Bishop’s Office
Pope Leo XIV appoints Bishop Nicholas Hudson as new Bishop of Plymouth
His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has appointed the Right Reverend Nicholas Hudson as the new Bishop of Plymouth.
Ordained as a priest for the Archdiocese of Southwark in 1986, Bishop Hudson has been an Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster and Titular Bishop of St Germans in Cornwall since 2014.
On hearing of his appointment, Bishop Hudson, Bishop-elect of Plymouth said:
“I am deeply grateful to Pope Leo XIV for appointing me; and I do not take lightly the trust he has placed in me. I am aware how long the clergy, religious and laity of Plymouth Diocese have waited for a bishop. I come with a desire to listen and to learn. I hope we can apply all the strengths of synodality to discern together ways to deepen the diocese’s outreach, mission and presence to the people of Cornwall, Devon and Dorset. I look forward greatly to meeting all who belong to the diocese.
“I ask their prayers for me as I prepare to be their bishop – as I most surely pray for them.”
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster and President of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, said:
“For the Diocese of Plymouth, the appointment of Bishop Nicholas Hudson to be their bishop is most welcome news. Bishop Hudson will serve the Diocese of Plymouth with great generosity and sensitivity, bringing to that leadership his wide experience of the Church both at home and abroad.
“I congratulate Bishop Nicholas on this appointment. He is eager to get started! Here in Westminster, we will miss him very much indeed. I thank him for the true service he has given to the people, the parishes, the priests and to his fellow bishops during his years with us. I assure him of our prayers, support and profound good wishes for his new and important ministry in Plymouth.”
Canon Paul Cummins, Diocesan Administrator, said:
“In this Jubilee Year of Hope, today’s appointment of Bishop Nicholas is an answer to our prayers. Bishop Nicholas is a priest of some 39 years’ experience in parish ministry, seminary and lay formation, diocesan, national and international leadership – this experience, alongside his pastoral gifts will serve him well in leading our diocese. We give thanks to the Holy Father for this appointment and look forward to Bishop Nicholas’s arrival with joy and with hope.”
Archbishop John Wilson, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Southwark, shared his delight about the appointment:
“I am delighted to hear the joyful news that our Holy Father Pope Leo has appointed Bishop Nicholas Hudson as the next Bishop of Plymouth. Bishop Nicholas brings great experience as a former priest of the Archdiocese of Southwark, Rector of the Venerable English College in Rome, and Auxiliary Bishop in Westminster. His personal gifts and passion for sharing the Gospel of Christ will bring encouragement to the clergy, consecrated religious, and lay faithful of the Church in Plymouth. As Metropolitan, it is a special pleasure to welcome Bishop Nicholas to the Province. I thank Canon Paul Cummins for his outstanding service as Administrator and join with everyone in the Diocese in praying for Bishop Nicholas as he prepares to take up the honour of being their shepherd.”
The date for Bishop Hudson’s installation as Diocesan Bishop will be on the 29 November 2025 at the Cathedral Church of Saint Mary and Saint Boniface, Plymouth.
Biography of Bishop-elect Nicholas Hudson
Bishop Nicholas Hudson was born on 14 February 1959 in Hammersmith, London. He had an English father, Richard Hudson, who taught English at Kings College School, Wimbledon, for some 37 years; and a French mother, Marie-Charlotte, née Valdelièvre, of Paris. He is the fourth of five boys. His father was from an army family, but considered himself a West Country boy having lived in Parkstone, Poole, then Crownhill, Plymouth, and Yelverton; and having been schooled at Clifton College before entering Exeter College, Oxford.
Bishop Nicholas enjoyed 11 years’ education from the Jesuits at Wimbledon College between 1966 and 1977. He was awarded an exhibition to Jesus College, Cambridge, where he studied history for three years. He entered the Venerable English College, Rome, in 1981 to embark upon six years’ study in philosophy and theology at the Gregorian University. He was ordained as a deacon for the Archdiocese of Southwark at Palazzola, Rome by the 7th Bishop of Plymouth, the Right Reverend Cyril Restieaux, in 1985.
