Roman Catholic Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle - Current Bishop

Current Bishop

The See of Hexham and Newcastle is held by His Excellency, the Most Reverend Bishop Seamus Cunningham, who succeeded His Excellency, the Most Reverend Bishop Kevin Dunn, who died on 1 March 2008. Bishop Dunn had succeeded His Excellency, the Most Reverend Bishop Ambrose Griffiths, who himself died as Bishop Emeritus on Tuesday, 14 June 2011, on 25 May 2004.

There are presently 214 diocesan priests (57 of whom are retired) and 6 permanent deacons serving 183 parishes. A number of religious orders are also present in the diocese, including the Dominicans, the Passionists, the Redemporists, the Carmelites, the Poor Clares and the Sisters of Mercy.

In 2005 Bishop Dunn reorganised the structure of the Diocese and Curia. He introduced five Episcopal Areas. These areas are arranged geographically and are known as Northumberland, Newcastle and North Tyneside, Sunderland and East Durham, South Tyneside, Gateshead and North West Durham, and Cleveland and South Durham. At the same time he appointed the man who would ultimately be his successor, Canon Seamus Cunningham, as Vicar General. He also appointed a new Chancellor for the Curia and a new Episcopal Vicar for Religious.

Following the death of Bishop Dunn on 1 March 2008, and in accordance with Canons 165 – 178 and Canons 421 – 425 of the Code of Canon Law, the Diocesan College of Consultors met on 2 March 2008. At their meeting, the Consultors elected Canon Seamus Cunningham as the Diocesan Administrator.

On Friday, 9 January 2009 a press release by Vatican Information Service, confirmed that Pope Benedict XVI had named Seamus Cunningham as the new bishop-elect of the diocese. He received his episcopal ordination on Friday, 20 March 2009 - the feast day of St. Cuthbert - the diocesan patron.