The Catholic Herald's Leading UK Catholics 2023

Every year, the Catholic Herald draws up a list of prominent Catholics in the UK – and every year, the criteria for entry are slightly different. Those on the list are the Catholics who are making a difference to society and the Catholic community, either through their actions – such as Michael Spencer donating £6.25 million to Worth School for a new sixth-form building – their political and moral leadership, or merely by example. As with our US Catholic leaders survey, one theme is emerging. Namely, how lay Catholics are taking up the reins of Church leadership at a time when many clergy shy away from public debate.  There are notable exceptions, but this trend towards lay leadership – especially in education, where we feature several key figures – is a worrying contrast from the Victorian days of John Henry Newman, who was a well-known public figure. Equally popular, during the post-war period, were priests such as Ronald Knox, Jesuit Frederick Copleston and Farm Street’s Father Martin d’Arcy, who would debate athiests on the BBC. This year, we focus on Catholic influentials who have gained prominence for their good works as well as those who use their position to help Catholic causes and spread the Church’s mission. Notable new entries include pro-life activist Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, who was arrested for praying silently outside an abortion clinic, as well as Andrew Cusack, who co-founded Catholics in the Conservative Party and works as a political adviser to Catholic MP Sir Edward Leigh, also on the list. Staying in politics, we include Lord McFall, the first Catholic to hold the position of Lord Speaker, while in education we feature academic and Vatican adviser Anna Rowlands. There are many more names on the list, including the pioneering computer scientist Ilyas Khan, who is leading the debate on where the Church stands on AI. We hope you will agree that everyone on the list deserves recognition for the contribution they bring to Catholic life today. We would also like to thank the Catholic Union of Great Britain, notably James Somerville-Meikle, for collaborating on this survey.  Business and Philanthropy Lord Bamford Chairman, JCB Educated at Ampleforth, billionaire industrialist Anthony Bamford runs the family construction business, which employs around 10,000 people. He also runs the Lord Bamford Foundation, which aims to develop and promote the science of mechanical engineering by giving grants to individuals and organisations for education and training.  Lord and Lady Brennan Barrister and philanthropists A King’s Counsel, Lord Brennan was appointed a Labour peer in May 2000; he resigned from the party under Jeremy Corbyn. He and his wife, Pilar, have supported a wide range of Catholic causes in the UK as well as Spain and Latin America. Lord Brennan is a patron of Catholic Voices and is a past president of the Catholic Union. Peter, John and Denise Coates Co-founders, Bet365 Peter Coates co-founded the hugely successful online betting company Bet365 – which he runs with his children John and Denise – and is chairman of Stoke City Football Club. The son of a Catholic miner, Coates is a devoted philanthropist and has given significant sums to the Labour Party, as well as to CAFOD and St Joseph’s College, Trent Vale. Sir Rocco Forte and Olga Polizzi  Hoteliers Sir Rocco is co-owner of the Catholic Herald and chairman of Rocco Forte Hotels. An active philanthropist in the education sector particularly, he funded a series of lectures at Westminster Cathedral. His sister, Olga Polizzi, is deputy chairman of Forte Hotels and also owns two of her own hotels. She is on the council of the King Edward VII Hospital and a trustee of the Italian Medical Charity, among other charitable endeavours. Peter Hugh Smith Chief executive, CCLA Investment Management Ltd Since 2009, Peter Hugh Smith has been chief executive of CCLA, the UK’s largest investment manager for charities, religious organisations and the public sector. CCLA has looked after the investments of over 36,000 charities. He is also chair of governors at Bishopswood School, an academy-run special-educational-needs school in Oxfordshire. Graham Hutton Business leader and philanthropist Graham Hutton spent his career in banking and co-founded private equity firm Hutton Collins LLP.  He now concentrates on charitable work and philanthropy.  He was Chairman of Aid to the Church in Need UK for nine years before stepping down in 2022.  A generous donor to Catholic causes, he is a Knight of Magistral Grace in the Order of Malta, Deputy Chairman and head of the Finance Committee of the Orders of St John Care Trust, and a board member of the International Theological Institute in Austria.   