The new diocese was an extensive one, bounded on the north by the Ohio River, on the south by Tennessee, on the east by Virginia, and on the west by the Kentucky River. It contained, at the time of Bishop Carrell's consecration, only ten churches and seven priests. The Bishop immediately commenced the erection of the Cathedral Church of St. Mary's, which in a year was ready for service. Churches and schools began to spring up in various parts of his diocese, and strides were rapidly made by religion and education during his administration. He introduced into the diocese the Sisters of the Poor of St. Francis, the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, the monks and nuns of the Order of Saint Benedict, the Sisters of the Visitation, and the Ursuline Nuns.