Bishops Of Our Diocese
Bishop William Wareing (1850-1858)
William Wareing was the first Bishop of Northampton, serving from 1850 to 1858. Born in 1791, he was ordained a Catholic priest in 1815 and played a crucial role in the restoration of the Catholic hierarchy in England. Before becoming bishop, he was the Vicar Apostolic of the Eastern District from 1840. When the Catholic Church re-established dioceses in 1850, he was appointed as the inaugural Bishop of Northampton. However, due to ill health, he resigned in 1858 and retired to Old Hall, Ware, where he lived until his death in 1865. His tenure marked a significant period of Catholic revival in England following centuries of suppression.
Bishop Francis Amherst (1858-1879)
Bishop Francis Amherst (1819–1883) was the second Bishop of Northampton, serving from 1858 to 1879. Born in London on 21 March 1819, he was educated at St Mary’s College, Oscott, before being ordained a Catholic priest in 1846. A member of the Ampleforth Benedictines for a time, he later became a secular priest and was appointed Bishop of Northampton in 1858 following the resignation of Bishop William Wareing. During his tenure, he worked to expand Catholic education and strengthen the diocese, overseeing the construction of new churches and schools to serve the growing Catholic population. Due to ill health, he resigned in 1879 and retired to the Benedictine monastery at Great Malvern, where he died on 21 August 1883.
Bishop Arthur Riddell (1880-1907)
Bishop Arthur Riddell (1836–1907) was the third Bishop of Northampton, serving from 1880 until his death in 1907. Born on 15 September 1836 in Barnard Castle, County Durham, he was educated at Ushaw College and ordained a Catholic priest in 1858. Before becoming bishop, he served as a parish priest in various locations, gaining a reputation for his dedication to pastoral care. Appointed Bishop of Northampton in 1880, he worked to strengthen the diocese, overseeing the construction of new churches and schools to support the growing Catholic community. His tenure was marked by efforts to improve Catholic education and promote religious vocations. He remained bishop until his death on 15 September 1907, leaving a legacy of expansion and consolidation within the diocese.
Bishop Frederek William Keating (1908-1921)
Bishop Frederick William Keating (1859–1928) was the fourth Bishop of Northampton, serving from 1908 to 1921. Born on 13 June 1859 in Birmingham, he studied for the priesthood at Oscott College and was ordained in 1882. He served in various pastoral and administrative roles before being appointed Bishop of Northampton in 1908. During his tenure, he focused on expanding Catholic education, strengthening parish communities, and supporting the growing Catholic population. In 1921, he was appointed Archbishop of Liverpool, where he continued his work until his death on 7 February 1928. His leadership was marked by a commitment to pastoral care and the development of Catholic institutions.
Bishop Dudley Charles Cary-Elwes (1868–1932)
Bishop Cary-Elwes was the fifth Bishop of Northampton, serving from 1921 until his death in 1932. Born on 11 October 1868 into an old recusant Catholic family, he was educated at Stonyhurst College and the English College in Rome before being ordained a priest in 1895. He held various pastoral roles before being appointed Bishop of Northampton in 1921. During his episcopacy, he worked to strengthen Catholic education, support clergy, and expand the diocese’s outreach. He remained dedicated to his mission despite the economic challenges of the 1920s and early 1930s. Bishop Cary-Elwes passed away on 1 May 1932, leaving a legacy of faith and service in the diocese.
Bishop Laurence Youens (1873–1939)
Bishop Youens was the sixth Bishop of Northampton, serving from 1933 until his death in 1939. Born on 14 December 1873, he studied at St Edmund’s College, Ware, and the English College in Rome before being ordained a priest in 1899. He served in various pastoral roles within the diocese before being appointed bishop in 1933 following the death of Bishop Dudley Cary-Elwes. His episcopacy was marked by efforts to strengthen Catholic education and support clergy, as well as guiding the diocese through the difficult years of the 1930s. He died in office on 14 November 1939, leaving behind a legacy of dedication and service to the Catholic community in Northampton.
