Richard Moth

Charles Phillip Richard Moth (born 8 July 1958), known as Richard Moth, is a British Roman Catholic prelate who currently serves as Archbishop of Westminster. He previously served as Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Southwark from 2001 to 2009, Bishop of the Forces from 2009 to 2015, and Bishop of Arundel and Brighton from 2015 to 2025.

Early life Charles Phillip Richard Moth was born in 1958 in Chingola, Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia), and emigrated to the United Kingdom at the age of two. He was educated at The Judd School in Tonbridge, Kent. He trained for the priesthood at St John's Seminary, Wonersh.

Ordained ministry

Priesthood Moth was ordained to the priesthood on 3 July 1982. He ended his service on 12 July 1993, with his commission transferring to the Regular Army Reserve of Officers.

In 1992, Archbishop Michael Bowen named him as his private secretary and master of ceremonies, serving concurrently as vocations director and vice-chancellor of the Diocese. Moth was named a Monsignor to the degree of Chaplain of His Holiness in 1998. In 2001, upon the elevation of the Vicar General, Mgr Canon John Hine, to be an Auxiliary Bishop of Southwark, Moth was named vicar general and chancellor of the Archdiocese. He was also a parish priest, serving as parish administrator of Holy Cross Church, Plumstead from 2003 and then as parish administrator of Saint Joseph's Church, Saint Mary Cray from 2006. He stepped down as vicar general of Southwark and was succeeded in that role by Mgr. Matthew Dickens in September 2009. He was consecrated as a bishop on 29 September 2009 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 also present in choir.

On 21 March 2015, Moth was announced as the next Bishop of Arundel and Brighton, having been appointed by Pope Francis. He was installed on 28 May 2015. In 2017, he was made a Canon of Honour of the Anglican Chichester Cathedral.

On 19 December 2025, he was appointed Archbishop of Westminster by Pope Leo XIV. He was installed as archbishop in Westminster Cathedral on 14 February 2026. In April 2026, he was elected as the next president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales. In June 2026, following the arrest of David Oakley for sexual offences, Moth was appointed by Pope Leo XIV as apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Northampton sede plena et ad nutum Sanctæ Sedis (while the see is occupied and at the discretion of the Holy See).