Rt Rev. Michael Campbell OSA was formally inaugurated as Sixth Bishop of Lancaster on 1st May 2009. The inauguration was marked by a Mass celebrated in Lancaster Cathedral.
Please direct all correspondence to:
The Bishop’s Office, Pastoral Centre, Balmoral Road, Lancaster LA1 3BT
Episcopal Motto
Ecce nova facio omnia: “Behold, I make all things new” (Rev. 21:5)
A brief biography
Rt Rev. Michael Campbell OSA was born in Larne, Northern Ireland, on 2nd October 1941. He comes from a family of six: three brothers and two sisters. After attending Campion House, Osterley, 1960-1962, he entered the Augustinian Order at Clare Priory in August 1962. On completion of his novitiate he studied philosophy in Dublin for two years, and subsequently obtained BA in Semitic languages in University College, Dublin. He completed his studies for the priesthood at the Gregorian University, Rome, 1968-1772, having been ordained priest by Bishop Pearson in the chapel of Austin Friars School, Carlisle on 16th September 1971.
He served as teacher-chaplain at Christ the King School, Southport, and also as parish curate at St John Stone’s 1972-1975. From 1972-1985 he served in St Monica’s, Hoxton, London as Prior of the community and teacher-chaplain at Bishop Challoner Girls’ School in the East End of London. During this period he obtained his Master’s degree in Biblical Studies from King’s College.
Michael Campbell served in Jos, Northern Nigeria at St Augustine’s Major Seminary when he lectured in Scripture 1985 -1989. He then worked in the Diocese of Lancaster, teaching at Austin Friars School and holding the post of Episcopal Vicar for Religious under the late Bishop Brewer, 1990- 1999. For the last eight years he has been Prior and Parish Priest of St Augustine’s Parish, Hammersmith in the archdiocese of Westminster, where he has been Episcopal Vicar for religious.
Ordination
On Monday 31st March 2008, he was ordained bishop by Rt Rev. Patrick O’Donoghue, fifth Bishop of Lancaster, at St Peter’s Cathedral. Pictures of the ordination can be seen on the Cathedral Blog: click here and scroll down.
Copies of the DVD of Bishop Campbell’s ordination can be bought from the Cathedral for £10 (plus £2 p&p for postal orders), subject to availability. Click here for more details.
Bishop Campbell's resignation was accepted on his 75th Birthday.