Bishop Nicholas was ordained priest at the Sacred Heart, Wimbledon, by Archbishop Michael Bowen of Southwark in 1986. His first appointment was to the parish of St Thomas of Canterbury in Canterbury from 1987 to 1991. This was followed by a year’s study of catechetics in Louvain by way of preparation to be Director of the Southwark Diocesan Christian Education Centre for some eight years while also being engaged in pastoral ministry at English Martyrs, Streatham.
The year 2000 saw his appointment as Vice-Rector and then, in 2004, as Rector, of the Venerable English College in Rome until 2013. He was for a short time Parish Priest of Sacred Heart, Wimbledon, before being appointed as Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster in 2014 and Titular Bishop of St Germans in Cornwall. As Auxiliary Bishop he has particular pastoral responsibility for the Central and Eastern areas of the Diocese, for Evangelisation and Catechesis, Marriage and Family Life, Enclosed Religious, Youth Ministry, and Justice and Peace. He is a trustee of the Cardinal Hume Centre, Providence Row, and the Romero Trust.
Within the Bishops’ Conference, he is Chair of the Department for International Affairs, with particular responsibility for European affairs, and a regular attender of COMECE. He is also Moderator of the Holy Land Coordination Group. In 2023, he was appointed a Papal Nominee to the Synod on Synodality. In 2024 he was elected by the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales as their Episcopal Secretary.
His great uncle Noel Baring Hudson was Anglican Bishop of Newcastle and then Bishop of Ely.
Sede Vecante
Diocesan Administrator
Canon Paul Cummins
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Previous Bishops
By Letters Apostolic (Universalis ecclesiae) of Pope Bl. Pius IX, dated 29 September 1850, the Diocese of Plymouth was erected, with the episcopal see fixed at the Pro-Cathedral Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St John the Evangelist, Stonehouse, Plymouth (1850-1858), consecrated on 20 December 1807, then at the Cathedral Church of SS. Mary and Boniface, Plymouth (1858- ), consecrated on 22 September 1880.
The Diocese of Plymouth was an original suffragan see within the Province of Westminster. At first, the Diocese of Plymouth comprised the counties of Cornwall, Devon and Dorset, with the Isles of Scilly.
By Letters Apostolic (Si qua est) of Pope St Pius X, dated 28 October 1911, the Province of Westminster was divided into three new provinces of Birmingham, Liverpool and Westminster, with the Diocese of Plymouth being made part of the Province of Birmingham. The episcopal see remained at the Cathedral Church of 55. Mary and Boniface, Plymouth (1858- ).
By Letters Apostolic (Romanorum pontificum) of Pope St Paul VI, dated 28 May 1965, the Province of Westminster was divided further into two new provinces of Southwark and Westminster, with the Diocese of Plymouth being made part of the newly erected Province of Southwark. The episcopal see remained at the Cathedral Church of 55. Mary and Boniface, Plymouth (1858- ).
The Diocese today comprises the counties of Cornwall, Devon, and Dorset (excluding the districts of Bournemouth and Christchurch), with the Isles of Scilly. In addition, the Diocese includes the parish of Kinson and Ensbury Park (in the district of Bournemouth).
Patron of the Diocese I St. Boniface, 5 June.
Feast of the Dedication of the Cathedral I 22 September
a. (* APOSTOLIC ADMINISTRATOR:)
RT REV. JOSEPH WILLIAM FRANCIS HENDREN OFM Rec. I born 19 October 1791 at
Birmingham • professed (Order of Friars Minor – Recollect) 2 August 1806 at Abergavenny • ordained priest (Order of Friars Minor – Recollect) 28 September 1815 at Giffard House, Wolverhampton • ordained titular Bishop of Verinopolis and appointed Vicar Apostolic for the Western District 10 September 1848 by Rt Rev. Dom. William Bernard Ullathorne OSB at the Church of St Mary on the Quay, Bristol • translated 29 September 1850 to restored Diocese of Clifton • appointed 29 September 1850 Apostolic Administrator of Diocese of Plymouth until 27 June 1851 • translated 27 June 1851 to restored Diocese of Nottingham • appointed 25 February 1853 titular Bishop of Martyropolis and retired to Birmingham then later to Taunton • died 14 November 1866 at Poor Clares Convent, Taunton aged 75
• buried at the Poor Clares Convent Lodge, Taunton • reinterred 4 October 1997 at the Church of St George, Taunton.