Bishop Thomas Leo Parker (1887–1975)
Bishop Parker was the seventh Bishop of Northampton, serving from 1940 to 1967. Born on 27 December 1887, he studied at St Edmund’s College, Ware, and the English College in Rome before being ordained a priest in 1914. He held various pastoral and administrative roles before being appointed bishop in 1940, at the height of the Second World War. His episcopacy was marked by significant growth in the diocese, with new churches, schools, and religious institutions established to support the expanding Catholic population. He also oversaw the implementation of the reforms of the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965). After 27 years of dedicated service, he retired in 1967 and passed away on 25 March 1975.
Bishop Charles Alexander Grant (1906–1989)
Bishop Grant was the eighth Bishop of Northampton, serving from 1967 to 1982. Born on 16 October 1906, he studied at St Edmund’s College, Ware, and the English College in Rome before being ordained a priest in 1930. He served in various pastoral and administrative roles before being appointed Bishop of Northampton in 1967. His tenure was marked by the continued implementation of the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, fostering greater lay participation and modernising aspects of church life. In 1980, the Diocese of East Anglia was created from part of the Northampton Diocese, reducing its size but strengthening its pastoral focus. Bishop Grant retired in 1982 and passed away on 24 April 1989.
Bishop Francis Gerard Thomas (1927–1988)
Bishop Thomas was the ninth Bishop of Northampton, serving from 1982 until his death in 1988. Born on 13 May 1927, he studied at St Mary’s College, Oscott, before being ordained a priest in 1952. He served in various pastoral and academic roles, including as rector of Oscott College, before being appointed Bishop of Northampton in 1982. During his episcopacy, he focused on strengthening parish communities, promoting vocations, and responding to the pastoral needs of a changing Catholic population. His tenure was cut short by his sudden death on 25 December 1988, but he was remembered for his deep faith, intellectual leadership, and commitment to the diocese.
Bishop Patrick Leo McCartie (1925–2020)
Bishop Leo, as he was affectionately known, was the tenth Bishop of Northampton, serving from 1990 to 2001. Born on 5 September 1925 in West Hartlepool, he studied at Oscott College and was ordained a priest in 1949. Before becoming bishop, he served in various pastoral and educational roles, including as Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham from 1977. In 1990, he was appointed Bishop of Northampton, where he focused on pastoral care, ecumenism, and social justice. His leadership emphasised the role of laypeople in the Church and the importance of Catholic education. He retired in 2001 but remained active in ministry until his death on 23 April 2020, leaving behind a legacy of dedication and service to the Church.
Bishop Kevin McDonald (born 1947)
Bishop kevin McDonald served as the eleventh Bishop of Northampton from 2001 to 2004. Born on 18 August 1947 in Stoke-on-Trent, he studied at the English College in Rome and was ordained a priest in 1974. Before becoming bishop, he worked in various pastoral and ecumenical roles, including at the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity in Rome and as a parish priest in the Archdiocese of Birmingham. Appointed Bishop of Northampton in 2001, he focused on interfaith dialogue, pastoral outreach, and strengthening Catholic education. In 2003, he was appointed Archbishop of Southwark, leading him to leave Northampton in 2004. Due to ill health, he retired as Archbishop in 2009 but he has continued to contribute to interfaith relations and theological discussions nationally.
Bishop Peter Doyle (born 1944)
Bishop Peter was the twelfth Bishop of Northampton, serving from 2005 to 2020. Born on 3 May 1944 in Wimbledon, London, he studied at St John’s Seminary, Wonersh, and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Portsmouth in 1968. He served in various pastoral roles, including as a parish priest and diocesan administrator, before being appointed Bishop of Northampton in 2005. During his tenure, he focused on pastoral care, vocations, and family life, playing a key role in promoting the teachings of Pope Francis, particularly in areas of marriage and social justice. He also embraced modern communication methods to connect with the faithful launching the social media accounts of the diocese. Bishop Doyle retired in 2020 and was succeeded by Bishop David Oakley.
