Bishops’ Conference

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales is the permanent assembly of Catholic Bishops and Personal Ordinaries in the two member countries.

The membership of the Conference comprises the Archbishops, Bishops and Auxiliary Bishops of the 22 Catholic Dioceses of England and Wales. The other members are: The Bishop of the Forces (Military Ordinariate), the Apostolic Eparch of the Ukrainian Church in Great Britain, the Apostolic Eparch for Syro-Malabar Catholics in Great Britain, the Ordinary of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, The Bishop of Gibraltar, and the Apostolic Prefect of the Falkland Islands.

Rev. Canon Christopher Thomas

The Reverend Canon Christopher Thomas is the current General Secretary of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales. 

Bishops' Plenary Meetings

The Bishops of England and Wales meet twice a year for their plenary meetings. These plenaries take place at Hinsley Hall in Headingly, Leeds.

Documents and Publications

Here you will find the official documents and publications of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales. Certain departmental publications are available here.

Departments

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales has six departments: Catholic Education and Formation, Christian Life and Worship, Evangelisation and Discipleship, Dialogue and Unity, International Affairs and Social Justice.

Online Donations

Support the work of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales.

National Tribunal Service (NTS)

The purpose of the National Tribunal Service is to enhance impartiality, transparency and consistency in the application of canon law across its jurisdiction in penal cases.

Mater Ecclesiae College

Mater Ecclesiae College (MEC) provides for the education of seminarians training for the priesthood, as well as lay men and women. Studies are completed through the MEC, a Pontifical Institute based at the Diocese of Westminster's Seminary, Allen Hall, in partnership with St Mary’s University, Twickenham.

Fundraising

There are a number of ways you can support the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales.

Recruitment

The work undertaken at the Secretariat of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales and its Agencies and Offices encompasses a wide range of issues and touches on many aspects of the life of the Church and of society.

Agencies

The Agencies of the Bishops' Conference were established by the Bishops of England and Wales to serve the Catholic community and wider society.

Associated Bodies

These organisations are separate to, but recognised and supported by, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales.

Consultative Bodies

The Bishops' Conference undertakes, whenever practical, to enter into formal consultation with these bodies on matters of particular concern to them.

Ecclesial Movements

The Bishops’ Conference liaises with representatives of ecclesial movements and new communities. The information that follows includes contact details for some of those working in England and Wales.

Churchmarketplace

Churchmarketplace is an initiative developed by the Catholic Church in response to a need expressed nationally by Dioceses and their Bishops.

National Catholic Societies

The Bishops' Conference offers the following criteria and commentary for the guidance to all organisations that wish to be considered for entry in the Catholic Directory of England and Wales.

Catholic Trust (CaTEW)

The Catholic Trust for England and Wales (CaTEW) is the legal entity for the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales (CBCEW).