Ilyas Khan Founder, Cambridge Quantum Computing Ilyas Khan founded Cambridge Quantum Computing, one of Bloomberg Business’ Top 50 Innovators, in 2015. A convert from Islam, Khan became interested in Catholicism after he discovered the work of Hans Urs von Balthasar and St John Henry Newman. A keen philanthropist, he is a patron of the Christian Heritage Centre at Stonyhurst College. Oliver Pawle Chairman, Korn Ferry and philanthropist Oliver Pawle is the London-based chairman of Korn Ferry Board Services Practice. He has advised companies including Vodafone, the Royal Bank of Scotland and the Bank of England. He is a dedicated philanthropist, promoting the Catholic faith in several causes. Lord Spencer of Alresford Businessman and philanthropist Educated at Worth School and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, Michael Spencer is one of the City of London’s best-known entrepreneurs. In 2003, he founded ICAP Charity Day, which raises money for 2,200 different projects. Spencer is also the chairman of the Centre for Policy Studies think tank.  John Studzinski  Managing director, PIMCO and philanthropist Managing director of PIMCO, a global investment management company, John Studzinski is a prolific philanthropist. He is the founder and chair of the Genesis Foundation, a UK-based charitable foundation that nurtures the careers of young artists; he has also served as an adviser to the Vatican and as a non-executive director of the Home Office. Media Gavin Ashenden Writer and broadcaster As an Anglican clergyman, Gavin Ashenden was an honorary chaplain to Queen Elizabeth II from 2008 to 2017. He was received into the Catholic Church in 2019 and now writes and speaks as a lay apologist on a variety of topics. He hosts the Catholic Herald’s podcast, “Merely Catholic”. Lord Bird Founder, the Big Issue John Bird has been a crossbench peer since 2015. He is a social entrepreneur, best known as the co-founder of the Big Issue. Speaking at a Catholic Union event in November 2021, he described himself as being a devout Catholic in his teenage years before becoming a “devout Marxist” and returning to his faith in later life. Joanna Bogle Journalist, author and broadcaster A seasoned journalist, author and broadcaster, Joanna Bogle has written some 20 books and continues regularly to champion Catholic values in the media. She is a founder member of the Association for Catholic Women in England and runs Catholic history walks around London. Paul Goodman Editor, Conservative Home A former MP, Paul Goodman is the editor of the Conservative Home website. During the Conservative leadership campaign last summer, Conservative Home provided a window into the attitudes and opinions of Conservative Party members. Born to Jewish parents in London, he converted to Catholicism in his mid-twenties. Lord Moore of Etchingham Journalist and author Charles Moore is a former editor of the Daily Telegraph, the Spectator and the Sunday Telegraph and a regular contributor to the British press. The authorised biographer of Margaret Thatcher, he entered the House of Lords in 2020 as a non-affiliated peer. He is a patron of the Latin Mass Society. Fraser Nelson Editor, the Spectator Fraser Nelson has been editor of the Spectator since 2009. Raised as a Catholic in Scotland, he is a leading political Conservative commentator. Other Catholic staffers on the Spectator include deputy editor Freddy Gray and commissioning editor Mary Wakefield. Tim Stanley Journalist and author A self-proclaimed traditionalist, convert and former academic Tim Stanley is a columnist and leader writer for the Daily Telegraph and a regular contributor to the Guardian, Spectator and other media outlets. He has presented BBC Radio 4’s Thought for the Day and appeared on its Moral Maze show. Brendan Walsh Editor, the Tablet A veteran and well-respected journalist with degrees in religious studies and theology, Brendan Walsh began his media career with the Catholic Truth Society. Previously head of communications at CAFOD and publishing director of Darton, Longman & Todd, he has been editor of the Tablet since 2017.  Ed West & Mary Kenny Deputy editor, UnHerd; journalist and author Former deputy editor of the Catholic Herald,  Ed West is now deputy editor of UnHerd and the author of several books. Following his debut The Diversity Illusion, Peter Oborne called him “one of the most interesting of the rising generation of political writers”. His mother, Mary Kenny, is also an author and journalist, and continues to write for the Herald. Charles Wilson President, Radio Maria England Charles Wilson is a retired oncologist and the president of Radio Maria England, a Catholic radio station based in Cambridge with studios in London, based at St Dominic’s Priory in Belsize Park. A non-profit registered charity with almost 200 volunteers, the station promotes traditional Catholic values on radio and online. Politics Lord Alton of Liverpool Parliamentarian David Alton has sat as a crossbench peer in the House of Lords since 1997, where he continues to campaign for the sanctity of human life, human rights and human dignity. Lord Alton has worked with numerous charities including Aid to the Church in Need and Jubilee Action, which he co-founded. Thérèse Coffey MP Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Thérèse Coffey sits as MP for the Suffolk Coastal constituency, and served briefly as health secretary in Liz Truss’s short-lived ministry of 2022, before being moved to DEFRA by Rishi Sunak. She voted against the legalisation of same sex-marriage: “None of us was elected on a platform to redefine marriage,” she said.  