Canon Peter Collins of the Archdiocese of Cardiff has been named as the new Bishop of East Anglia, succeeding Alan Hopes.
Bishop Hopes announced the appointment at the Cathedral of St John the Baptist in Norwich on Tuesday 11 October, the feast of St John XXIII. He praised the bishop-elect’s “great personal, pastoral and theological gifts”.
Canon Collins has been the parish priest of St Mary of the Angels with Holy Family in West Cardiff since 2019, before which he had served as dean of Cardiff Cathedral for 18 years. He said that it was “with sincere humility, deep trust and great hope that I look to the future” following his appointment to East Anglia.
He made his remarks before members of the cathedral chapter and diocesan curia, pupils from local schools, and parishioners who were “told to hang around until 11 o’clock” when the announcement was made.
With some visible emotion, the bishop-elect called on them to acknowledge “that the Lord loves us beyond measure, that the Lord is calling us to a particular service, that he entrusts to us the Good News that must be shared with the whole world”.
Bishop-elect Collins was born and grew up in South Wales, and trained for the priesthood at the Royal English College in Valladolid, Spain. He was ordained to the Archdiocese of Cardiff in 1984, and spent his early ministry as a priest in the diocese and in continued study in Spain, serving as vice-rector of the Royal English College from 1989 to 1994. He became Dean of Cardiff Cathedral in 2001.
In a statement issued on his appointment, he said: “As I leave the mountains and valleys of the West for the expansive plains of the East, I realise that my horizons will change and that I have much to learn.”
His address noted the traditions of the Church in East Anglia – home of the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham and of many Anglo-Saxon saints – which he said was “so securely built on its rich Catholic history and devotion”. He also praised the retiring Bishop Hopes.
The Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, said that he welcomed the appointment. “The new bishop brings with him a wealth of experience both in Cardiff and in Valladolid,” said Cardinal Nichols, adding his own thanks got Bishop Hopes’ nine years of service: “He will hand over his crozier to his successor with both confidence and relief.”
Bishop-elect Collins announced that his episcopal ordination will take place on 14 December, the feast of St John of the Cross, “whose example and wisdom has meant so much to me throughout my life”.
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