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His Holiness Pope Leo XIV appointed the Right Reverend Richard Moth as Archbishop of Westminster on Friday 19 December. As of 11am on that day, Bishop Richard ceased to be “our Bishop” and became, temporarily, the Diocesan Administrator.

Reflecting on the announcement, the diocesan Chancellor, Canon Jonathan Martin, said:

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“This is, without a doubt, a cause of great rejoicing for the Church in England and Wales, even if tinged with the sadness of loss for us in Arundel & Brighton. Bishop Richard took possession of our Diocese on the day of our fiftieth ‘birthday’ and has been our much-loved Shepherd for just over a decade.

“He has served us with unstinting generosity and good humour, brought great dignity and devotion to the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy, and fostered, through his own evident love of the Sacred Scriptures, the practice of Lectio Divina that is now well-established in so many of our parishes. The greatest legacy that Bishop Richard leaves behind is the diocesan Pastoral Plan, through which he invited us to join with him:

‘in forging our parishes into communities of saints, into strong, lively, and welcoming schools of discipleship; communities where the liturgy is experience as an encounter with the wonder of heaven; where daily prayer is a natural part of life; communities of healing, where all are welcomed, their dignity as children of God always recognised; where young people grow in deep love for the Gospel, for the sacramental life of the Church and for prayer; where all know the riches of the Faith and seek to share it with others.’

“It is for us to realise this beautiful vision that Bishop Richard set before us and to continue to build upon the firm foundations he established for us with that courage and vision he will now undoubtedly take to Westminster.”

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What happens next?

As soon as Bishop Richard’s transfer to the Diocese of Westminster was announced, the power of the Vicar General, Canon Jonathan Martin, and Episcopal Vicars, Mgr Tony Barry, Canon Kieron O’Brien, Fr David Osborne and Fr Luke Jolly to assist in governing the Diocese of Arundel & Brighton ceased.

Bishop Richard, in his temporary capacity as Diocesan Administrator, may not take any action that would bind or limit his successor.

The See of Arundel & Brighton will become “vacant” (known in Latin as "Sede Vacante") as soon as Bishop Richard takes canonical possession of the See of Westminster on 14 February 2026.

At that moment, governance of the Diocese of Arundel & Brighton will devolve upon the College of Consultors, which is comprised of Canon Jonathan Martin, Mgr Tony Barry, Fr David Osborne, Canon Kieron O’Brien, Canon David Parmiter, and Fr Tony Bridson.

The College, which is presently constituted for five years, will then meet to elect a new Diocesan Administrator to govern the Diocese until a new Bishop takes possession of the See of Arundel and Brighton.

No major decisions or changes can be made by the elected Diocesan Administrator while the See of Arundel and Brighton is vacant, since Church Law forbids him from doing anything which could in any way prejudice the Diocese, or the rights of the new Bishop.

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Prayer

During the vacancy of the See, the entire local Church is to unite in praying for a new Shepherd. Click on the button below to download The Gift of a Shepherd, which suggests prayers that can be prayed in Mass and at other meetings and gatherings of the Faithful, for the election of a new bishop and for the Diocese.

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You can read CBCEW’s statement on the appointment of the Right Reverend Richard Moth as Archbishop of Westminster here.