Know Your Council Officers

His Excellency The Right Honourable Lord Brennan of Bibury, KCMCO, QC,
Lord Brennan was appointed to the Council of the British and Irish Delegation in 2003 and holds the rank of Knight Commander of Merit with Star of the Sacred Military Order of Saint George.

Born in 1942, Lord Brennan graduated from Manchester University with a Bachelor of Law where subsequently he was honoured with a Doctorate. In 1968 he married Pilar Sanchez Moya by whom he has four sons.

Lord Brennan’s career began when he was called to the Bar at Gray’s Inn in 1967. Consequently, he was appointed Recorder of the Crown Court (1982) and has been a Queen’s Counsel since 1985 and since 1994 sits regularly as a Deputy High Court Judge. In 1999 Lord Brennan was elected Chairman of the Bar of England and Wales. He is also a member of the bars of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. In 2000 British lawyers voted Lord Brennan Barrister of the year.

Lord Brennan is a keen contributor in the globalisation of the legal profession and a key figure in the international legal relations. He has been actively involved in a number of international arbitrations (in particular for South America and South-East Asia). Lord Brennan is on a panel of Consultants to the World Bank for Latin America and South East Asia. He has co-operated with a number of Latin American states on development of judicial independence and training, law reforms and the role of lawyers in modern society. He is also a member of the London Court of International Arbitration, of the American Law Institute, Patron of the Peru Support Group and an Assessor to the British Home Secretary on Compensation for Victims of Miscarriages of Justice.

In 2000, on the advice of Prime Minister Tony Blair, HM The Queen elevated Lord Brennan to the Peerage and the House of Lords. He is an active parliamentarian and sits on numerous Parliamentary committees. Among them are the Select Committee on the European Union, the Sub-Committee on European Law and Institutions, the British-Latin American Parliamentary Group, etc.

Lord Brennan is very active in Roman Catholic affairs. In 2001 the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster appointed him as President of the influential Catholic Union of Great Britain. Lord Brennan is also the Patron of Consortium for Street Children UK, which works throughout the developing world.

Lord Brennan is also a frequent contributor to legal and medical journals. He was the General Editor of the 14th edition of Bullen and Leake on Pleadings, 2001.

His honours include Cruz de Honor de la Orden de San Raimondo de Renyafort (Spain), the Gold Medal of the Supreme Court of Mexico. He is also an Honorary Doctor of Law of the Universities of Manchester and Nottingham-Trent.

Judge Patrick Clyne, KM, KMCO,

Judge Patrick Clyne was appointed to the Council of the British and Irish Delegation in April 2006 and holds the rank of Knight of Merit with Star of the Sacred Military Order of Saint George.

Judge Patrick Clyne was born on 23 January 1946. He was educated at the Trinity College, Dublin where he began his undergraduate studies in Modern History, English and History of Art and continued with his postgraduate studies in Law.

Following his studies Judge Clyne became a certified solicitor in 1973 in Ireland and in 1992 in England and Wales. From 1974 to 1986 he was appointed a Special Lecturer and examiner in Statutory Land Law to the Incorporated Law Society in Ireland.

Judge Clyne was appointed a member of the Judiciary of Ireland in 2005. He is a Knight of Malta and is a member of the Presidential Council of the Irish Association of the Order and holds the award Grand Officer of Merit Pro Merito Melitensi of the Order of Malta. He is a member of the Senatus Academicus of the University of Dublin. He is a member of Council of the Royal Dublin Society and is a former Chairman of the Standing Committee of General Purposes and a former Chairman of the Library Committee of the Society. He is a member of the Board of the National Library of Ireland and Chairman of the Statutory Committee on Genealogy and Heraldry to advise the Chief Herald of Ireland.

His Eminence Cormac, Cardinal Murphy O'Connor, GCJCO, STL, PhL, Archbishop of Westminster, Prior of the British and Irish Delegation.

His Eminence, Cormac Cardinal Murphy O'Connor was born on 24 August 1932 in Reading, Berkshire. He was educated at the Presentation College, Reading, before going as a boarder to Prior Park College, Bath, for his secondary schooling. His Eminence began training for the priesthood in 1950 at the Venerable English College, Rome. Whilst at the College, he took a degree in philosophy (PhL) and theology (STL) at the Gregorian University, Rome. He was ordained priest in Rome on 28 October 1956.

