded at the close of the eleventh century by Robert d'Arbrissel but which did not survive the Revolution.
On 13 February 1790, it issued a decree which stated that the government would no longer recognize solemn religious vows taken by either men or women.
Members of either sex were free to leave their monasteries or convents if they wished, and could claim an appropriate pension by applying to the local municipal authority.
[86] The Congregation of the Good Shepherd (Soeurs de Nôtre-Dame du Bon Pasteur d'Angers), which has houses in all parts of the world, has its mother-house at Angers,[87] by virtue of the papal brief "Cum christianae" of Pope Gregory XVI of 3 April 1835.