The Right Reverend Crispian Hollis, MA, STL
Bishop of Portsmouth
Crispian Hollis was born on 17th November 1936 in Bristol, the son of author Christopher Hollis and his wife Madeline. Both his parents were converts to the Catholic faith.
He was at school at Stonyhurst and did his national service in Somerset Light Infantry, serving in the United Kingdom and Malaya. In 1956 he went up to Oxford to read Modern History as a member of Balliol College, taking his degree in 1959. In that year he went to Rome to start training for the priesthood, reading Philosophy and Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University as a member of the Venerable English College, and obtaining his Licence in Sacred Theology in 1966.
He was ordained priest on 11th July 1965.
After one year as a curate at Christ the King, Amesbury, Wiltshire, Crispian Hollis went to the Old Palace, the Catholic Chaplaincy in Oxford, where he worked from 1967 – 1977, first as assistant to Father Michael Hollings, then as Chaplain. In 1977 he was appointed R.C. Assistant to the Head of Religious Broadcasting at the B.B.C.
In 1981 he was appointed as Administrator of Clifton Cathedral in Bristol and Vicar General of the diocese of Clifton, with special responsibility for ecumenical affairs. While still in this post, he was appointed a member of C.R.A.C. (the Central Religious Advisory Committee) for B.B.C. and I.B.A.
In February 1987 he was appointed as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Birmingham with special responsibility for the Oxfordshire area.
He was installed as Bishop of Portsmouth on 27th January 1989.
He has been Chairman of the Catholic Media Trust, Chairman of the Bishops’ Committee for Europe and also Chairman of the Department for Mission and Unity. He is Chairman of the Bishops’ Conference Department of International Affairs and member of I.A.R.C.C.U.M. (International Anglican Roman Catholic Committee for Unity and Mission).
Bishop Hollis enjoys cricket and golf, and takes an interest in current affairs.
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