Returning to England, the Cardinal’s first appointment was to Corpus Christi Parish, Portsmouth. In 1963 he was transferred to the Sacred Heart parish, Fareham, as assistant. At this time he was made diocesan Director of Vocations. In the summer of 1966 he became private secretary and chaplain to the Bishop of Portsmouth, the Rt. Rev. Derek Worlock and played a key part in helping Bishop Worlock establish the first Diocesan Pastoral Centre at Park Place, Wickham. His Eminence also played a part in the preparatory stages of the first National Conference of Priests in 1970.

In September 1970, the Cardinal was appointed parish priest of the Immaculate Conception parish, Portswood, Southampton. His term as parish priest was brief because at the end of 1971 the Holy See appointed him Rector of the Venerable English College, Rome, giving him the responsibility for the training of students for the priesthood. While Rector His Eminence acted as host to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Coggan, on the occasion of his historic visit to Pope Paul VI in 1977.
On 21 December 1977 Cormac Murphy-O'Connor was ordained Bishop of the diocese of Arundel and Brighton. He served as Chairman of the Bishops' Committee for Europe (1978 to 1983), and as Vice-President of the Laity Commission (1978 to 1983). From 1983 to 2000 he was Chairman of the Committee for Christian Unity, and, from 1994 to 2000, Chairman of the Department for Mission and Unity. From 1982 to 2000 he was Co-Chairman of the Anglican and Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC), whose latest document, The Gift of Authority, was published in 1999. In 2000 His Eminence was awarded a Doctorate of Divinity by the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey, in recognition of all his work for Christian unity.

The Cardinal was installed as tenth Archbishop of Westminster on 22 March 2000. In November 2000 he was elected President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales. Then in February 2001 he was created a cardinal by Pope John Paul II along with 43 others in the largest consistory ever, and was presented with the titular church of the Minor Basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva. The Basilica houses the relics of St Catherine of Siena, doctor of the Church and one of the Patron Saints of Europe, the tomb of the Dominican Friar Blessed Frà Angelico, the Patron Saint of Artists, the renowned 'Figure of the Risen Christ' by Michelangelo and frescoes by Frà Filippo Lippi.
Within months of his entry to the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor was appointed by Pope John Paul II as member of four different Vatican offices: the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, the Administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See, the Pontifical Council for the Study of Organisational and Economic Problems of the Holy See and the Presidential Committee of the Pontifical Council for the Family. In 2002, he was appointed as member of the Pontifical Council for Culture in April, as member of the Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church in June and as member of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity in October.

His Eminence has been particularly interested in youth work, sacramental programmes and the development of small communities. His previous diocese of Arundel and Brighton was the first English diocese to initiate the 'Renew' programme. His present diocese of Westminster is presently considering a possible way forward for spiritual renewal. In September 2000, the Cardinal invited Lord Nolan to chair an independent review on child protection in the Catholic Church in England and Wales. The Nolan Review published their First Report in April 2001 and their Final Report, A Programme for Action, in September 2001 out of which a new independent office has been established called 'COPCA' to oversee the protection of children and vulnerable adults.
In January 2002, at the invitation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor was the first member of the Catholic hierarchy since 1680 to deliver a sermon to a British monarch. This took place at Sandringham, the Sovereign's country residence in Norfolk, during the Anglican morning service. Present with The Queen were other members of the Royal Family and her household.

The Cardinal is an honorary bencher of the Inner Temple and in August 2001 was created a Freeman of the City of London. In June 2002, he was created a Bailiff Grand Cross of Honour and Devotion within the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and during the same month was honoured and invested as a Bailiff Knight Grand Cross of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George. His Eminence was simultaneously appointed by the Order’s Grand Master, HRH The Duke of Castro, as the spiritual Prior of the British and Irish delegation of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George.

Among the Cardinal’s personal hobbies and interests are music and sport, and his book The Family of the Church was published in 1984.