• Poor Clares Convent, Billet Street, TAUNTON TA1 3NN
RT REV. DR GEORGE ERRINGTON
1st Bishop of Plymouth
The Bishop was born 18 September 1804 at Clints Hall, Marske, Richmond • ordained priest (Northern District) 22 December 1827 at the Venerable English College, Rome, Italy • ordained Bishop of restored Diocese of Plymouth 25 July 1851 by Cardinal Nicholas Wiseman at the Cathedral Church of St John the Evangelist, Salford • translated 30 March 1855 to titular Archbishop of Trapezus and appointed coadjutor Archbishop of Westminster • appointed 16 September 1855 Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Clifton until 15 February 1857 • resigned 22 July 1860 as coadjutor Archbishop of Westminster • appointed 1 September 1865 parish priest of the Church of St Mary of the Isle, Douglas, Isle of Man • nominated 27 January 1868 Apostolic Delegate in Scotland but declined the appointment 12 August 1868 • appointed Council Father at First Vatican Council 8 December 1869 to 20 October 1870 • retired 1 September 1874 to Prior Park, Bath • died 19 January 1886 at Prior Park College, Bath aged 81 • buried at the College Chapel of Our Lady of the Snows, Prior Park, Bath.
• Prior Park College, Ralph Allan Drive, BATH BA2 5AH
RT REV. DR WILLIAM JOSEPH VAUGHAN
2nd Bishop of Plymouth
The Bishop was born 14 February 1814 at London, Middlesex• ordained priest (Western District) 10 March 1838 at the College Chapel of Our Lady of the Snows, Prior Park, Bath • ordained Bishop of Plymouth 16 September 1855 by Cardinal Nicholas Wiseman at the Pro-Cathedral Church of the Twelve Apostles, Clifton, Bristol • appointed Council Father at First Vatican Council 8 December 1869 to 20 October 1870 • died 25 October 1902 at St Augustine's Priory, Abbotskerswell, Newton Abbot aged 88 • buried at St Augustine's Priory, Abbotskerswell, Newton Abbot• reinterred 13 December 1998 at the Cathedral Church of SS. Mary and Boniface, Plymouth.
• St Augustine's Priory, Priory Road, Abbotskerswell, NEWTON ABBOT TQ12 5PP
RT REV. DR CHARLES MORICE GRAHAM
3rd Bishop of Plymouth
The Bishop was born 5 April 1834 at Mhow (Madhya Pradesh), India (formerly British East Indies)• ordained priest (Plymouth) 19 December 1857 at the Collegio Pio, Rome, Italy• ordained titular Bishop of Cisamus and appointed coadjutor Bishop of Plymouth 28 October 1891 by Rt Rev. William Clifford at the Cathedral Church of SS. Mary and Boniface, Plymouth • succeeded 25 October 1902 as Bishop of Plymouth • appointed 1 February 1911 titular Bishop of Tiberias and retired to Hayle • died 2 September 1912 at The Downes, Hayle aged 78 • buried at Plymouth Cemetery, Plymouth • reinterred 13 December 1998 at the Cathedral Church of SS. Mary and Boniface, Plymouth.
• The Downes, Foundry Hill, HAYLE TR27 4HW
RT REV. DR JOHN JOSEPH ALOYSIUS KEILY
4th Bishop of Plymouth
The Bishop was born 23 June 1854 at Limerick City (Limerick), Ireland • ordained priest (Plymouth) 18 May 1877 at the Cathedral Church of SS. Mary and Boniface, Plymouth
• ordained Bishop of Plymouth 13 June 1911 by Most Rev. Francis Bourne at the Cathedral Church of SS. Mary and Boniface, Plymouth • died 23 September 1928 at Bishop's House, Plymouth aged 74 • buried at St Augustine's Priory, Abbotskerswell, Newton Abbot• reinterred 13 December 1998 at the Cathedral Church of ss. Mary and Boniface, Plymouth.
