List of Catholic bishops in Great Britain

Contents

The following is a list of bishops of the Catholic Church in Great Britain.

The Catholic Church in Great Britain comprises:

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales (CBCEW) consists of all the archbishops, bishops, and auxiliary bishops throughout England and Wales. It also includes the Bishop of the Forces, the Eparch of the Ukrainian Church in Great Britain, the Eparch for Syro-Malabar Catholics in Great Britain, the Ordinary of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, the Bishop of Gibraltar, and the Apostolic Prefect of the Falkland Islands.[1]

The Bishops' Conference of Scotland comprises all archbishops, bishops, and auxiliary bishops in Scotland.[2]

Archbishops and bishops

The 29 Latin Church dioceses in Great Britain are divided into seven ecclesiastical provinces. The Catholic Church in England and Wales has five provinces that are subdivided into 21 dioceses, while the Catholic Church in Scotland has two provinces that are subdivided into eight dioceses.[3][4] Each province consists of a metropolitan archdiocese that is led by an archbishop. Under each archdiocese is at least one suffragan diocese, which is led by a bishop. Many archdioceses also have auxiliary bishops who assist the diocesan bishop.

All archbishops and bishops are appointed by the pope. The pope selects from a list of candidates that is provided by the Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain.[5]

Popes

Pope Adrian IV, born Nicholas Breakspear, is the only British-born pope in history. He became pope in 1154, serving until his death in 1159.[6]

Cardinals

Currently, there are four British cardinals.[7]

CardinalTitleYear appointedRef.
Vincent NicholsArchbishop Emeritus of Westminster2014[8]
Michael FitzgeraldApostolic Nuncio Emeritus to Egypt2019[9]
Arthur RochePrefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments2022[10]
Timothy RadcliffeMaster Emeritus of the Order of Preachers2024[11]

Latin church archbishops and bishops

Episcopal Conference of England and Wales

Ecclesiastical province mapArchdiocese or dioceseDiocese's coat of armsArchbishop or bishopTitleBishop's coat of armsRef.
Ecclesiastical Province of Birmingham
Archdiocese of BirminghamBernard LongleyArchbishop of Birmingham[12]
David EvansAuxiliary Bishop of Birmingham
Timothy Menezes
Richard Walker
Diocese of CliftonBosco MacDonaldBishop of Clifton[13]
Diocese of ShrewsburyMark DaviesBishop of Shrewsbury[14]
Ecclesiastical Province of Cardiff-Menevia
Archdiocese of Cardiff-MeneviaMark O'TooleArchbishop of Cardiff-Menevia[15]
Diocese of WrexhamPeter BrignallBishop of Wrexham[16]
Ecclesiastical Province of Liverpool
Archdiocese of LiverpoolJohn SherringtonArchbishop of Liverpool[17]
Thomas NeylonAuxiliary Bishop of Liverpool
Diocese of HallamRalph HeskettBishop of Hallam[18]
Diocese of Hexham and NewcastleStephen WrightBishop of Hexham and Newcastle[19]
Diocese of LancasterPaul SwarbrickBishop of Lancaster[20]
Diocese of LeedsMarcus StockBishop of Leeds[21]
Diocese of Middlesbroughsede vacanteBishop of Middlesbrough[22]
Diocese of SalfordJohn ArnoldBishop of Salford[23]
Ecclesiastical Province of Southwark
Archdiocese of SouthwarkJohn WilsonArchbishop of Southwark[24]
Paul HendricksAuxiliary Bishop of Southwark[25]
Diocese of Arundel and Brightonsede vacanteBishop of Arundel and Brighton
Diocese of PlymouthNicholas HudsonBishop of Plymouth[26]
Diocese of PortsmouthPhilip EganBishop of Portsmouth[27]
Ecclesiastical Province of Westminster
Archdiocese of WestminsterRichard MothArchbishop of Westminster[28]
Paul McAleenanAuxiliary Bishop of Westminster[29]
James CurryAuxiliary Bishop of Westminster[30]
Diocese of BrentwoodAlan WilliamsBishop of Brentwood[31]
Diocese of East AngliaPeter CollinsBishop of East Anglia[32]
Diocese of NorthamptonDavid OakleyBishop of Northampton[33]
Diocese of NottinghamPatrick McKinneyBishop of Nottingham[34]