The Right Reverend George Stack, KC*HS, KCGCO, Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster, Sub-Prior of the British and Irish Delegation,

The Right Reverend George Stack was invested as Prior of the British and Irish delegation by HRH The Grand Prefect in November 2001. The ceremony took place in the Sacristy of Westminster Cathedral. Following the investiture of the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster into the Constantinian Order in June 2002 and his automatic appointment as Prior of the British and Irish Delegation, Bishop George Stack was reappointed as Sub-Prior. George Stack was born in 1946 and studied theology at St Edmund's College, Ware and obtained a degree in Education from the University of London. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1972.

Between 1972 and 1975 he was the curate at the Church of St Joseph in Hanwell, West London, and during that time he became involved in the Adult Education Service of the Diocese of Westminster, giving lectures, seminars and papers on the theological insights of the Second Vatican Council throughout the Diocese. Much of this work involved liturgical renewal. In 1975 Bishop Stack was appointed a member of the Diocesan Catechetical Team and was involved in arranging and participating in theological programmes for adults.

During that time he pursued a degree at the University of London's Institute of Education.

In 1977 Bishop Stack became curate at the Church of St Paul, Wood Green, London. In addition, he undertook responsibilities as Religious Adviser for London Weekend Television and some of the newly founded independent local radio stations. He was regarded as a "spokesperson" on theological matters.

In 1993 he moved to the Church of Our Lady Help of Christians, Kentish Town as a parish priest. During his seven years at that post he developed his work in Adult Theological Formation, not least with his involvement in the In Service Training of Diocesan priests. Such involvement demanded a great deal of liturgical expertise. In 1990 His Eminence Basil, Cardinal Hume, appointed him Vicar-General of the Archdiocese of Westminster with additional responsibility as Chairman of the Diocesan Liturgy Commission. In 1993 he became Administrator of Westminster Cathedral, and was appointed Prelate of Honour to His Holiness Pope John Paul II in October of that year.

In May 2001 he was ordained Bishop of Gemellae in Numidia by His Eminence Cormac, Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor and became an Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster. He relinquished the role of Administrator in September of that year.

Bishop George Stack holds the rank of Ecclesiastical Knight Commander with Star of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher within the Lieutenancy of England and Wales.

His Eminence Desmond, Cardinal Connell, KGCHS, GCJCO, Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland Emeritus,

His Eminence was appointed by HRH The Grand Prefect as Chief Chaplain for Ireland in November 2002 following his investiture as a Bailiff Knight Grand Cross of Justice of the Constantinian Order of Saint George.

His Eminence was born in 1926 and later studied at Belvedere College, Dublin, (1936-1943) and at University College Dublin (1943-1947), from where he graduated as a Master of Arts. After reading at the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium (1951-1953), His Eminence was awarded a Doctorate of Philosophy.

Cardinal Connell began his career in 1953 as an Assistant Lecturer at University College Dublin, and in 1963 was appointed College Lecturer. In 1972, University College Dublin appointed His Eminence a Professor of General Metaphysics and Head of the Department of Metaphysics – a position he held until 1988. From 1984 until 1988, Cardinal Connell was Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy.

In1988 Cardinal Connell was consecrated as Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland. In 2001, His Holiness Pope John Paul II elevated His Eminence to the College of Cardinals. In May 2004, His Eminence retired as Archbishop of Dublin.

His Eminence is a key figure and active member of many Irish spiritual societies. Cardinal Connell is Vice-President of the Irish Episcopal Conference, Chairman of the Episcopal Commission for Doctrine and of the Theological Commission, Chairman of the Episcopal Commission for Universities, Member of the Episcopal Commission of Ecumenism, Member of the Committee for European Affairs and a Member of the Inter-Church Committee.

Cardinal Connell is a member of the Roman Catholic Church’s Congregation for Doctrine of the Faith, Congregation for Bishops and of the Pontifical Council for the Laity.

Professor The Right Honourable Lord Alton of Liverpool, KCMCO,

Lord Alton of Liverpool was appointed to the Council of the British and Irish Delegation in 2003 and holds the rank of Knight Commander of Merit with Star of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George.

Born in 1951, Lord Alton graduated from St Andrews University with a degree in Philosophy and Theology. In 1988 he married Elizabeth Bell by whom he has three sons and a daughter.

Lord Alton was elected as a member of the House of Commons for 18 years, before being raised to the Peerage in 1997 and appointed as a member of the House of Lords. Lord Alton sits as an independent on the crossbenches.