Baroness Hollins Professor of psychiatry; adviser to Pope Francis on safeguarding Sheila Hollins is one of the UK’s foremost authorities on learning disability and mental health. In 2014, Pope Francis appointed her a member of the newly created Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. Hollins is the founder of Beyond Words, which produces picture books to help people with communication difficulties. Mike Kane MP Member of Parliament for Wythenshawe Mike Kane founded Catholics for Labour and serves as a Shadow Transport Minister. He is a vice president of the Catholic Union and convenor of the Catholic Legislators Network. Sir Edward Leigh MP Member of Parliament for Gainsborough Edward Leigh is an outspoken Catholic who frequently addresses parliament on ethical matters, including arguing for tightening the abortion law and a ban on human embryonic research. He is president of the Catholic Union of Great Britain. Lord McFall of Alcluith Lord Speaker John McFall is the first Catholic to hold the position of Lord Speaker. A former Labour MP and chair of the Treasury Select Committee, he was made a peer in 2010. He is regularly to be seen at the weekly Catholic Mass in the Palace of Westminster.  Lord Patten of Barnes Parliamentarian The last governor of Hong Kong, Chris Patten continues to be vocal in his criticism of the totalitarian conduct of the Chinese government and its “thuggish” persecution of its own citizens. He has sat as a Conservative peer since 2005 and is chancellor of the University of Oxford.  Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg MP Member of Parliament for North East Somerset Jacob Rees-Mogg served as leader of the House of Commons under Boris Johnson and briefly as business secretary under Liz Truss; he is a prominent social conservative and Eurosceptic.  Rajiv Shah Special adviser to the Prime Minister Originally from the Seychelles, Rajiv Shah has become a familiar face in Whitehall. He has served as a political special adviser in a number of different roles, including to Robert Buckland MP when he was justice secretary and lord chancellor. Shah is currently based in the policy team at Downing Street, providing advice on legal and constitutional matters. Alexander Stafford MP Member of Parliament for Rother Valley Alex Stafford was educated at Ealing Abbey School and then at St Benet’s Hall, Oxford; he has lamented its closure both in parliament and in the pages of the Catholic Herald. He is a vice-chair of the Conservative Party and became chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Holy See earlier this year. Ann Widdecombe  Former politician; media commentator and author Prolific media commentator and former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe came into contact with Catholicism during her anti-abortion campaigns during the 1990s, which led to her conversion. A former Big Brother contestant, she also sat as a Brexit Party MEP from 2019 to 2021, and announced earlier this year that she had become a member of Reform UK. LITERATURE AND THE ARTS (Gabriele Finaldi at the National Gallery) Gabriele Finaldi Director, the National Gallery A former director of the Prado in Madrid, Gabriele Finaldi was appointed director of the National Gallery in his home city of London in 2015. He has said that his faith gives him “a sense of the sacramental nature of imagery”, and he co-curated the National Gallery’s recent exhibition on the life, legacy and reception of St Francis of Assisi. Pierpaolo and Chiara Finaldi CEO, Catholic Truth Society; founder, Catholic Mothers Apostolate Pierpaolo Finaldi returned to the Catholic Truth Society as its chief executive in 2019. Traditionally set up as a Victorian pamphleteering society, it now publishes a range of religious literature. His wife Chiara is the founder of the Catholic Mothers Apostolate, which seeks to help Catholic women raise their children as faithful disciples. Sir Stephen Hough Musician The recipient of a MacArthur “genius grant”, Stephen Hough is one of the world’s leading concert pianists, as well as a renowned composer, writer and painter. A convert at 19, he once thought about becoming a Franciscan friar and has written about his youth in his recent memoir, Enough: Scenes from Childhood. Sir James MacMillan Musician Originally from Cumnock, Ayrshire, classical composer and conductor James MacMillan returns there to organise an annual music festival. His music is a fusion of influences from his Scottish heritage, Catholic faith, social conscience and close connection with Celtic folk music. MacMillan is a lay Dominican, as is his wife, Lynne. John Martin Robinson Architectural historian For decades, John Martin Robinson has been an outspoken conservative voice in a trade dominated by modernism. He chairs the art and architecture committee of Westminster Cathedral and has been librarian to the Duke of Norfolk since 1978. He is also Fitzalan Herald Extraordinary. He is a regular contributor to the Catholic Herald.   Nigel Newton Chief executive, Bloomsbury The man who discovered JK Rowling and the Harry Potter series, Nigel Newton was born in San Francisco in 1955. He read English at Cambridge University and is a member of the lay community at Worth Abbey and a trustee of the Catholic Trust for England and Wales.  