Pope appoints new Archbishop of Glasgow

Bishop Willian Nolan

Source: SCMO/Galloway Diocese

Pope Francis has today (Friday 4 February 2022) appointed Bishop William Nolan, as Archbishop of Glasgow. The new Archbishop will succeed Archbishop Philip Tartaglia who died in January 2021. Bishop Nolan is currently the Bishop of Galloway.

Reacting to the announcement, Bishop Nolan said: "I feel overwhelmed by the trust Pope Francis is putting in me by appointing me as Archbishop of Glasgow. It will be wrench for me to leave Galloway Diocese where for seven years I have experienced the kindness and friendship of so many people, particularly the clergy. God truly blessed me by sending me to Galloway and I hope that my successor there will be similarly blessed.

"As I overcome my initial shock at being appointed Archbishop my thoughts now turn to the challenges that lies ahead. I look forward to working with everyone in the Archdiocese, laity and clergy, to carry out the mission that we share of proclaiming God's good news and of bringing the joy of the gospel into the lives of the people of today."

Bishop Nolan added: "I am well aware of my own inadequacies and of the difficulties the Church faces today. Thank God therefore that we can sure of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the Church. As I leave the Diocese of Galloway behind, from now on I belong to Glasgow. And I assure the people of Glasgow of my commitment and dedication to them.

"Please remember me in your prayers."

Welcoming the appointment, Mgr Hugh Bradly, who has been Administrator of the Archdiocese of Glasgow since the death of Archbishop Philip Tartaglia, said:

"I am delighted with the appointment of Bishop Nolan; I offer him a warm welcome to the Archdiocese of Glasgow and a promise of prayers on behalf of all the clergy, religious and laity. May our good God bless him with health and strength to lead us in faith."

Fr William McFadden, Vicar General of the diocese of Galloway commented: "As Bishop of Galloway, Bishop Nolan presented a pastoral vision with a genuinely collaborative approach. He led with humility and determination, inspired by the initiatives of Pope Francis, and focussing on the needs of the Church for the 21st century. This appointment will allow him to serve both the people of Glasgow and the wider Church with the same abilities with which he served us in Galloway for seven valuable years. We will miss him, but appreciate greatly the contribution which he made, and the legacy which he leaves."

William Nolan was born on 26th January 1954, the fourth of eleven children born to William and Catherine Nolan (both deceased). He was baptised in St Patrick's Church, Craigneuk and educated at Cathedral Primary School in Motherwell, St Patrick's Primary, Craigneuk, St Vincent's College, Langbank (1965-67), and St Mary's College, Blairs (1967-71). His senior seminary formation was at the Scots College, Rome (1971-78) where he graduated with a Licence in Sacred Theology.

Father Nolan was ordained priest for the Diocese of Motherwell on 30th June 1977. He has ministered as assistant priest of Our Lady of Lourdes, East Kilbride, 1978-1980; assistant priest of St David's, Plains, 1980-1983; vice-rector of the Scots College, Rome, 1983-1990; assistant priest of St Bridget's, Baillieston, 1990-1994; parish priest of Our Lady of Lourdes, East Kilbride, 1994 to February 2015. He has held the posts of chairman of the Council of Priests, 1992-1998; chairman of the Committee for Ongoing Formation of Priests, 1993-2004; administrator, St John Ogilvie, Vicar General of Motherwell Diocese, June 2014 to February 2015.

Bishop Nolan was nominated as Bishop of Galloway on 22nd November 2014 by Pope Francis, and Ordained in the Grand Hall, Kilmarnock on 14th February 2015 by Archbishop Leo Cushley of St. Andrew's and Edinburgh.