Paul Swarbrick

Contents

Paul Swarbrick (born 2 July 1958) is a Roman Catholic prelate, who has served as Bishop of Lancaster since 2018.

Early life and education

Born on 2 July 1958 at Garstang, Lancashire, England,[1][2][3] Swarbrick was educated at St.Mary and Michael’s Primary School, Garstang,[2] and Lancaster Royal Grammar School, an all-boys school in Lancashire's county town.[3]

A distant cousin of Mgr Thomas Adamson, he prepared for Holy Orders at Ushaw College, a seminary in County Durham.[4]

Ordained ministry

On 10 July 1982, at the age of 24, he was ordained a priest by Bishop Brian Foley at St Mary and St Michael's Church, Garstang, in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lancaster.[1][5]

Swarbrick served as Assistant Priest at St Mary's Church, Kells, Whitehaven (1982–1983), and at St Maria Goretti Church, Preston (1983–1984),[3] before moving to Blackpool, where he served as chaplain to St Mary's Catholic High School and Assistant Priest at St Cuthbert's Church from 1984 to 1990.[6] From 1990 to 2005, he undertook missionary work in the Diocese of Monze, Zambia.[7] Returning to England, he was an assistant priest at Church of St Thomas of Canterbury and the English Martyrs, Preston.[7] Then, he served as parish priest of Sacred Heart, Preston and St Walburge, Preston (2007 to 2010) and of Our Lady and St Michael, Workington (2010 to 2018).[7]

Episcopal ministry

On 12 February 2018, Pope Francis appointed him Bishop of Lancaster,[4][6] being consecrated on 9 April 2018 by his predecessor, Bishop Michael Campbell.[1]

References

  1. 1.[1.2][1.3]Cheney, David M. "Bishop Paul Swarbrick". Catholic-Hierarchy. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  2. 2.[2.2]"Pope appoints new bishop for UK diocese of Lancaster". Vatican News. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  3. 3.[3.2][3.3]"Former Pupil Paul Swarbrick Named Bishop of Lancaster". Lancaster Royal Grammar School. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  4. 4.[4.2]Gledhill, Ruth (12 February 2018). "Pope Francis appoints Canon Paul Swarbrick as new Bishop of Lancaster". Catholic Herald. Archived from the original on 24 November 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  5. 5.Gledhill, Ruth (12 February 2018). "Parish priest expresses 'shock' after Pope Francis makes him a bishop". Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  6. 6.[6.2]"Our Bishop". The Diocese of Lancaster. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  7. 7.[7.2][7.3]"Lancaster, Bishop of, (Rc), (Rt Rev. Paul Swarbrick) (born 2 July 1958)". Who's Who 2021. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2022.