the present diocese of portland includes all of the state of maine and is part of the province of boston. established by pius ix, july 29, 1853, the diocese of portland then included the territorial limits of the present states of maine and new hampshire. previous to that time it was under the jurisdiction of the bishop of baltimore and later of the bishop of boston. in 1884 the diocese was divided, new hampshire being made a separate diocese and the episcopal see located at manchester. bishop richard. j. malone, th.d., who was installed march 31, 2004, serves as the present bishop of the diocese.