New Bishop appointed for Diocese of East Anglia
Rev Canon Peter Collins, a priest of the Archdiocese of Cardiff, has been appointed as the fifth Bishop of East Anglia by Pope Francis, with an announcement made today at both the Vatican in Rome and at St John’s Cathedral in Norwich.
The current Bishop of East Anglia, Rt Rev Alan Hopes, having passed the age of retirement, now becomes the Apostolic Administrator until the Ordination and Installation of Bishop-elect Peter Collins takes place on December 14.
On hearing of his appointment, Bishop-Elect Peter Collins said: “As I emerge from the shock of hearing that the Holy Father has appointed me as a bishop, it is with sincere humility, deep trust and great hope that I look to the future. To God’s Holy People in my new diocese – clergy, religious and laity – I offer the assurance of my prayers and ask for their prayerful support over the coming weeks as I prepare for my ordination and episcopal ministry.
“I am so grateful to Bishop Alan for the warmth of his welcome and in communion with the whole diocese I thank him for the generosity of his apostolic service over the past nine years. I will undoubtedly be drawing upon the wealth of his wisdom and experience in the days ahead.
“As I leave the mountains and valleys of the West for the expansive plains of the East, I realise that my horizons will change and that I have much to learn. Trusting in God’s grace and mercy and obedient to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, let us discern together the pathway that awaits us and recognise that the Gospel is forever new and that the Church remains forever young.”
Commenting on the appointment, Bishop Alan Hopes said: “It is a great joy for me and the Diocese that the Holy Father has appointed Bishop-elect Peter Collins as the fifth Bishop of East Anglia. As the new bishop prepares to come and serve God’s people in this diocese, he comes with great personal, pastoral and theological gifts, and with many years of dedicated service to the Church in the Archdiocese of Cardiff.
“Leaving his present roots in Wales, Bishop-elect Peter comes to this equally ancient part of the Church here in East Anglia, in which I have been privileged to serve as bishop for the last nine years. I pray that the Lord will strengthen and support him for his new mission.”
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, President of the Bishops’ Conference, said: “I welcome warmly the appointment of Bishop-elect Peter Collins. The new bishop brings with him a wealth of experience both in Cardiff and in Valladolid. I am sure he will be warmly welcomed and I look forward to working with him.
“I wish to thank Bishop Alan Hopes for his tireless and dedicated leadership of his diocese – especially during these last years. He will hand over his crozier to his successor with both confidence and relief! May God bless our new Bishop Peter Collins and Bishop Alan Hopes in the years ahead.”
Following six years at the Royal English College, Valladolid, Spain, Bishop-elect Peter was ordained to the priesthood in Cardiff in 1984. He served as an Assistant Priest in the Metropolitan Cathedral of St David, Cardiff, from 1984-86 and in Bridgend from 1986-88. He returned to Spain for post-graduate study before taking up his appointment as Vice Rector at the Royal English College, serving there from 1989-94.
Upon his return to the Archdiocese of Cardiff, he was appointed as Parish Priest of Chepstow and Caldicot. In 2001 he became Dean of the Metropolitan Cathedral in Cardiff, serving there for the next 18 years. In 2006, he was appointed as a member of the Metropolitan Chapter of Canons. In 2019, he moved to the next-door parishes of St Mary of the Angels, Canton and Holy Family, Fairwater.
The Episcopal Ordination of Bishop-Elect Peter Collins will take place at the Cathedral Church of St John the Baptist, Norwich, on December 14, 2022 at 11.30am.
Pictured above are Bishop Alan Hopes, left, and Bishop-elect Peter Collins in the garden of the Bishop’s White House residence at Poringland near Norwich.