Coutances Cathedral

The Diocese of Coutances (–Avranches) (Latin: Dioecesis Constantiensis (–Abrincensis); French: Diocèse de Coutances (–Avranches)) is a Latin diocese of the Catholic Church in France. Its mother church is the Cathedral of Coutance in the commune of Coutances in France. The diocese is suffragan of the Archbishop of Rouen and comprises the entire department of Manche. It was enlarged in 1802 by the addition of the former Diocese of Avranches and of two archdeaconries from the Diocese of Bayeux. Since 1854 its bishops have held the title of Bishop of Coutances (–Avranches). The Bishop of Coutances exercised ecclesiastical jurisdiction over the Channel Islands, mostly in Alderney where the Bishop also held partial authority over the Leader of Alderney, until the Reformation, despite the secular division of Normandy in 1204. The final rupture occurred definitively in 1569 when Queen Elizabeth I demanded that the Bishops hand the island over to the Bishop of Winchester.

The arrondissement of Coutances is an arrondissement of France in the Manche department in the Normandy region. It has 80 communes. Its population is 70,845 (2016), and its area is 1,142.1 km2 (441.0 sq mi).

The canton of Coutances is an administrative division of the Manche department, northwestern France. Its borders were modified at the French canton reorganisation which came into effect in March 2015. Its seat is in Coutances.It consists of the following communes:

Coutances (French pronunciation: [kutɑ̃s] ) is a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France.

Saint-Pierre-de-Coutances (French pronunciation: [sɛ̃ pjɛʁ də kutɑ̃s], literally Saint-Pierre of Coutances) is a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France.

Nicorps (French pronunciation: [nikɔʁ]) is a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France.

Bricqueville-la-Blouette (French pronunciation: [bʁikvil la blwɛt]) is a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in northwestern France.

La Vendelée (French pronunciation: [la vɑ̃dle]) is a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France.

Saussey (French pronunciation: [sosɛ]) is a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France.

Orval (French pronunciation: [ɔʁval]) is a former commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France. On 1 January 2016, it was merged, together with Montchaton, into the new commune of Orval-sur-Sienne.

Orval-sur-Sienne (French pronunciation: [ɔʁval syʁ sjɛn]) is a commune in the department of Manche, northwestern France. The municipality was established on 1 January 2016 by merger of the former communes of Montchaton and Orval.

Monthuchon (French pronunciation: [mɔ̃tyʃɔ̃]) is a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in northwestern France, about 5 km north of Coutances. It is located on the main D971 road from Périers to Coutances, at the south of the Cherbourg peninsular. The parish church, dedicated to St Martin, dates back to the 16th century.Leon Legrand, the former Prefect of Wallis and Futuna, was born in Monthuchon.