Archbishop Bernard Longley Installed ninth Archbishop of Birmingham
The Most Rev Bernard Longley, formerly an Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Westminster, has been Installed as the ninth Archbishop of Birmingham.
The Mass and Installation took place at the Metropolitan Cathedral and Basilica of Saint Chad on 8 December 2009 - Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and one of the patronal feasts of the Archdiocese (St Chad being the other).
The appointment was announced by the Holy Father on 1 October 2009. He succeeds the Archbishop of Westminster, the Most Reverend Vincent Nichols (2000-2009).
Prior to the Installation, after receiving news of his appointment, Bishop Bernard Longley said: “I feel immensely honoured and very humbled that the Holy Father has appointed me to succeed Archbishop Vincent Nichols as Archbishop of Birmingham. I look forward to serving the Priests and Deacons, the Religious and all the People of the Archdiocese and to working alongside my brother Bishops there. I also look forward to knowing and appreciating the life of the Diocese and the many ways in which it reaches out with the love and truth of Christ, in its parish and school communities and through ecumenical and inter-religious friendships. I am grateful to Bishop William Kenney for his faithful service as Diocesan Administrator over recent months and for the welcome that he has already shown to me.
“It won’t be easy to leave the Diocese of Westminster which has been my home for the past seven years. It will be sad to say goodbye, especially to the East and Central London parishes where the Priests, Parishioners and Religious have become good friends. It has been a privilege to work with Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor and my fellow Auxiliary Bishops and more recently with Archbishop Vincent, and I thank them for all that I have learnt from their insights and experience.”
Click for press release on the announcement
Archbishop Longley's homily
Archbishop Bernard Longley gave this homily at the Mass for his Installation as the ninth Archbishop of Birmingham at the Metropolitan Cathedral of St Chad:
"'Where are you?' is still a question about identity and purpose that God asks of us today. It is asked of the people of Birmingham and of the other six cities within the Archdiocese. In forming local communities that have confidence in finding creative and fruitful answers to that question I am grateful that our Catholic Archdiocese works alongside Christians from all the other Churches in a spirit of ecumenical co-operation and commitment. It is good to know that we shall experience and express our communion together in prayer, witness and outreach, and I am grateful that so many of the other Church Leaders are here with us today.
"As Christians we also believe that we must ponder that fundamental question from God alongside our brothers and sisters in the other major religious communities, for it is together that we must engage with all our fellow citizens in searching for goodness and truth in our values and behaviour. I wish to build upon Archbishop Vincent’s commitment to inter-religious friendship and co-operation and to be part of our common witness in the service of others."
Read/download
Homily given by Archbishop Bernard Longley at his Installation as Archbishop of Birmingham (pdf)
Installation videos
We have a few short videos taken at Archbishop Longley's Installation.They were shot on a handheld and offer a glimpse of the atmosphere in St Chad's.
The first video shows the Bishops of England and Wales processing into the Cathedral on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
The second video captures Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster, the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Faustino Sainz Muñoz and Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor paying tribute to Archbishop Longley.
Click for the procession clip.
Click for the speeches clip.
Watch more videos on our Vimeo channels.
Solemn Vespers
Archbishop Longley presided at Solemn Vespers the evening before his Installation.
More than 200 religious, priests, brothers and nuns, took part in First Vespers for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Mike Stanley and CJM Music led the singing throughout the service.
Bishop William Kenney, CP, Diocesan Administrator until the Installation of the new Archbishop, Bishop David McGough, Auxiliary Bishop and Provost of the Metropolitan Chapter, and Canon Patrick Browne, Administrator of St Chad's Cathedral, were in choir on the sanctuary.
During his homily Archbishop Longley said: "I am particularly glad that so many members of the Religious Congregations in the Archdiocese, men and women, are here this evening to pray the Prayer of the Church.
"The religious vocation is at the heart of the Church and yet it will very often take you out to the margins, as you known, the edge where you provide welcome and support for some of the most needy people in our society. The experience of Religious life will often dispose you to serve together the needs of those who are marginalised or vulnerable, understanding what will help the very young or the dependant elderly."
Bishop Longley concluded: "As I prepare to take up my new responsibilities in the Archdiocese I look forward to visiting the communities of Religious Sisters and Brothers in the years ahead and to recognising, and where I can supporting, your vital work and witness founded as it is on lives of prayerful obedience to God's call. May the Lord always prosper your endeavours."
Announcement interview
Click on the image above to watch a video interview with Archbishop-elect Bernard Longley recorded shortly after he learned the Holy Father announced he will be the ninth Archbishop of Birmingham.
