The Diocese of Dedza was formerly under Nyasa Vicariate which in 1951 was split into two vicariates. The upper “Nyasa” vicariate was called Likuni Vicariate, and the lower “Nyasa” vicariate was referred to as Shire Vicariate. The Diocese of Dedza was part of the vast Likuni Vicariate. On 30th April, 1956 Vicariate Apostolic of Dedza was born. It was not yet a diocese but an independent territory of the Catholic Church which comprised of the districts of Dedza, Ntcheu and a small part of Salima. Prior to the establishment of Dedza Apostolic Vicariate in 1956, Zomba Vicariate was born out of Shire Vicariate in 1952 and Shire Vicariate became Blantyre Vicariate. In that very year, 1952, Blantyre was made an Archdiocese. The 1952 Zomba Vicariate covered as much area as Ntcheu District which in 1956 the same Ntcheu District became part of Dedza Apostolic Vicariate. This meant that some priests who originally came from Zomba but were serving the people of God in the parishes of Ntcheu District were incardinated into Dedza Apostolic Vicariate. The Apostolic Vicariate of Dedza was made a Diocese of Dedza in 1959.