Born June 1961, Wester Moffat, Lanarkshire.
Educated: All Saints’ Primary School, Coatdyke (1966 – 1967); St John the Baptist’s Primary School, Uddingston (1967 – 1973); Holy Cross High School, Hamilton (1973 – 1975); St Mary’s College, Blairs (1975 – 1979); Pontifical Scots College, Rome (1979 – 1987); Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome (PhB 1981; STB 1984; JCD 1997); Pontifical Liturgical Institute, Rome (SLL 1987).
Ordained priest 7 July 1985 by the Right Reverend Joseph Devine, Bishop of Motherwell; curate Our Lady of Good Aid Cathedral, Motherwell (1987 – 1988); curate St Serf’s, Airdrie (1988 – 1992); curate St Aidan’s, Wishaw (1992 – 1993); chaplain St Margaret’s High School, Airdrie; chaplain Our Lady’s High School, Motherwell (1992 – 1993); chaplain St Aidan’s High School, Wishaw (1992 – 1993); Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, Rome (1994 – 1997); Second Secretary, Apostolic Nunciature, Burundi (1997 – 2001); First Secretary, Apostolic Nunciature, Portugal (2001 – 2004); First Secretary, Holy See’s Observer Mission to the United Nations, New York (2004 – 2007); Counsellor, Apostolic Nunciature, South Africa, Namibia, Swaziland, Lesotho (2007 – 2009); Counsellor, Apostolic Nunciature, Botswana (2008 – 2009); Head of English Language Section, Secretariat of State, Vatican City (2009 – 2013); Prelate of the Anticamera, the Apostolic Palace (2012 – 2013). Grand Cross Conventual Chaplain ad honorem Knights of Malta (2015); Knight Commander with Star, Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem (2016 ); Grand Prior, Scottish Lieutenancy, Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre (2022).
Nominated 8th Archbishop and Metropolitan of St Andrews & Edinburgh by Pope Francis 24 July 2013 and consecrated by His Eminence James Michael Cardinal Harvey, Cardinal-Deacon of San Pio V a Villa Carpegna and Archpriest of the Patriarchal Basilica of St Paul’s Outside the Walls, 21 September 2013, the feast of St Matthew the Apostle.
