Nigel Parker receives Papal Knighthood

l-r: Peter Sefton-Williams, Canon Martin Edwards, Nigel Parker, Bishop Philip Moger, Mary Maxwell and Bernard Waddingham at the Investiture.

The Mass and Investiture of Nigel Parker as a Knight of the Order of Pope St Sylvester took place at the church of St Mary Magdalen, Wandsworth, on Saturday, 2 November.

Bishop Philip Moger presided at the investiture. This was his final public duty as Auxiliary Bishop of Southwark before taking up his new appointment as Bishop of Plymouth, where he will be installed on Saturday, 9 November.

Nigel Parker told ICN: "I was delighted to receive this honour which was awarded in connection with my work as Director of the Catholic Union."

A barrister (Middle Temple) Nigel was a legal adviser at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Association for 27 years, after which he served as Director of the Catholic Union for more than seven years.

Established on 1 September 1831, by Pope Gregory XVI, the Order of Pope St Sylvester is one of the five orders of knighthood of the Holy See, intended to honour Catholic laypeople who are actively involved in the life of the Church, "particularly as it is exemplified in the exercise of their professional duties"... "and the examples they set in their communities and their countries."

The Catholic Union is the principal lay forum dedicated to the defence of Catholic values and the promotion of the common good in Parliament and public life. For more information see: https://catholicunion.org.uk/