Nicholas Gilbert Erskine Hudson (born 14 February 1959) is an English prelate of theCatholic Church and bishop-elect for the diocese of Plymouth. He served as an auxiliary bishop of theRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Westminster from 2014 to 2025.
Nicholas Hudson was born on 14 February 1959 inWimbledon, London. He completed his high school studies at the Jesuits'Wimbledon College and then studied atJesus College, Cambridge, earning a master's degree in history. From 1981 to 1987 he was trained for the priesthood at theVenerable English College in Rome, studying at thePontifical Gregorian University where he obtained a bachelor's degree and a licentiate in dogmatic theology. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Southwark on 19 July 1986.[1]
He was first assistant pastor in the parish of Canterbury from 1987 to 1991 and then spent a year at the Catholic University of Louvain for catechetical studies. From 1993 to 2000 he was director of the Christian Education Center of the Archdiocese of Southwark. In July 1993 he was named a member of the Council of Consultors of that archdiocese. In September 2000 he became vice rector of the Venerable English College and then served as rector from January 2004 to September 2013, when he became pastor of Sacred Heart parish in Wimbledon,[1] the parish where he was baptized and ordained.[2]
He received his episcopal consecration on 4 June 2014 from CardinalVincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, on 4 June 2014.[3] In that role he had responsibility for the pastoral care of Central and East London, consisting of the Deaneries of Camden, Hackney, Islington, Marylebone, Tower Hamlets and Westminster. He also had oversight of the Diocese of Westminster's Agency for Evangelisation, Youth Ministry, and Justice and Peace.[3]
On 7 July 2023, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis had named him to participate in the Synod of Bishops on Synodality.[4]