• Bishop's House, 45 Cecil Street, PLYMOUTH PLl 5HW
RT REV. DR JOHN PATRICK BARRETT
5th Bishop of Plymouth
The Bishop was born 31 October 1878 at Liverpool• ordained priest (Liverpool) 9 June 1906 at St Joseph's College, Upholland, Skelmersdale • ordained titular Bishop of Assus and appointed auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham 22 February 1927 by Most Rev. Frederick Keating at the Metropolitan Cathedral Church of St Chad, Birmingham • translated 7 June 1929 to Diocese of Plymouth • died 2 November 1946 at Stoodley Knowle Convent, Torquay aged 68 • buried at St Mary's Cemetery, Abbey Church of St Mary, Buckfastleigh.
• Stoodley Knowle Convent, Ansteys Cove Road, TORQUAY TQl 2JB
RT REV. DR FRANCIS EDWARD JOSEPH GRIMSHAW
6th Bishop of Plymouth
The Bishop was born 6 October 1901 at Bridgwater • ordained priest (Clifton) 27 February 1926 at the Venerable English College, Rome, Italy • ordained Bishop of Plymouth 25 July 1947 by Most Rev. Joseph Masterson at the Cathedral Church of SS. Mary and Boniface, Plymouth• translated 11 May 1954 to Archdiocese of Birmingham • appointed Council Father at Second Vatican Council 11 October 1962 to 21 November 1964 • died 22 March 1965 at St Paul's Convent, Selly Park, Birmingham aged 63 • buried at St Mary's College, Oscott, Sutton Coldfield.
• Archbishop's House, 6 Norfolk Road, Edgbaston, BIRMINGHAM 815 3QD
RT REV. CYRIL EDWARD RESTIEAUX
7th Bishop of Plymouth
The Bishop was born 25 February 1910 at Norwich• ordained priest (Nottingham) 1 November 1932 at the Venerable English College, Rome, Italy • ordained Bishop of Plymouth 14 June 1955 by Most Rev. Francis Grimshaw at the Cathedral Church of SS. Mary and Boniface, Plymouth • appointed Council Father at Second Vatican Council 11 October 1962 to 8 December 1965 • retired 19 November 1985 to Torquay • died 26 February 1996 at Stoodley Knowle Convent, Torquay aged 86 • buried at the Cathedral Church of SS. Mary and Boniface, Plymouth.
• Stoodley Knowle Convent, Ansteys Cove Road, TORQUAY TQl 2JB
RT REV. DR HUGH CHRISTOPHER BUDD PhL STL STD
8th Bishop of Plymouth
The Bishop was born 27 May 1937 at Romford • ordained priest (Brentwood) 8 July 1962 at the College Chapel of Our Lady of the Snows, Palazzola, Rocca di Papa (Roma), Italy • ordained Bishop of Plymouth 15 January 1986 by Rt Rev. Cyril Restieaux at the Cathedral Church of SS. Mary and Boniface, Plymouth • retired 9 November 2013 to St Mary's, Isles of Scilly and also to Lyme Regis • died 1 April 2023 at Lyme Regis aged 85 • buried at St Mary's Cemetery, Abbey Church of St Mary, Buckfastleigh.
• Star of the Sea, Lower Strand, St Mary's, ISLES OF SCILLY TR21 OPS
• The Presbytery, Silver Street, LYME REGIS DT7 3HS
RT REV. MARK ANTHONY O'TOOLE BSc BO MPhil STL
9th Bishop of Plymouth
The Bishop was born 22 June 1963 at Lambeth, London• ordained priest (Westminster) 9 June 1990 at the Church of St Ignatius of Loyola, Stamford Hill, London • ordained Bishop of Plymouth 28 January 2014 by Rt Rev. H. Christopher Budd at the Cathedral Church of SS. Mary and Boniface, Plymouth • translated 27 April 2022 to Archdiocese of Cardiff and Diocese of Menevia in persona episcopi • translated 12 September 2024 to newly erected Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia.
• Archbishop's House, 43 Cathedral Road, CARDIFF CF11 9HD