Richard Moth
Encyclopedia
Charles Phillip Richard Moth (born 8 July 1958) is a British Roman Catholic prelate, currently serving as Bishop
of the Forces. He was named as Bishop of the Forces
by Pope Benedict XVI
on 25 July 2009. Previously he was Vicar General
of the Archdiocese of Southwark
.
, Northern Rhodesia
(now Zambia
), and came to the United Kingdom
at the age of two. He was educated at the Judd School and St John's Seminary, Wonersh
, before his ordination to the priesthood
on 3 July 1982.
and as a judge at the Southwark Metropolitan Tribunal before being sent to do further study in Ottawa
, gaining a Licentiate
and then a Master's in Canon Law
. In 1987 he returned to Southwark and was curate at St Saviour's, Lewisham
, during which appointment he was also a Territorial Army chaplain
, serving with 217 General Hospital RAMC (V).
In 1992, Archbishop Michael Bowen
named him as his Private Secretary, serving concurrently as Vocations Director and Vice-Chancellor of the Diocese. Moth was named a Monsignor
to the degree of Papal Chaplain in 1998. In 2001, upon the elevation of the Vicar General, Mgr Canon John Hine
, to be an Auxiliary Bishop
of Southwark, Mgr Moth was named Vicar General
and Chancellor of the Archdiocese. He was promoted to be a Prelate of Honour in 2001.
on 29 September 2009, the Feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, in Westminster Cathedral
. Archbishop Kevin McDonald was principal consecrator, with Archbishop Michael Bowen
and Bishop Tom Burns
as principal co-consecrators. Archbishop Vincent Nichols and Cardinals Cormac Murphy-O'Connor and Keith O'Brien were present in choir.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of the Forces. He was named as Bishop of the Forces
Bishopric of the Forces
The Bishopric of the Forces is the Latin-rite Catholic military ordinariate which provides chaplains to the British Armed Forces across the United Kingdom and overseas. The chaplains are drawn from the dioceses of England, Wales and Scotland, and from some religious orders...
by Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
on 25 July 2009. Previously he was Vicar General
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
of the Archdiocese of Southwark
Archdiocese of Southwark
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark is a Latin Rite Roman Catholic archdiocese in England. The Archepiscopal see is St. George's Cathedral, Southwark and is headed by the Archbishop of Southwark...
.
Early life
Charles Phillip Richard Moth was born in 1958 in ChingolaChingola
Chingola is a city in Zambia's Copperbelt Province, the country's copper-mining region, with a population of 157,340 . It is the home of Nchanga Copper Mine, a deep-shaft high-grade content copper mining operation, which subsequently led to the development of two open pit operations, Chingola...
, Northern Rhodesia
Northern Rhodesia
Northern Rhodesia was a territory in south central Africa, formed in 1911. It became independent in 1964 as Zambia.It was initially administered under charter by the British South Africa Company and formed by it in 1911 by amalgamating North-Western Rhodesia and North-Eastern Rhodesia...
(now Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
), and came to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
at the age of two. He was educated at the Judd School and St John's Seminary, Wonersh
Wonersh
Wonersh is a small Surrey village in England. Wonersh is about 3 miles SSE of Guildford on the B2128 road from Guildford, Shalford to Cranleigh...
, before his ordination to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
on 3 July 1982.
Priesthood (1982-2009)
Father Moth served as Curate at St Bede's, Clapham ParkClapham Park
Clapham Park is an area in the Borough of Lambeth in London, to the south of central Clapham and west of Brixton.The original Clapham Park estate was a speculative development by Thomas Cubitt, who bought of Bleak Hall Farm in 1825, and marked out plots for building around the new broad,...
and as a judge at the Southwark Metropolitan Tribunal before being sent to do further study in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, gaining a Licentiate
Licentiate
Licentiate is the title of a person who holds an academic degree called a licence. The term may derive from the Latin licentia docendi, meaning permission to teach. The term may also derive from the Latin licentia ad practicandum, which signified someone who held a certificate of competence to...
and then a Master's in Canon Law
Doctor of Canon Law
Doctor of Canon Law is the doctoral-level terminal degree in the studies of canon law of the Roman Catholic Church.It may also be abbreviated I.C.D. or dr.iur.can. , ICDr., D.C.L., D.Cnl., D.D.C., or D.Can.L. . Doctor of both laws are J.U.D...
. In 1987 he returned to Southwark and was curate at St Saviour's, Lewisham
Lewisham
Lewisham is a district in South London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
, during which appointment he was also a Territorial Army chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
, serving with 217 General Hospital RAMC (V).
In 1992, Archbishop Michael Bowen
Michael George Bowen
Michael George Bowen is a British prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Southwark from 1977 to 2003, having previously served as Bishop of Arundel and Brighton.-Biography:...
named him as his Private Secretary, serving concurrently as Vocations Director and Vice-Chancellor of the Diocese. Moth was named a Monsignor
Monsignor
Monsignor, pl. monsignori, is the form of address for those members of the clergy of the Catholic Church holding certain ecclesiastical honorific titles. Monsignor is the apocopic form of the Italian monsignore, from the French mon seigneur, meaning "my lord"...
to the degree of Papal Chaplain in 1998. In 2001, upon the elevation of the Vicar General, Mgr Canon John Hine
John Hine
John Hine is a Roman Catholic bishop in England. He is currently serving as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Southwark, and he holds the Titular See of Beverley.-Early life:...
, to be an Auxiliary Bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Southwark, Mgr Moth was named Vicar General
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
and Chancellor of the Archdiocese. He was promoted to be a Prelate of Honour in 2001.
Episcopate (2009-)
In July 2009 Mgr Moth was appointed Bishop of the Forces by Pope Benedict XVI. He stepped down as Vicar General of Southwark and was succeeded by Father Matthew Dickens in September 2009. He was ordained bishopBishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
on 29 September 2009, the Feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, in Westminster Cathedral
Westminster Cathedral
Westminster Cathedral in London is the mother church of the Catholic community in England and Wales and the Metropolitan Church and Cathedral of the Archbishop of Westminster...
. Archbishop Kevin McDonald was principal consecrator, with Archbishop Michael Bowen
Michael George Bowen
Michael George Bowen is a British prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Southwark from 1977 to 2003, having previously served as Bishop of Arundel and Brighton.-Biography:...
and Bishop Tom Burns
Thomas Burns (bishop)
Right Reverend Thomas Matthew Burns, SM, BA, BD is a British Roman Catholic Bishop. On 16 October 2008 he was appointed as Bishop of Menevia by Pope Benedict XVI, becoming Bishop on 1 December 2008 when he took possession of his new See, on which day he ceased to be Bishop of the...
as principal co-consecrators. Archbishop Vincent Nichols and Cardinals Cormac Murphy-O'Connor and Keith O'Brien were present in choir.