Lord Alton was formerly Deputy Leader of Liverpool City Council, co-founder of the Movement for Christian Democracy and co-founder of the Jubilee Campaign. He was until 2004 Treasurer of the All Party Pro-Life Group within the British Parliament. Today, he is a national Patron of LIFE and a member of the bio-ethics committee appointed by the Catholic Bishops of England & Wales.

Lord Alton is the author of seven books and a Visiting Fellow of St Andrew's University. His most recent publications are “Citizen Virtues” published in 1999 by Harper Collins, "Citizen 21" published in 2001 by Harper Collins and "Pilgrim Ways" published in 2001 by St Paul's Publishing.

His Excellency Signor Luigi Amaduzzi, GCVO, GCSG, KM, GCMCO,

Signor Luigi Amaduzzi was appointed to the Council of the British and Irish Delegation in 2002 and holds the rank of Knight Grand Cross of Merit of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George.

Born in 1937, His Excellency graduated from the University of Rome with a Bachelor of Law degree. He entered the Italian Diplomatic Service in 1993 and served in the Political Director's Office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 1967, His Excellency was sent on his first mission abroad as a Second Secretary of the Italian Embassy in London. Consequently, he served as a First Secretary at the Italian Embassy in Moscow (1969), Counsellor in

Washington (1975), an Ambassador in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (1985) and Ambassador to Romania (1998).

In 1991, he returned to Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he acted as a Principal Private Secretary to the Secretary General for a year, before being appointed Diplomatic Adviser to The President of the Italian Republic.

From 1999-2004, His Excellency served as Italy's Ambassador to the Court of St James's .

Amongst the numerous decorations His Excellency holds are Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic; Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Republic of Romania; Knight Grand Cross of the Pontifical Equestrian Order of Pope St Gregory The Great and Knight of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.

Signor Luigi Amaduzzi is also married with two children.

His Excellency Mr Anthony Bailey, OBE, KCSS, KCHS, KCMCO, KCFO, Grand Magistral Delegate for Inter-Religious Relations and Council Member of the British and Irish Delegation,

Mr Anthony Bailey was appointed by the Grand Master in April 2006 as the worldwide Grand Magistral Delegate for Inter-Religious Relations. Mr Bailey previously served from 2003-2006 as the Delegate of the British and Irish Delegation. Mr Bailey holds the rank of Knight Commander of Merit with Star of the Constantinian Order, Knight Commander of the Royal Order of Francis I and the holder of the Gold Benemerenti Medal.

In the field of inter-religious dialogue and understanding, Anthony is a member of the Advisory Board of the Three Faith Forum since 2002. Mr Bailey is also Chairman of the St George’s Chapel Appeal of Westminster Cathedral and is a Member of the Consultative Board of The Maimonides Foundation which works to encourage greater dialogue between Muslims and Jews. Anthony also is active in interfaith projects in the Balkans and in December 2005 was appointed a Trustee of the Path to Peace in the Balkans Foundation which is chaired by the Apostolic Nuncio accredited to the Republic of Serbia. In January 2006 Lord Carey of Clifton, former Archbishop of Canterbury, and Chairman of the Advisory Council of the London-based Foundation of Reconciliation in the Middle East, (FRME) appointed Mr Bailey to its Advisory Council.

Anthony was also appointed in July 2005 by the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster as a Foundation Governor in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Westminster, with specific responsibility as part of the Governing Body of The Douay Martyrs School in Ickenham, Middlesex, UK. In December 2005 Anthony was appointed a Board Director of the United Learning Trust - a charitable body founded as an educational charity in 1883 offering pupils a good academic education based on Christian principles with particular reference to the Church of England. He is also a Governor the two Sheffield Academies.

Since 2002, Anthony has been advising the Department of Children, Schools and Families (previously the Department of Education And Skills) on the development of the British Government's educational polices. In December 2004 Anthony was appointed to the London Challenge Ministerial Advisory Group of the Department of Education and Skills and in January 2007 to the Ministerial Task Force for Gifted and Talented education which reports to the Minister of State for Schools, (currently Lord Adonis).

