Pope appoints new head of Catholic church in Essex

The Pope has appointed an auxiliary bishop in Birmingham to be the new Bishop of Brentwood, in Essex.

The Right Reverend Timothy Menezes, 56, succeeds Bishop Alan Williams, who has retired at the age of 75 after 12 years in the role.

Menezes studied for the priesthood at St Mary's College, Oscott, in Birmingham and the Venerable English College in Rome. He was ordained in 1995.

The Diocese of Brentwood covers Essex and five east London boroughs.

Menezes spent much of his ministry in the Archdiocese of Birmingham, as parish priest of St Thomas More, Coventry, and then Vicar General for the archdiocese from 2011 to 2019.

He was appointed Dean of St Chad's Cathedral in 2019, concurrently serving as parish priest of Sacred Heart and St Margaret Mary in Aston from 2022 to 2024.

He has served as an auxiliary bishop in the West Midlands for the past two years.

The Most Reverend Richard Moth, Archbishop of Westminster and president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, said: "I am delighted to welcome Bishop-elect Timothy Menezes as he prepares to take up his new post as Bishop of Brentwood.

"He brings excellent experience, gained in his priestly and episcopal service in the Archdiocese of Birmingham, where he will be missed greatly."

Menezes said: "I am grateful for all those who have shaped my life, faith and priestly ministry in the Archdiocese of Birmingham over many years.

"I look forward to building on Bishop Alan's good work in the diocese and pray that Christ the Good Shepherd will help us all to be a people of thanksgiving for his many blessings, and to show his compassion to those in most need."

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