Transcript of the video interview
Transcript: Interview with Archbishop-elect Bernard Longley (pdf)
Bishop Longley's biography
Bishop Bernard Longley is the titular Bishop of Zarna. He was born in Manchester on 5 April, 1955.
Bishop Longley was ordained Bishop and appointed as an Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Westminster, on 24 January 2003. Bishop Longley is Head of the Diocesan Pastoral Board and has pastoral responsibilities for the Deaneries of Camden, Hackney, Islington, Marylebone, Tower Hamlets, and Westminster.
He is the Bishop of the National Day for Life and responsible for supporting the National Ministry to Travellers. Within the Diocese of Westminster, he is Chairman of the Catholic Children’s Society (Westminster). In 2009, he joined the Department of Dialogue and Unity and became Co-Chair of English Arc (Anglican-Roman Catholic Committee); he was also appointed onto the national United Reformed Church-Roman Catholic Dialogue Group.
Archbishop Vincent Nichols
On learning of the Papal announcement, the Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols said: “I welcome the news of the appointment of Bishop Bernard Longley as Archbishop of Birmingham. I am confident that he will be warmly welcomed, right across the Archdiocese: in Stoke on Trent, Stafford, Wolverhampton, Coventry, Birmingham, Worcester and Oxford. The clergy, religious and laity of the Archdiocese will appreciate the qualities he brings: his gentleness and sensitivity; his firmness and intelligence; his profound and joyful faith; his willingness to listen.
“I am sure, too, that Bishop Bernard will grow to love this fine Archdiocese, just as I did.“
Bishop William Kenney, CP
The Diocesan Administrator for the Birmingham Archdiocese, Bishop William Kenney, CP, said: “I am delighted to hear that Bishop Bernard Longley is to become the new Archbishop of Birmingham. I am sure that the Auxiliary Bishops, Priests, Deacons and the Lay people of the Archdiocese will make him feel very welcome in the Midlands. We look forward to Bishop Bernard becoming a follower in the footsteps of Bishop Ullathorne, the first Roman Catholic Bishop of Birmingham and to his taking a lead in the preparations for the Beatification of Cardinal Newman.“
Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor
Bishop Longley was ordained priest and later bishop by Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor. About the appointment, the Cardinal said: "I had the privilege of ordaining Bishop Bernard as a priest in 1981 and later as a bishop in 2003. Bishop Bernard has been an exceptionally good priest and bishop, exhibiting at all times those Christian qualities of kindness and compassion in his ministry. The priests and people of the Archdiocese of Birmingham should rejoice and be glad in welcoming their new Archbishop who will, I know, prove a most generous and caring shepherd.”
The Archdiocese of Birmingham
The Archdiocese of Birmingham comprises the counties of Warwickshire, Staffordshire, the West Midlands, Worcestershire and those parts of Oxfordshire which belong to the former County of Oxfordshire (north of the Thames). The Metropolitan See is the Metropolitan Cathedral and Basilica of Saint Chad. There are 282,592 Catholics in the Archdiocese of Birmingham and 278 diocesan priests. The Archdiocese covers an area of 3,836 square miles and is divided into three Pastoral Areas; the Central and Western Pastoral Area, until recently looked after by Bishop Pargeter, covering Birmingham, Kidderminster, Worcester; the Northern Pastoral Area, under the care of Bishop David McGough, covering Staffordshire and the Black Country; the Southern Pastoral Area, under the care of Bishop William Kenney, CP, which covers Oxfordshire and Warwickshire.
Photos (before Installation)
Two official photographs of Bishop Longley can be downloaded here:
+Bernard Longley hi-res 4000x2500 (jpeg)
+Bernard Longley hi-res 1800x2800 (jpeg)
Note: to download, right click on the links above and 'save target as' or 'save link as'.
Predecessors
Bishops of Birmingham
Bishop William Bernard Ullathorne (1850 – 1888)
Bishop Edward IIsley (1888 – 1911)
Archbishops of Birmingham
Archbishop Edward Ilsley (1911 - 1921)
Archbishop John McIntyre (1921 – 1928)
Archbishop Thomas Williams (1929 – 1946)
Archbishop Joseph Masterson (1947 – 1953)
Archbishop Francis Grimshaw (1954 -1965)
Archbishop George Dwyer (1965 – 1981)
Archbishop Maurice Couve de Murville (1982 – 1999)
Archbishop Vincent Nichols (2000 – 2009)