From 1999+ Anthony was appointed Chairman of the Painting & Patronage royal initiative which works to foster greater cultural and artistic interchange between Europe and the Arab world. In 1999, Anthony was appointed Special Counsel to the King Faisal Foundation and in 2001 to the Arab Thought Foundation. In 2002 Mr Bailey was appointed by HM King Mohammed VI as a member of the Board of the Moroccan-British Society in Morocco. In March 2003 was elected an officer of the Saudi-British Society. Anthony is also Deputy Secretary-General of the International Gold Mercury Award.

Anthony is an active committee member of The Passage – Britain's largest centre for the homeless since 2001 and a Director of The Forthspring Inter-Community Group which works to foster ties between the divided communities of Northern Ireland. Mr Bailey is Patron of the All-Party Parliamentary Pro-Life Group within the British Parliament since 2003.

Anthony holds numerous royal, state and religious decorations and awards in recognition of his professional work and charitable activities. In June 2008 Mr Bailey was appointed an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in recognition of his services to ‘inter-faith relations and to charity’ . In August 2004 His late Holiness Pope John Paul II knighted him as a Knight Commander of the Pontifical Order of Pope Saint Sylvester (Holy See).

Among other awards bestowed are those of the First Class grade of the Order of the Madara Horseman (Republic of Bulgaria), Knight Commander (with star) of the Order of Infante Dom Henrique, (Portuguese Republic) Knight Commander of the Royal Order Al-Alaoui (Kingdom of Morocco), Knight Grand Cross of the National Order of Juan Mora Fernandez (Republic of Costa Rica), Grand Officer of the Order of Manuel Amador Guerrero, (Republic of Panama), Knight Commander of the National Order of The Cedar, (Republic of Lebanon), First Class with Collar grade of the Order of Unification - 22 May (Republic of Yemen), First Class Grade of the Syrian Order of Outstanding Merit, (Syrian Arab Republic), Knight Commander of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, (Holy See), Knight Commander of the Order of Our Lady of the Conception of Vila Viçosa (Royal House of Portugal).

Mr Bailey is a Fellow of The Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers & Commerce. He is also a Freeman of The City of London since November 2004.

Anthony has also been an elected member over the years to the following bodies and societies: the Royal Institute for International Affairs, the Royal Society of Asian Affairs, the Association of Papal Knights in Ireland, the Anglo-Albanian Society, the British-Italian Society, the Anglo-Portuguese Society, the Papal Knights Association in Great Britain, Friends of Bulgaria, the British-Syrian Society, Friends of Westminster Cathedral, British-Lebanese Society, Britain-Nepal Society, Anglo-Yemen Society, Anglo-Arab Association, British-Moroccan Society, the Council for Arab-British Understanding, and the Bahrain Society

His Excellency Archbishop Luigi Barbarito, GCVO, KCGCO,

Archbishop Luigi Barbarito was appointed to the Council of the British & Irish Delegation in May 2004. In 1986 whilst Apostolic Nuncio in London, HRH The Duke of Castro, as Grand Master, appointed His Excellency as Ecclesiastical Knight Commander of Grace of the Constantinian Order. Throughout his term as Nuncio, His Excellency took a keen interest in the development of the charitable and humanitarian initiatives of the British and Irish Delegation.

His Excellency was born in Atripalda, Italy, in April 1922 and was ordained into the priesthood in August 1944. In 1953 he joined the Vatican's diplomatic service and worked for six years in Australia. In 1959 he returned to Rome to the Secretariat of State where he served throughout the period of the Second Vatican Council (1962-65).

From 1967 to 1969 he served in the Nunciature in Paris and was then appointed by Pope Paul VI as Apostolic Nuncio to Haiti and titular archbishop of Fiorentino.

From 1975 to 1978 he served as the Pope's representative to Senegal, Niger, Upper Volta, Mali, Mauritania, Guinea Bissau and the Cape Verde Islands. In 1978 he returned to Australia as Apostolic Pro-Nuncio.

In January 1986 he succeeded HE Archbishop Bruno Heim as Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to the Court of St James's based in London. He became Apostolic Nuncio in 1993 when the Vatican abolished the title of Pro-Nuncio. In 1994, as the longest-serving ambassador accredited to the Court of St James, HE Archbishop Barbarito became the Doyen of the Diplomatic Corps in Great Britain.

On 13 March 1996, during an audience with HM Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace, HE Archbishop Barbarito received one of Britain's highest distinctions by being awarded the Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO).

