The Roman Catholic Diocese of Beauvais, Noyon, and Senlis (Latin: Dioecesis Bellovacensis, Noviomensis et Silvanectensis; French: Diocèse de Beauvais, Noyon et Senlis) is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in France. The diocese encompasses the department of Oise in the Region of Picardie. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Reims. The current bishop is Jacques Benoit-Gonnin, appointed in 2010.
The Diocese of Beauvais was traditionally founded by St. Lucian (Lucianus, Lucien) in the 3rd century. After 1013 the Bishops were simultaneously Counts of Beauvais, and one of the Peers of France. The Bishop had a role in the coronation ceremony of the French king, and played a role in politics; Roger II died during the First Crusade, Philip of Dreux was a participant in the Third Crusade and the Battle of Bouvines, and Pierre Cauchon was involved in the trial of St. Joan of Arc.
The diocese was abolished during the French Revolution, and was recreated as part of the Diocese of Amiens in 1802. The Diocese of Beauvais was re-established in 1822, and the Diocese of Beauvais, Noyon, and Senlis was created in 1851, comprising the territories of all three formerly separate dioceses. Beauvais Cathedral serves as the seat of the new diocese.
Simon II of Clermont-Nesle (1301–1312/13), previously Bishop of Noyon son of Simon II of Clermont, Seigneur of NesleJean de Marigny (1313–1347), later Archbishop of Rouen, Lord Chancellor of France (1329), brother of Enguerrand de MarignyWilliam Bertran (1347–1356), previously Bishop of Bayeux, brother of Robert VIII Bertrand de BricquebecPhilippe of Alençon (1356–1360), later Archbishop of Rouen, son of Charles II of AlençonCardinal John of Dormans (1360–1368), previously Bishop of Lisieux, Lord Chancellor of France (1357-1371), created cardinal in 1368, resigned shortly after (died in 1373)John of Augerant (1368–1375), previously Bishop of ChartresMilo of Dormans (1375–1387), previously Bishop of Angers and previously Bishop of Bayeux, President-Clerk of the Court of Finances of Paris (1376-1380), Lord Chancellor of France (1380-1383), son of Guillaume de Dormans and nephew of Jean de Dormans (above)William of Vienne (1387–1388), previously Bishop of Autun, later Archbishop of RouenThomas of Estouteville (1388–1395), relative of Cardinal Guillaume d'Estouteville, brother of Bishop Guillaume d'Estouteville IerLouis of Orléans (1395–1397), previously Bishop of Poitiers, son of Philip, Duke of Orléans who is the fifth son of King Philip VI of France, died in Jerusalem 1397Peter of Savoisy (1398–1412), previously Bishop of Le MansBernard of Chevenon (1413–1420), previously Bishop of AmiensPierre Cauchon (1420–1432), condemned St.Joan of Arc, later Bishop of LisieuxJean Juvenal des Ursins (1433–1444), later Bishop of Laon, later Archbishop of ReimsGuillaume d’Hellande (1444–1462)Jean de Bar (1462–1488)Louis de Villiers (1497–1521), the last prelate elected, hereinafter the prelates are appointed by the King of FranceAntoine Lascaris de Tende (1523–1530), previously Bishop of Riez, later Bishop of Limoges, and later again Bishop of RiezCharles de Villiers (1530–1535), previously Bishop of LimogesCardinal Odet de Coligny de Châtillon (Administrator, 1535–1563), Cardinal (1533-1563), son of Marshal of France Gaspard I de Coligny, brother of Admiral Gaspard II de Coligny, converted to Calvinism, deprived of all his offices and benefices, and excommunicated on 31 March 1563Cardinal Charles de Bourbon (1569–1575), son of Charles, Duke of Vendôme, supported by the French Holy League as rightful King of FranceNicolas Fumée (1575–1593), previously Abbot of Saint-Pierre de la Couture, chaplain to the King of FranceRené Potier (1596–1616), Grand Aumônier of Queen Anne of AustriaAugustin Potier (1617–1650), Grand Aumônier of Queen Anne of Austria, nephew of René Potier (above)Nicolas Choart de Buzenval (1651–1679)Cardinal Toussaint de Forbin-Janson (1679–1713)François Honoré Antoine de Beauvilliers de Saint-Aignan (1713–1728), previously Abbot of Saint-Germer-de-Fly, resigned from throne due to supposed incompetence, later Commendatory Abbot of the Abbey of St. Victor, MarseilleCardinal Étienne-René Potier de Gesvres (1728–1772)François-Joseph de la Rochefoucauld (1772–1792), defended the rights of the First Estate at the Estates-General of 1789, arrested and imprisoned, killed by a mob along with his brother, Pierre-Louis de La Rochefoucauld-Bayers.Jean-Baptiste Massieu (1802–1805)Claude-Louis de Lesquen (1823–1825), later Bishop of RennesFrançois Hyacinthe Jean Feutrier (1825–1830)Jean-Louis-Simon Lemercier (1832–1838)Pierre-Marie Cottret (1838–1841)Joseph-Armand Gignoux (1842–1878)François Edouard Hasley (1878–1880)Désiré-Joseph Dennel (1880–1884), later Bishop of ArrasJoseph-Maxence Peronne (1884–1892)Frédéric Fuzet (1892–1900), later Archbishop of RouenMarie-Jean-Célestin Douais (1900–1915)Eugène-Stanislas Le Senne (1915–1937), died 14 March 1937Félix Roeder (1937–1955), retired 21 February 1955Pierre-Mararie Lacointe (1955–1965), died 23 April 1965Stéphane Émile Alfred Desmazières (1965–1978), retired 20 September 1978Jacques André Marie Jullien (1978–1984), later Coadjutor-Archbishop of Rennes, 21 May 1984Adolphe-Maria Gustave Hardy (1985–1995), retired 13 May 1995Guy Marie Alexandre Thomazeau (1995–2002), later Archbishop of Montpellier, August 28, 2002Jean-Paul James (2003-2009), later Bishop of NantesJacques Benoit-Gonnin, current occupant since 18 March 2010
