OUR BISHOP
Bishop Paul Swarbrick was born on 2 July 1958 to George Vincent Swarbrick and Alice Swarbrick (Horn). He has three sisters and one brother.
He went to primary school in Garstang, Lancashire, and then on to Lancaster Royal Grammar school before training for the Priesthood at Ushaw College, Co Durham.
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Ordained priest on 10 July 1982 at Ss Mary & Michael’s church, Garstang, he would go on to serve as Assistant Priest at St Mary, Kells, Whitehaven (1982 – 1983), St Maria Goretti, Preston (1983 – 1984), St Cuthbert, Blackpool (1984 – 1990) where he was also Chaplain to St Mary’s Catholic High School, Blackpool before volunteering to serve on the missions in Monze Diocese, Zambia (1990 – 2005).
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Upon his return from Zambia, after fifteen years, he assisted at English Martyrs, Preston (2005 – 2006) and for a few months at Mater Amabilis, Ambleside until he was appointed Parish Priest of the Sacred Heart, Preston whilst also in charge of St Walburge, Preston (2007 – 2010).
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Before his ordination as Bishop he was Parish Priest of Our Lady & St Michael, Workington (2010-2018) – now the enlarged parish of Christ the Good Shepherd, Workington – Harrington and was also the local Dean (Vicar Forane) for West Cumbria. In 2015 he was made a Canon of Lancaster Cathedral Chapter.
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He was announced as the seventh Bishop of Lancaster by Pope Francis on 12 February 2018 and ordained Bishop and installed as Diocesan Bishop by Bishop Michael Campbell on 9 April 2018 at St Peter’s Cathedral, Lancaster.