Episcopal Conference of Scotland

Ecclesiastical province mapArchdiocese or dioceseDiocese's coat of armsArchbishop or bishopTitleBishop's coat of armsRef.
Ecclesiastical Province of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh
Archdiocese of St Andrews and EdinburghLeo CushleyArchbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh[35]
Diocese of AberdeenHugh GilbertBishop of Aberdeen[36]
Diocese of Argyll and the IslesBrian McGeeBishop of Argyll & the Isles[37]
Diocese of DunkeldAndrew McKenzieBishop of Dunkeld[38]
Diocese of GallowayFrancis DouganBishop of Galloway[39]
Ecclesiastical Province of Glasgow
Archdiocese of GlasgowWilliam NolanArchbishop of Glasgow[40]
Diocese of MotherwellJoseph ToalBishop of Motherwell[41]
Diocese of PaisleyJohn KeenanBishop of Paisley[42]

Immediately subject to the Holy See

The following dioceses do not fall directly under an Ecclesiastical Province, although they may be associated with one, but are immediately subject to the Holy See.

Ecclesiastical province mapArchdiocese or dioceseDiocese's coat of armsArchbishop or bishopTitleBishop's coat of armsRef.
Bishopric of the Forces in Great Britain
Bishopric of the Forces in Great BritainPaul MasonBishop of the Forces[43]
Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham
Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of WalsinghamDavid WallerBishop of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham[44]

Bishops emeriti

ProvinceBishopTitleDiocese
BirminghamPhilip Pargeterauxiliary bishop emeritusArchdiocese of Birmingham
Leonard William Kennyauxiliary bishop emeritusArchdiocese of Birmingham
Declan Langbishop emeritusDiocese of Clifton
Cardiff-MeneviaGeorge Stackarchbishop emeritusArchdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia
Tom Burnsbishop emeritusDiocese of Menevia
Edwin Reganbishop emeritusDiocese of Wrexham
LiverpoolPatrick Kellyarchbishop emeritusArchdiocese of Liverpool
Malcolm McMahonarchbishop emeritusArchdiocese of Liverpool
Tom Williamsauxiliary bishop emeritusArchdiocese of Liverpool
John Rawsthornebishop emeritusDiocese of Hallam
Robert Byrnebishop emeritusDiocese of Hexham and Newcastle
Séamus Cunninghambishop emeritusDiocese of Hexham and Newcastle
Michael Campbellbishop emeritusDiocese of Lancaster
Arthur Rochebishop emeritusDiocese of Leeds
John Crowleybishop emeritusDiocese of Middlesbrough
Terry Draineybishop emeritusDiocese of Middlesbrough
Terence Brainbishop emeritusDiocese of Salford
SouthwarkKevin McDonaldarchbishop emeritusArchdiocese of Southwark
Patrick Lynchauxiliary bishop emeritusArchdiocese of Southwark
Kieran Conrybishop emeritusDiocese of Arundel and Brighton
Crispian Hollisbishop emeritusDiocese of Portsmouth
WestminsterVincent Nicholsarchbishop emeritusArchdiocese of Westminster
Alan Hopesbishop emeritusDiocese of East Anglia
Peter Doylebishop emeritusDiocese of Northampton
Saint Andrews and EdinburghPeter Moranbishop emeritusDiocese of Aberdeen
Stephen Robsonbishop emeritusDiocese of Dunkeld
Personal OrdinariateKeith Newtonordinary emeritusPersonal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham

Eastern Catholic eparchs

British eparchies that are immediately subject to the Holy See

ChurchArcheparchy or eparchyEparchy's coat of armsArcheparch or eparchTitleEparch's coat of armsRef.
Ukrainian Greek Catholic ChurchEparchy of the Holy Family of LondonKenneth NowakowskiEparch of the Holy Family of London[45]
Syro-Malabar Catholic ChurchSyro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Great BritainJoseph SrampickalSyro-Malabar Bishop of Great Britain[46]

