Mgr John Armitage, the vicar general of Brentwood Diocese, has been appointed the new Rector of the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham.
He succeeds Marist Father Alan Williams, who left earlier this year to become bishop of Brentwood.
The Marist Fathers had run the shrine for almost 50 years.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols said: “I thank most warmly Bishop Alan Williams, of Brentwood Diocese, for his generosity of spirit in agreeing to this appointment. Mgr Armitage has long played a vital part in the life of Brentwood Diocese and his loss will be keenly felt by many.'
Bishop Alan said: “Mgr John Armitage… has been coming to Walsingham since 1976 and has a deep devotion to and love for Our Lady and her shrine. He will bring to this responsibility a huge amount of pastoral and practical experience with a love for people and especially for the most deprived and vulnerable of our society.”