EDUCATION Philip Booth Director of Policy and Research at the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales Philip Booth is director of Policy and Research at the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales. Formerly an adviser to the Bank of England, he is also director of Catholic Mission at St Mary’s University, Twickenham and writes about the relationship between Catholic social teaching and economics. John Browne Headmaster, Stonyhurst College Stonyhurst is John Browne’s third headship in independent day and boarding schools, having previously been headmaster of Westminster Cathedral Choir School in the heart of London and St Aloysius’s College, Glasgow. The Jesuit boarding school in Lancashire appears to be thriving under his leadership.  Stephen Bullivant Senior lecturer in Theology and Ethics, St Mary’s University, Twickenham Stephen Bullivant converted to Catholicism while completing his doctorate on Vatican II and the salvation of unbelievers. In 2010, he was the first non-American to receive the LaCugna Award for new scholars from the Catholic Theological Society of America. He writes and speaks extensively on the theology and sociology of atheism, and the new evangelisation.  Eamon Duffy Emeritus Professor of the History of Christianity, Cambridge Eamon Duffy is a fellow of Magdalene College, Cambridge. A former member of the Pontifical Historical Commission, his Stripping of the Altars changed perceptions of the English Reformation. He is a fellow of the British Academy and of the Society of Antiquaries, and a frequent broadcaster on radio and TV. Andrew Hobbs Headmaster, Downside School Andrew Hobbs took over as headmaster of Downside in 2018 after ten years as deputy head. He guided the school through the turbulent waters of the IICSA inquiry and the departure of the monks from Downside Abbey in 2022. The school seems to be doing very well under his leadership, with strong Catholic values being maintained.  Ruth Kelly Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Research and Enterprise, St Mary’s University, Twickenham Former Labour MP Ruth Kelly was appointed in 2020 by Pope Francis to the Vatican Council for the Economy, which oversees the Holy See’s finances. A member of Opus Dei, she held fast to her Catholic beliefs throughout her time in parliament and declined to join the Department of Health because of her opposition to abortion. Anthony McClaran Vice-Chancellor, St Mary’s University, Twickenham Anthony McClaran has been vice-chancellor of St Mary’s University, Twickenham since 2020. In 2021, he was appointed by Pope Francis to the board of the Agency for the Evaluation and Promotion of Quality in Ecclesiastical Faculties, which provides higher-education quality assurance to the Holy See. Stuart McPherson Headmaster, Worth School Worth School is going from strength to strength under Stuart McPherson’s leadership, and the school now has around 650 pupils, over 60 per cent of whom are Catholic. The Australian McPherson was formerly a housemaster at Eton, and has been in post since 2015.  Anna Rowlands Academic and Vatican adviser Anna Rowlands is professor of Catholic Social Thought and Practice at Durham University; her books include Towards a Politics of Communion: Catholic Social Teaching in Dark Times. Earlier this year, she was seconded to the Vatican to work on the preparation of the meetings of the Synod on Synodality. Thomas Pink Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, King’s College London Thomas Pink works and publishes in ethics, philosophy of mind and action, free will, the metaphysics of power and causation, political and legal philosophy, and on the history of all these areas, especially from the 16th to the 18th centuries. He remains active and has recently lectured at the universities of Oxford, Harvard, Berkeley and Notre Dame. Sr Judith Russi SSMN Director, EducareM Sr Judith Russi is director of EducareM, which promotes the Church’s educational mission, and has worked for decades in all fields of Catholic education. She is the author of books on the radical mission of Catholic education for today and is a pioneer of innovation and challenging initiatives, especially in the spiritual formation of school leaders. Danuta Staunton Headmistress, St Mary’s School, Ascot Danuta Staunton attended St Augustine’s Priory, Ealing and the University of York. Having worked in publishing with the Ark Group in London, she teaches English at St Mary’s, Ascot, one of the leading Catholic girls’ schools in the UK – and alma mater of Antonia Fraser and Olga Polizzi – where she has been headmistress since 2019. Public affairs Ryan Christopher Deputy director, Alliance Engagement at ADF International A former seminarian, Ryan Christopher studied at the Angelicum and Gregoriana in Rome. He now works in alliance engagement at ADF International, a faith-based legal advocacy organisation defending fundamental freedoms and human dignity. He is a trustee of the Christian Heritage Centre at Stonyhurst and a co-founder of the Humanum Institute.  Andrew Cusack Co-founder, Catholics in the Conservative Party, and political adviser Well-known in Westminster, Andrew Cusack has served both as associate editor of The New Criterion and as a political adviser to Sir Edward Leigh MP. In 2022, he co-founded Catholics in the Conservative Party; he writes for the Catholic Herald.  