Archbishop Richard Moth installed as Twelfth Archbishop of Westminster, urging renewal of faith, mission, and service rooted in the Holy Spirit.
Newsroom (17/02/2026 Gaudium Press ) Amid the grandeur of Westminster Cathedral and to the sound of a specially composed fanfare by Simon Johnson, the Most Reverend Richard Moth was solemnly installed as the Twelfth Archbishop of Westminster at noon on Saturday, 14 February 2026. The Installation Mass marked a historic moment for the Catholic Church in England and Wales, uniting clergy, religious, and lay representatives from across the Diocese of Westminster in prayer and thanksgiving.
The ceremony followed a Service of Solemn Vespers held on Friday evening, attended by representatives of parishes, schools, and Catholic organisations throughout the diocese. Entering the Cathedral through the Great West Door, Archbishop Moth was greeted by the Provost, Canon Shaun Lennard, as part of an ancient rite of reception drawn from a 15th-century Canterbury Pontifical used under Archbishop Chichele. The rite, rich in tradition, has been customary in Westminster since the restoration of the Catholic hierarchy in 1850, when Nicholas Wiseman became the first Archbishop of Westminster.
The formal act of installation came with the public reading of Pope Leo XIV’s Apostolic Letter by Canon Jeremy Trood, Chancellor of the Diocese, followed by Canon Lennard’s declaration: “By his authority I, Shaun Lennard, being Provost of the Metropolitan Chapter of Westminster, do install you, the Lord Richard, Archbishop in this Church of Westminster, in which may our Lord Jesus Christ guard your going in from henceforth, now and for evermore.”
Archbishop-Emeritus Cardinal Vincent Nichols then presented the Westminster crozier, symbol of the Archbishop’s pastoral office, marking the transfer of spiritual leadership within the diocese. Representatives of clergy, diocesan councils, and ethnic chaplaincies greeted the new Archbishop, followed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, who expressed ecumenical goodwill and looked forward to shared Christian witness through Churches Together in England.
A Mass Rooted in Mission and Prayer
Archbishop Moth presided over the Pontifical Mass using the prayers and readings for the Feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius, patrons of Europe and heralds of Christian unity. In his homily, he drew upon St Paul’s words to Timothy—“fan into flame the gift of God”—to call the Diocese to missionary renewal and courageous faith. He reflected on the Spirit’s power as one not of domination but of self-giving service, a love modeled on Christ Himself.
“The Church’s mission,” he said, “flows from prayer and the Eucharist. The gifts received in Baptism and Confirmation are to be lived out courageously in daily life.” Urging renewal in evangelisation, Archbishop Moth invited the faithful to let the light of the Gospel shine in every sphere—parishes, homes, schools, workplaces, and the public square.
He also encouraged active engagement with the pressing moral and social challenges of the time—peace, human dignity, the sanctity of life, care for the vulnerable, the plight of refugees, and stewardship of God’s creation. Acknowledging the Church’s own past failures, he reaffirmed a steadfast commitment to safeguarding, transparency, and to learning from those who have suffered harm.
Marked by prayerful solemnity, the liturgy blended history, art, and faith. The altar frontal and vestments, woven in gold by Watts & Co., echoed Byzantine designs inspired by Cardinal Bourne’s 1928 collection. The principal chalice, a silver-gilt treasure from 1529 donated by Baron Antonio French and his sisters, served as a tangible link to the Church’s continuity before the English Reformation. The Archbishop’s crozier and sacred vessels, once belonging to Cardinal Edward Henry Howard, reflected a heritage deeply rooted in the universal Church.
Hope for the Future of the Diocese
As the great hymn Te Deum filled the Cathedral, Archbishop Moth was led around the nave to bless the congregation, pausing in prayerful remembrance at the tomb of Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, his late predecessor. The gesture symbolised a bridge between past leadership and new beginnings for the Diocese of Westminster—a diocese that, since its founding by Blessed Pius IX in 1850, has grown into a vibrant mosaic of cultures and faith communities.
Today, the Diocese spans London’s boroughs north of the Thames, Hertfordshire, and parts of Surrey, encompassing parishes, schools, and countless ministries. Agencies such as Caritas Westminster continue to serve the poor, isolated, and exploited, embodying the Church’s mission of mercy and justice.
Marking the Feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius, Archbishop Moth concluded with a call to perseverance: mission must be “rooted in prayer, sustained by the Eucharist, and marked by patience and perseverance.” With renewed faith and unity, the Diocese was invited to “fan into flame the gift of the Holy Spirit,” that the Church in Westminster may continue to serve Christ and society with compassion, courage, and joy.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Zenit News
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