His Excellency Frà Mathew Festing, OBE, TD, GCJCO, DL,

Frà Mathew Festing was appointed to the Council of the British and Irish Delegation in 2002. He was invested as a Knight of Justice of the Constantinian Order of Saint George in 1991 and in 1994 was promoted to the grade of Knight Grand Cross.

Frà Mathew Festing was born in 1949 and is the son of Field Marshal Sir Francis Festing. Frà Festing began his education at Ampleforth College in York and obtained his Master of Arts degree from St John’s College, Cambridge.

In 1968, Frà Festing was commissioned into the Grenadier Guard and promoted to Captain in 1972. From 1973 until 1978 he was a Land Agent until becoming a Valuer and Auctioneer. From 1985 until the present day, Frà Mathew Festing works at Sothebys.

Alongside his career as an auctioneer, His Excellency continued his service in the Army where in 1973 Frà Mathew Festing served as a Captain Royal Regiment of Fusiliers in the Territorial Army. In 1992 Frà Mathew was promoted to Colonel and later, to County Cadet Commandant in the Northumbria Army Cadet Force where he served from 1992 to 1997.

In 1993 Frà Mathew Festing was appointed Grand Prior of England of the Order of Malta. His Excellency Frà Festing’s other decorations include Knight of the Venerable Order of St John (1995); Knight of Honour and Devotion of the Order of Malta (1977) and Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Malta. He is also a Titulaire de L’Hospitalitee de Notre Dame de Lourdes.

Mr Norman Gooding, OStJ, KCFO,

Mr Norman Gooding, OStJ, KFO, has been appointed to the Council of the British and Irish Delegation in the capacity as Master of Ceremonies. Mr Gooding has been a Silver Medallist of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George since 1990 and was appointed a Knight of the Royal Order of Francis I in 2001.

Mr. Gooding was born in 1938 and educated at Grammar Schools in Croydon and Cornwall before serving from 1957 – 1959 in the Royal Air Force. He trained as a teacher at Newland Park College and subsequently took the degrees of BSc (Econ) at London University and MA at Sussex. He took early retirement as an Assistant Headteacher but returned to work for the same employer as a local government officer in the Education and Health and Safety departments. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Health in 1997.

After more than 30 years as General Secretary, he is currently President of the Orders and Medals Research Society, works voluntarily for the Order of St. John in its museum and chancery and chairs a primary school governing body. He is an Officer of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem and a knight of the Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus of the House of Savoy.

General The Right Honourable Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank, GCB, LVO, OBE, KM, KCJCO,

The Chancery is pleased to announce that General The Right Honourable Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank, GCB, LVO, OBE, KCJCO, has been appointed to the Council of the British and Irish Delegation. Lord Guthrie holds the rank of Knight Commander of Justice of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George.

Lord Guthrie was born in 1938 and later studied at Harrow before graduating from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He served with the British Army on the Rhine and in Aden as well as with the 22nd SAS Regiment between 1965-1969. From 1976-1977 Lord Guthrie served as Brigade Major of the Household Division.

Lord Guthrie commanded the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards in Berlin and Northern Ireland between 1977-1980, the British Forces New Hebrides in 1980, the 4th Armoured Brigade from 1982-1984 and as Chief of Staff 1st BR Corps from 1984-1986.

Lord Guthrie was the General Officer Commanding North East District from 1986-1987 and Assistant Chief of the General Staff at the Ministry of Defence from 1987-1989. From 1989-1991 Lord Guthrie was appointed Commander of the BR Corps and from 1992-1993 as Commander of the Northern Army Group.

Lord Guthrie was later appointed as Commander-in-Chief of the British Army on the Rhine and from 1994-1997 was Chief of the General Staff. From 1997 until 2001, Lord Guthrie served as Chief of the Defence Staff.

In 2000, Lord Guthrie was appointed Colonel Commandant of the SAS Regiment and in 2001 became a Director of Rothschild & Sons.

Lord Guthrie is actively involved in the field of charity, education and military affairs. Between 1991-1996 he served as President of the Army Saddle Club and in 2001 became President of the Federation of London Youth Clubs and the Action Research Group. He also chaired the Army Benevolent Fund in 2002 and the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington DC.