Dame Rachel de Souza Children’s Commissioner for England Following a career in teaching, which included founding a multi-academy trust in East Anglia, Rachel de Souza was appointed Children’s Commissioner for England in 2021. She has been a vocal campaigner for the interests of children, from online safety to migration policy. Nigel Parker Director, the Catholic Union A former legal counsellor at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, since 2017 Nigel Parker has been director of the Catholic Union of Great Britain, the leading organisation for lay Catholics engaged in politics and public life. He is also director of the Catholic Union Charitable Trust and a trustee of several Catholic charities. Benedict Rogers Founder, Hong Kong Watch Benedict Rogers is a human-rights activist and journalist specialising in the Far East. He is co-founder and chair of Hong Kong Watch, an advocacy NGO launched to speak out for basic liberties and autonomy for Hong Kong. He is also the co-founder and deputy chair of the Conservative Party’s human rights commission. (Isabel Vaughan-Spruce | by ADF International) Isabel Vaughan-Spruce Director, March for Life UK Isabel Vaughan-Spruce is director of March for Life UK and has volunteered for many years in support of women in crisis pregnancies. She came to prominence earlier this year when she was arrested and taken to court for silently praying outside an abortion clinic. She was subsequently acquitted of all charges.  Chris Whitehouse Public affairs Chris Whitehouse is chairman and managing director of Whitehouse Communications, a public-affairs agency with offices in London and Brussels. He has worked behind the scenes on many campaigns where the Catholic Church takes an interest. He is also an associate lecturer at St Mary’s University, Twickenham. Charity Anton’ de Piro Chief of Staff, Stanhill Foundation  Anton’ de Piro previously worked for the Christian Heritage Centre at Stonyhurst and founded Open Church Doors, which encouraged lay Catholics to help clean up churches. He is now chief of staff of Ilyas Khan’s Stanhill Foundation, which provides significant support to various educational, Christian and cultural causes.  Lady Antonia Fraser and Lady Rachel Billington Historian; campaigner and author Lady Antonia Fraser is the author of multiple histories, biographies and works of fiction, including a series of detective novels. Her sister, Lady Rachel Billington, runs the Longford Trust, which campaigns for legal reform, and is a novelist and children’s author. Antonia and Rachel are daughters of the late Frank Pakenham, Earl of Longford. John Adam Fox Co-founder and chairman, FACE As chairman of Fellowship and Aid to Christians of the East (FACE), John Adam Fox works with political and religious leaders across the Middle East and the Vatican, as well as the British and French governments. Earlier this year, he organised the official visits to the UK of the Maronite and Chaldean Patriarchs.  Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow Founder, Mary’s Meals Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow is the founder and chief executive of the charity Mary’s Meals, a non-profit organisation that provides meals to some of the world’s poorest children. From initially providing school meals to around 200 children in Malawi in 2003, the charity now feeds almost 2.5 million children every day. Other Leslie Ferrar  Member, Vatican Council for the Economy Following a career in finance and business, Leslie Ferrar served as treasurer to the then-Prince of Wales from 2005 to 2012. She was appointed to Pope Francis’s Council for the Economy in 2020, which has been charged with the task of overseeing Vatican finances. Lady Celestria Hales President, British Association of the Order of Malta A former diarist for Harpers & Queen, Celestria Hales is president of the British Association of the Order of Malta, an office formerly held by her father, the 5th Earl of Gainsborough. Greg Pope Executive director, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales Greg Pope was Labour MP for Hyndburn between 1992 and 2010, after which he served as deputy director of the Catholic Education Service. Having been assistant general secretary to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England & Wales, he became its executive director in 2019. Joseph Shaw Chairman, Latin Mass Society Formerly a fellow in philosophy at St Benet’s Hall, Oxford, Joseph Shaw is known for defending and promoting the Traditional Latin Mass through the Latin Mass Society, which includes sponsoring priests in seminaries and organising national pilgrimages. He is frequently in the public eye, seeking to safeguard the Church’s teachings. Mark Watson-Gandy Chancellor, the British Association of the Order of Malta Barrister Mark Watson-Gandy specialises in UK insolvency law and is chair of the Biometrics and Forensic Ethics Group. He became chancellor of the British Association  of the Order of Malta in 2022.

The Catholic Herald's Leading UK Catholics 2023

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