Pope Francis has appointed Bishop John Sherrington as Archbishop of Liverpool.
Archbishop-elect Sherrington will become the tenth Archbishop of Liverpool, succeeding Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP.
The Dominican, who has served as Archbishop of Liverpool since 2014, offered his resignation to Pope Francis in 2024, having reached the age of 75, at which bishops are required by canon law to tender their resignation. Formerly Bishop of Nottingham, Archbishop McMahon has served as a bishop for almost 25 years and was previously Prior of the Dominican community at Blackfriars, Oxford.
During his time in Liverpool Archbishop McMahon was noted for his pastoral outreach to traditionalist communities, having ordained priests for the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter at St Mary’s Church, Warrington, using the pre-1970 rite of ordination.
Archbishop McMahon said: “I am grateful to God and to the Holy Father, Pope Francis, for appointing a bishop to serve this local Church, the Archdiocese of Liverpool. We are receiving a new Archbishop with considerable gifts, talents and skills – but most of all we are receiving a man of deep prayer who loves the Lord Jesus and who loves His Church. I have had the pleasure of serving with Archbishop-elect Sherrington in the Diocese of Nottingham and in the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, and I am delighted to welcome him today.”
Bishop John Sherrington was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Nottingham on 13 June 1987 by Cardinal Basil Hume. He lectured in moral theology at All Hallows College, Dublin, and at St John’s Seminary, Wonersh, where he was also a member of the formation staff, before serving as a parish priest from 2004 to 2011.
On 30 June 2011, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster and Titular Bishop of Hilta by Pope Benedict XVI. He received episcopal consecration from the then-Archbishop Vincent Nichols, with Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor and the then-Bishop Malcolm McMahon of Nottingham as co-consecrators.
As Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster, he has had responsibility for the pastoral care of the parishes and deaneries of North London. He is also Moderator of the Curia and a trustee of the diocese. He chairs the Governing Body of Mater Ecclesiae College.
He served on the Methodist-Roman Catholic International Commission (MERCIC) for 10 years, including five as Co-Chair, and has previously been a trustee of CAFOD.
Within the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, he has been a member of the Department for Social Justice, with responsibility for life issues since 2014, and a member of the Education Department since 2022. He is a member of the governing body of the Anscombe Centre, Oxford, and a trustee of the Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth.
Bishop Sherrington is a member of the Overseas Seminary Committee and a trustee of the Pontifical Beda College and the Venerable English College in Rome. He is also a trustee of the Royal English College in Valladolid, Spain.
On hearing of his appointment, Archbishop-elect Sherrington said: “I thank Pope Francis for his trust in me on my appointment as Archbishop of Liverpool, which I accept with humility and joy. We pray for our Holy Father at this time of sickness as he recuperates and prepares for Holy Week and Easter.
“I look forward to serving as shepherd of the historic and faith-filled Church in the Archdiocese of Liverpool, which is rich in its heritage of the English Martyrs, Irish immigration, and now looks to the future.
“Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP has served Liverpool Archdiocese with love and generosity, and I am honoured to succeed him… I look forward to building on the foundations already laid in the synodal pastoral plan Together on the Road, to serve the Church and bring the hope and joy of Jesus Christ to all people.
“In this Jubilee Year, we are a people living the hope of Christ who has loved us, saved us and walks with us. We share this hope with other Christians and with people of all faiths and goodwill. I welcome meeting and building friendships with leaders – both Christian and of other faiths – which has always been a strong dimension of the Church here.
“May we receive the fire of the Holy Spirit into our hearts to bring Christ to others.”
Cardinal Vincent Nichols said of the appointment: “Those who have been following reports on the health of the Holy Father, and keeping him in their prayers, will know that he has continued his work – including the appointment of bishops.
“I am so pleased that he has appointed our Bishop John Sherrington to be the next Archbishop of Liverpool. Liverpool is, of course, my home diocese, and I am delighted that it is to be led by Bishop John.
“In Westminster, we know his gifts, dedication and utter generosity only too well. We will miss him greatly. Archbishop Malcolm will welcome him with great joy, as I’m sure will everyone across the extensive Archdiocese of Liverpool.
“Today we offer our profound thanks to Bishop John for all that he has given to us over these last 14 years, and we assure him, wholeheartedly, of our prayers and constant support.
“And, of course, we continue to hold Pope Francis very much in our prayers, too.”
His installation will take place at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King on Tuesday, 27 May, at 12 noon.
(Photo credit: Westminster Diocese website)