Eparchs emeriti

Eparchs/ BishopsTitleEparchy
Hlib Lonchynabishop emeritusEparchy of the Holy Family of London

References

  1. 1."Bishops' Conference". Catholic Church in England and Wales. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  2. 2."Bishops". Bishops' Conference of Scotland. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  3. 3."Dioceses". Catholic Church in England and Wales. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  4. 4."The Catholic Church in Scotland". The Bishops' Conference of Scotland. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  5. 5.Heinlein, Michael R. (21 March 2024). "How are bishops selected?". The Catholic Review. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  6. 6.Johnson, Eric (25 April 2025). "The British Pope most people have never heard of". BBC. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  7. 7.Drummond, Michael (5 May 2025). "What are the chances of a British pope?". Sky News. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  8. 8."Vincent Nichols becomes a cardinal in Rome ceremony". BBC. 22 February 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  9. 9."Concistoro Ordinario Pubblico: Assegnazione dei Titoli, 05.10.2019" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 5 October 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  10. 10."Archbishop Arthur Roche created Cardinal by Pope Francis". Catholic Church in England and Wales. 29 August 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  11. 11.Walsh, Simon (11 October 2024). "Fr Timothy Radcliffe OP named by Pope Francis as fourth English cardinal". Church Times. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  12. 12."Our bishops". The Archdiocese of Birmingham. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  13. 13."Bishop Bosco MacDonald". Clifton Diocese. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  14. 14."About the Bishop". Diocese of Shrewsbury. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  15. 15."Archbishop Mark O'Toole". Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  16. 16."The Bishop". Diocese of Wrexham. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  17. 17."Our leadership". Archdiocese of Liverpool. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  18. 18."Bishop Ralph". Diocese of Hallam. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  19. 19."Bishop Stephen Wright". Diocese of Hexham & Newcastle. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  20. 20."Our Leadership". The Catholic Diocese of Lancaster. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  21. 21."Right Reverend Marcus Nigel Stock, MA, STL, Tenth Bishop of Leeds". Diocese of Leeds. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  22. 22."Right Reverend Marcus Stock". Diocese of Middlesbrough. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  23. 23."The Bishop". Diocese of Salford. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  24. 24."Archbishop John Wilson". Archdiocese of Southwark. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  25. 25."Bishop Paul Hendricks: Auxiliary Bishop for the Kent Area". Archdiocese of Southwark. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  26. 26."Bishop Nicholas Celebrates First Public Mass at Plymouth Cathedral". Diocese of Plymouth. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  27. 27."Bishop Philip Egan". Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  28. 28."Bishop Richard Moth appointed new Archbishop of Westminster". Diocese of Westminster. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  29. 29."Bishop Paul McAleenan". Diocese of Westminster. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  30. 30."Bishop James Curry". Diocese of Westminster. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  31. 31."The Rt Rev Alan Williams". Diocese of Brentwood. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  32. 32."Bishop Peter Collins". The Diocese of East Anglia. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  33. 33."Bishop David Oakley". The Catholic Diocese of Northampton. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  34. 34."Our Bishop". The Catholic Diocese of Nottingham. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  35. 35."Archbishop". Archdiocese of St. Andrews & Edinburgh. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  36. 36."Rt Rev. Hugh Gilbert OSB". Diocese of Aberdeen. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  37. 37."Rt. Rev. Brian Thomas McGee". Roman Catholic Diocese of Argyll & the Isles. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  38. 38."Bishop". Diocese of Dunkeld. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  39. 39."Bishop Dougan". The Diocese of Galloway. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  40. 40."Archbishop". Archdiocese of Glasgow. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  41. 41."Bishop of Motherwell". Diocese of Motherwell. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  42. 42."Bishop Keenan". Diocese of Paisley. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  43. 43."Bishop-in-Ordinary to His Majesty's Armed Forces". Roman Catholic Bishopric Of The Forces. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  44. 44."Our Bishop". The Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  45. 45."The Right Reverend Kenneth Nowakowski". Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  46. 46."Eparchial Bishop". Catholic Syro-Malabar Eparchy of Great Britain. Retrieved 26 December 2025.