Resignation of bishop of Northampton, England, and appointment of successor

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Northampton, England, presented by Bishop Peter Doyle.

The Holy Father has appointed as bishop of Northampton, England, the Reverend David James Oakley, of the clergy of the archdiocese of Birmingham, currently rector of Saint Mary’s College Seminary in Oscott.

Reverend David James Oakley

The Reverend David James Oakley was born in Stourbridge, in the archdiocese of Birmingham, on 28 November 1955. He completed his high school studies at Saint Mary’s College in Oscott and became a priest for the archdiocese of Birmingham on 5 July 1980. He was awarded a doctorate in pastoral theology from the University of Hull, a licentiate in theology from the University of Louvain and a Master’s degree from the Maryvale Institute.

He has held the following offices: parish vicar, first at Saint Patrick’s, Birmingham (1980-1982), then at Corpus Christi, Wolverhampton (1982-1985), and finally at Saint Peter Apostle, Leamington Spa (1985-1988). He then served as parish priest, first at Saint Joseph’s, Whitnash (1988-1992), then at Christ the King, Kingstanding (1992-1999), at St. Giles, Cheadle (1999-2003), and finally at Our Lady of the Assumption, Maryvale (2003-2013), teaching simultaneously in the Department for Family and Catechesis at the Maryvale Institute in Birmingham.

In 2013 he was appointed as rector of Saint Mary’s College Seminary, Oscott and has served as member of the Cathedral Chapter of the Archdiocese of Birmingham since 2016.