Bishop Richard Moth

Bishop Richard Moth was appointed by the Holy Father as the fifth Bishop of Arundel & Brighton, having previously held the role of Bishop of the Armed Forces. He was installed as Bishop on 28 May 2015 at Arundel Cathedral in the presence of the clergy and people of the Diocese.

He made his religious profession in 1977, and studied philosophy at Blackfriars, Oxford and theology at Heythrop College, London. He was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal Basil Hume on 26th June 1982.

Born in Chingola, Zambia on 1958, he was brought up in Kent and, after leaving The Judd School, Tonbridge, began formation at St. John’s Seminary, Wonersh. He was ordained Priest on 3rd June 1982.

He served as assistant priest at St. St. Bede’s, Clapham Park before pursuing studies in Canon Law at St. Paul University, Ottawa. In 1987 he was appointed assistant priest at St. Saviour’s, Lewisham, during which time he also served as a Territorial Army Chaplain with 217 General Hospital RAMC(V). He served as Private Secretary to Archbishop Michael Bowen from 1992 until 2001, during which time he was also President of the Inter-diocesan Tribunal of Second Instance of Southwark and Vocations Director. In 2001 he was appointed Vicar General and Chancellor of the Diocese. He is also Chair of Governors at St. Mary’s University, Twickenham, Liaison Bishop for Prisons, Episcopal Advisor to the National Catholic Scout Fellowship and holds a brief on Mental Health on behalf of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. Bishop Richard has been a Benedictine Oblate for over 30 years and is a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, with whom he has travelled many times to the Holy Land. He enjoys horse riding and walking.