Pope appoints new Bishop of Brentwood

Image credits: Catholic Bishops' Conference of England & Wales (cbcew.org.uk)

On the 10^th October, Pope Leo XIV appointed Bishop Timothy Menezes as the new Bishop of Brentwood. This follows Bishop Alan Williams’ formal resignation earlier this year in March, having turned 75 years old.

Bishop Timothy has served as an Auxiliary Bishop in the Archdiocese of Birmingham, having been ordained as a bishop in July 2024. On the announcement of his appointment, Bp. Timothy said:

“It is a great privilege to be appointed by Pope Leo XIV as Bishop of the Diocese of Brentwood. I’m aware there will be much to learn, so I ask the Lay Faithful, the Clergy and the Religious of the diocese to pray for me, and with me, in our shared mission as Pilgrims of Hope in a world in need of hope.

“I am grateful for all those who have shaped my life, faith and priestly ministry in the Archdiocese of Birmingham over many years.

“I look forward to building on Bishop Alan’s good work in the diocese and pray that Christ the Good Shepherd will help us all to be a people of thanksgiving for his many blessings, and to show his compassion to those in most need.”

Bp. Alan Williams S.M., who has served the Diocese of Brentwood following his episcopal ordination in 2014, stated:

“I know that Bishop Timothy will very much miss his home diocese, having grown up in Kings Heath, Birmingham, and served as a priest here since his ordination in 1995 and since 2024 as Auxiliary Bishop.

“He will be greatly missed by his brother priests, his diocesan colleagues and by the communities that he has served across the Episcopal Area of Staffordshire, the Black Country and Wolverhampton.

“With his considerable pastoral experience and his zeal for mission, he will approach his new responsibilities in Brentwood with energy and enthusiasm, but always sensitive to the history and character of his new diocese.

“As he prepares to leave the Midlands of St Chad for East London and the Essex of St Chad’s brother, St Cedd, I wish him every blessing in his apostolate and assure him of our gratitude and our prayers.”

On the same day as his appointment, Bishop Timothy also spoke at Adoremus National Eucharistic Congress, giving new insight into his hope for his new role in the Diocese:

“It is a great privilege and an honour to be asked to lead the Diocese of Brentwood, and I do so with a spirit of enthusiasm. I look forward to meeting so many new people, to experiencing the vibrancy of our parishes and schools, the communities of faith that I believe have changed so much over recent years…

“I look forward to being supported by the priests and deacons, the religious and the lay faithful. I look forward to seeing the enthusiasm of young Catholics as they live their faith and bring others something of that hope for the future, and I look forward to learning a lot from the people of the Diocese of Brentwood.”

Bishop Timothy will be installed as Brentwood’s new bishop on the 3^rd December 2026 at Brentwood Cathedral.