New Roman Catholic Bishop of Newcastle revealed

Jan 9 2009 By Chris Robinson

Canon Seamus Cunningham has been announced as the new Catholic Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle.

He will be ordained bishop and installed in St Mary’s Cathedral Church, Newcastle on Friday, March 20, which is St Cuthbert's Day, the patron saint of the Diocese.

Canon Cunningham, 66, becomes the 13th Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, taking over the position from Kevin Dunn who died last March.

Canon Cunningham said, "Although I was surprised to be asked to undertake this task, I am glad that the Diocese will not have to face another change of style within very few years. I hope to start by continuing Bishop Kevin’s initiatives before seeking anew what will be best at this time to meet the many challenges in spreading the Gospel today and working with other church bodies and the civil authorities"