Appointment of Bishop Richard Moth as Archbishop of Westminster
The Most Reverend Richard Moth has been appointed as the 12th Archbishop of Westminster, succeeding Cardinal Vincent Nichols. His installation as Archbishop took place during a Mass at Westminster Cathedral on 14th February 2026.
The Most Reverend Richard Moth has been appointed as the 12th Archbishop of Westminster, succeeding Cardinal Vincent Nichols. His installation as Archbishop took place during a Mass at Westminster Cathedral on 14th February 2026.
Paddy McGuinness, Chair of Trustees at St Joseph’s Hospice, said, “We at St Joseph’s congratulate Richard Moth on his inauguration as 12th Archbishop of Westminster. As a dependent body of the Diocese we look to his leadership and are heartened by his expressed dedication to social teaching as we strive to expand our reach and deepen the impact of our care for those in need across East London. We also thank Cardinal Vincent for his patronage of the Hospice and his inspiring engagement here and wish him well in what comes next.”
Richard Moth was born in Zambia in 1958 to Catholic parents and spent his early years in Kent. After leaving school, he began preparing for the priesthood at the seminary of St John’s in Surrey and was ordained as a Priest in 1982.
Following his ordination, Bishop Moth served in various parishes within the Archdiocese of Southwark. He later became private secretary to the Archbishop of Southwark and subsequently served as vicar-general for the diocese.
Bishop Moth is widely recognised for his strong commitment to social justice, with a particular emphasis on prisons, mental health, education, and addressing poverty. Upon the announcement of his new appointment, he remarked that his primary focus would be to develop strong relationships with both the priests and the people of Westminster.
Dr Rachel Black, CEO of St Joseph’s Hospice, said, “I would like to extend my congratulations to Archbishop Moth on his appointment and welcome him warmly to St Joseph’s Hospice. As a proud Catholic Hospice, we are committed to putting patients at the centre of everything we do. Our Mission is to provide compassionate, specialist palliative care to people in the diverse community of East London who are living with life-limiting illness. Together we will continue to make a meaningful difference to the lives of the people in our community.”
Fr Terence Seasman, Chaplain at St Joseph’s Hospice, also welcomed the appointment, stating, “I look forward to getting to know Archbishop Moth as he settles into his new role in the Diocese of Westminster and welcoming him to St Joseph’s Hospice. I would also like to express my gratitude to Cardinal Vincent Nichols for his dedicated service during his tenure and wish him well in the next chapter of his life.”
Picture courtesy of the Catholic Church of England and Wales