Pope appoints new Bishop Ordinary for the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham
His Holiness, Pope Francis, has appointed the Reverend David Waller as the next Ordinary and the first Bishop Ordinary of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham.
His appointment follows the Holy Father’s acceptance of the resignation submitted by Monsignor Keith Newton.
On hearing the news, Monsignor Newton said: “I am delighted that our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has appointed Father David Waller as not only the second Ordinary of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham but the first to be in episcopal orders.
“I have known Bishop-elect Waller for over 20 years. He was amongst the first group of Anglican clergy to be ordained to the Catholic priesthood under the provisions of the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum coetibus in 2011.
“From its beginning he has been fully involved in the life of the Ordinariate and has served as chairman of its Governing Council and as Vicar General since 2020. He has been a wise and trusted confidant and is well known and respected by the clergy of the Ordinariate.
“Bishop-elect Waller has long experience in pastoral ministry both in the Church of England and in the Catholic Church, and he is presently Parish Priest of Christ the King, Chingford in the Diocese of Brentwood. I know he will use his pastoral gifts as he guides the Ordinariate into the next chapter of its life.
“We ask that the prayers of Our Lady of Walsingham and Saint John Henry Newman will guide him as he takes on the new responsibility in the Church.”
Bishop-elect David Waller said: “It is both humbling and a great honour to have been chosen by Pope Francis to succeed Monsignor Keith Newton as the Ordinary of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham.
“I have been a member of the Ordinariate since its inception in 2011, when groups of clergy and laity, up and down the country, were received into the full communion of the Catholic Church under the provisions of the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum coetibus.
“The past 13 years have been a time of grace and blessing as small and vulnerable communities have grown in confidence, rejoicing to be a full yet distinct part of the Catholic Church.
“I already know well the priests and lay faithful of the Ordinariate and I now look forward to serving them in this new role. My experience of these past years is that there is nothing to be feared in responding to the Lord and that Jesus does great things with us despite our inadequacies.
“I humbly entrust myself to your prayers as we together embark upon the next chapter of the life of the Ordinariate. May Our Lady of Walsingham and St John Henry Newman pray for us.”
Bishop Alan Williams sm, Bishop of Brentwood, said: “I was delighted to hear of the appointment of Fr David Waller as the Bishop of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham. The diocese has been supported by Ordinariate clergy over a number of years and on behalf of the diocese I assure Bishop David Elect, and the Ordinariate, of our continued good wishes and prayers.”
Biography
Bishop-elect David Waller was born in London on 10 June 1961 and educated at the School of St David and St Katharine in Hornsey and the College of Ripon and York St John, University of Leeds.
From 1983 to 1989 he worked as a community worker in Bradford, which was one of the most impoverished areas of the United Kingdom.
In 1989 he left Bradford to train for Anglican orders at Chichester Theological College and was Ordained Deacon in 1991 and Priest the following year. He served two parochial appointments in the Diocese of Chichester: Curate of Aldwick (1991-1995) and Team Vicar of Crawley (1995-2000); during this time, he was also a member of the Diocesan Synod and a part-time hospital chaplain.
In 2000 he moved to East London to become Vicar of the Parish of St Saviour, Walthamstow; he remained in this post until his reception into the Catholic Church.
From 2005 until 2010 he served as a member of the General Synod of the Church of England.
In Holy Week 2011, he was received into the full communion of the Catholic Church. After he was ordained to the diaconate and the priesthood, following the provisions of Anglicanorum coetibus, he was named Pastor of the Walthamstow Ordinariate Mission and has also held two diocesan parochial appointments: Parochial Administrator of St John the Baptist Ilford (2011-2015) and Parish Priest of Christ the King Chingford (since 2015).
Bishop-elect Waller has been Chairman of the Governing Council of the Ordinariate since its establishment; and for the past four years has served as Vicar General.