New bishop announced for Plymouth, England, after long vacancy

Plymouth, England, Oct 22, 2025 / 07:00 am

Pope Leo XIV has named Bishop Nicholas Hudson, an auxiliary bishop of Westminster, as the next bishop of Plymouth, England.

The news comes after the installation of a bishop in the Diocese of Plymouth was twice deferred last year. Canon Christopher Whitehead was due to be installed as the bishop of Plymouth on Feb. 22, 2024, but a diocesan statement suddenly announced on Feb. 1 that it was canceled, explaining that “a canonical process” had been started and that Whitehead had stepped back from active ministry. 

In September 2024, Pope Francis appointed Philip Moger as Plymouth’s new bishop, but a “delay” to his installation was suddenly announced just days before it was due to take place on Nov. 9.

Now Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday announced that Hudson, who was named by Pope Francis as a papal nominee to the Synod on Synodality, will take charge of the Diocese of Plymouth, which serves the Catholic community across Cornwall, Devon, and Dorset in the southwest of England.

Aware of the previous delays and the long wait endured by his new diocese, Hudson said: “I am aware how long the clergy, religious, and laity of Plymouth Diocese have waited for a bishop.” 

Referring to his links with the Synod on Synodality, Hudson added: “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.”

Pope Leo XIV has named Bishop Nicholas Hudson, an auxiliary bishop of Westminster, as the next bishop of Plymouth, England. October 2025. Credit: ©Mazur/cbcew.org.uk

Hudson, 66, has served the Archdiocese of Westminster as an auxiliary bishop since 2014 while also serving as rector of the Venerable English College in Rome. In 2024, he was elected as episcopal secretary for the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales.

The news has been welcomed by the Diocese of Plymouth. 

Speaking to CNA, Plymouth’s diocesan administrator, Canon Paul Cummins, said: “It’s fantastic news. It’s so good that we have a bishop. We needed that. We do need a pastor with vision, with energy, who can shepherd the flock in a way that only a bishop can.”

Cummins, who has served as administrator for three years, highlighted Hudson’s prayerfulness as a key element of his new ministry, saying: “He’s a really good man. He seems to me to be very much a man of prayer. The first thing he did was come to the cathedral [and kneel before] the Blessed Sacrament.”

Pinpointing Hudson’s links with synodality, Cummins added: “Synodality is about listening. It’s such a vital part now of Church teaching. My hope is that he can … deepen our synodality.”

One parishioner, who did not want to be identified by name, shared her joy at the news, telling CNA: “I was in a meeting when we heard the news and we all cheered. We are very much looking forward to welcoming our new bishop.”

“We have been praying for such a long time, so this is a great answer to prayers,” she said.

Within the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, Hudson serves as chair of the Department for International Affairs and is also moderator of the Holy Land Coordination Group. The Bishops’ Conference paid tribute to Hudson’s skills for the new appointment.   

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, president of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, said: “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.”

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Archbishop John Wilson, the metropolitan archbishop of Southwark, where Hudson was ordained in 1986, said: “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.”

Hudson will be installed on Nov. 29 at the Cathedral Church of St. Mary and St. Boniface in Plymouth.