Diocese of Ribe explained

Jurisdiction:	Diocese
Ribe
Local:	Ribe Stift
Coat:	Coat of arms of the Diocese of Ribe.svg
Coat Size:	100px
Population:	355,839
Population As Of:	2020
Members:	295,860 (83.1%)
Denomination:	Church of Denmark
Cathedral:	Our Lady Cathedral of Ribe
Bishop:	Elof Westergaard

The Diocese of Ribe (Danish: Ribe Stift) is a diocese within the Church of Denmark. Ribe Cathedral serves as the central cathedral within the diocese. Since 2014, the bishop has been Elof Westergaard.^{[1] [2]}

The former Roman Catholic Diocese of Ribe was formed in 948 and oversaw much of southern Jutland. During the Protestant Reformation, the diocese converted to Lutheranism alongside the formation of the Church of Denmark.^[3] Thus, the diocese in its current form was established in 1536.

As of 2020, the diocese oversees 219 individual churches in 200 sogns, which are divided among 8 deaneries. The diocese covers a region with a population of 355,839, of which 295,860 are members of the church.^[4]

List of Bishops

• Johann Wenth, 1537–1541
• Hans Tausen, 1541–1561
• Poul Madsen, 1562–1569
• Hans Laugesen, 1569–1594
• Peder Jensen Hegelund, 1595–1614^[5]
• Iver Iversen, 1614–1629^[6]
• Jens Dinesen Jersin, 1629–1634
• Hans Borchardsen, 1635–1643
• Erik Monrad, 1643–1650
• Peder Jensen Kragelund, 1650–1681
• Christen Jensen Lodberg, 1681–1693
• Ancher Anchersen, 1693–1701
• Christian Muus, 1701–1712
• Johannes Ocksen, 1712–1713
• Laurids Thura, 1713–1731
• Matthias Anchersen, 1731–1741
• Hans Adolph Brorson, 1741–1764
• Jørgen Bloch Carstens, 1764–1773
• Eiler Eilersen Hagerup, 1773–1774
• Tønne Bloch, 1774–1786
• Stephan Middelboe, 1786–1811
• Victor Christian Hjort, 1811–1818
• Stephan Tetens, 1819
• Jens Michael Hertz, 1819–1825
• Conrad Daniel Koefoed, 1825–1831
• Nicolai Fogtmann, 1831–1833
• Tage Christian Müller, 1833–1849
• Jacob Brøgger Daugaard, 1850–1867^[7]
• Carl Frederik Balslev, 1867–1895^[8]
• Carl Viggo Gøtzche, 1895–1901
• Peter Gabriel Koch, 1901–1922^[9]
• Oluf Peter Kirstein Vogn Olesen, 1923–1930
• Søren Westergaard Mejsen, 1930–1939
• Carl Immanuel Scharling, 1939–1949
• Morten Christian Lindegaard, 1949–1956
• Henrik Dons Christensen, 1956–1980
• Helge Skov, 1980–1991
• Niels Holm, 1991–2003
• Elisabeth Dons Christensen, 2003–2014
• Elof Westergaard, 2014–present

Notes and References

1. Web site: 3 April 2014. Lemviger ny biskop i Ribe. live. 2021-02-03. TV Midtvest. da. https://web.archive.org/web/20200811214825/https://www.tvmidtvest.dk/midt-og-vestjylland/lemviger-ny-biskop-i-ribe . 2020-08-11 .
2. Web site: Andreasen. Stinne. 1 June 2014. Se billederne: Elof Westergaard blev bispeviet i Ribe. live. 3 February 2021. Kristeligt Dagblad. da. https://web.archive.org/web/20140715161337/http://www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk/2014-06-01/se-billederne-bispevielse-i-ribe . 2014-07-15 .
3. Web site: Ribe Bispedømme/Stift. live. 2021-02-03. graenseforeningen.dk. Grænseforeningen. da. https://web.archive.org/web/20191206142032/https://graenseforeningen.dk/om-graenselandet/leksikon/ribe-bispedoemmestift . 2019-12-06 .
4. Web site: Om Ribe Stift. 2021-02-03. ribestift.dk. Ribe Stift. da.
5. Book: Smith, S. Birket. Dansk Biografisk Lexikon. Gyldendal. 1893. Bricka. Carl Frederik. VII: Hansen–Holmsted. Copenhagen. 211. da. Hegelund, Peder Jensen. Project Runeberg.
6. Book: Bricka, Carl Frederik. Dansk Biografisk Lexikon. Gyldendal. 1893. VII: Hansen–Holmsted. Copenhagen. 323. da. Project Runeberg.
7. Book: Strunk, Adolph. Samlinger til en beskrivende Catalog over Portraiter af Danske, Norske og Holstenere. J.H. Schultz. 1865. Copenhagen. 131. da. Project Runeberg.
8. Book: Bricka, Carl Frederik. Dansk Biografisk Lexikon. Gyldendal. 1887. I: Aaberg - Beaymelle. Copenhagen. 468. da. Project Runeberg.
9. Book: Krak, Ove. Kraks Blå Bog: Tre tusinde nulevende Danske mænd og Kvinders levnedsløb indtil aar 1910. 1910. Copenhagen. 232. da. Project Runeberg.