Lord Guthrie was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (1994), Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order, (1977), Officer of the Order of the British Empire (1980) and a Knight of Honour and Devotion of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (1999).

Mr Dudley Heathcote, KM, KCJCO,

Mr Dudley Heathcote was appointed to the Council of the British and Irish Delegation in 2002 and holds the rank of Knight Commander of Justice of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George.

Mr Heathcote was born in 1934. He began his education at Beaumont and from 1953-1955 Mr Heathcote enrolled at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, before being commissioned into the First Cameronians Scottish Rifles (1955-1959). He is married and has one son.

Between 1960-1963 he studied Classical Arabic at the School of Oriental and African Studies, part of the University of London.

From 1964-1994 Mr Heathcote was a business consultant throughout the Middle East and in Iran.

In 2000, Mr Heathcote was appointed as the Receiver to the Grand Priory of England of the Order of Malta. He is also a Knight of Honour and Devotion of the Order of Malta and a Knight of the Order of Saint Maurice and Saint Lazarus.

Mr John King, KMCO,

Mr John King was appointed to the Council of the British and Irish Delegation in 2006 and holds the rank of Knight of Merit of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George.

Mr King was born in 1962. He obtained Certificates 1, 2 and 3 in Financial Planning from the Chartered Insurance Institute. He started his career in 1980 as a Research Assistant in the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority in 1980. One year later he started work for Pergamon Infotech Ltd as Computer Systems Developer, led by his keen interest in technology. His career path there on entailed Business Management and Senior Directorial positions at: Northern Telecom, American Express, Towry Law Plc. and Barclays Plc.

In 1989 Mr King was recruited by American Express to set up the Personal Financial Planning Division of the company offices in the United Kingdom, including sales, product and service marketing, product and systems development, operations and service.

In 1995 he joined Barclays Plc as Assistant Director responsible for specific major corporate change projects. In 1997 he was promoted to the post of Deputy Managing Director for the General Insurance, Life and Pensions and Mortgages divisions. In 1999 after successfully developing and implementing strategy in marketing and financial services, enhancing market share and profits, introducing new schemes and driving through change, he was promoted to the post of Managing Director of Mortgages and General Insurance. In 2001 he became a Director for Barclay’s private clients.

Mr King is an active committee member of The Passage Homeless Centre, one of our Delegation’s adopted charities, and his main role is the effective promotion of the work of The Passage and bringing private sector sponsors to programmes run by the charity. He is in the London Committee of NACRO Housing, which ensures the proper running of housing facilities, the rehabilitation of tenants and the effective transition of ex-offenders to permanent homes.

Mr King is an active member of the Advisory Committee of London Common Purpose, an organisation dedicated to facilitating dialogue and understanding between leaders in the public, private and the community sector and thus ensuring more successful communities are produced.

Mr Donal J Lydon, KCSG, KM, KGCHS, KCMCO,
Senator Donal Lydon was appointed Vice-Delegate and Chancellor of the British and Irish Delegation from June 2003 until April 2006. He first joined the Council of the British and Irish delegation in 2002 having been first been invested in the Constantinian Order in 2000. Senator Lydon is a Knight Commander of Merit with Star of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George, and a Knight Commander of the Royal Order of Francis I.

Senator Lydon received his secondary education at St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal and following his Matriculation attended, in turn, University College, Galway; University College, Dublin; and Trinity College, Dublin.

His Bachelors Degree was in Sociology and English and his postgraduate work was in the area of Education and Psychology.

His professional postnomials are as follows:
B.A., H.D.Ed., D.Psych., A.F.B.Ps.S., A.F.Ps.S.I., Reg. Psychol., C.T.G., M.I.I.T.D.

He has held various positions throughout his career including the position of Counsellor, Dublin Vocational Educational Committee (1973-1974), Visiting Psychologist, Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children, Dublin (1974-1978), Clinical Psychologist, Cluain Mhuire Family Centre, Blackrock, Co. Dublin (1974-1978), Expert Witness to Marriage Tribunal, Dublin Diocese (1974-1984), Assessor/Interviewer, Religious Psychology Group, Thornfield Laboratory, University College, Dublin (1973-1978), Lecturer in Behavioural Science, Faculty of Nursing, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (1976-1980), Lecturer in Behavioural Modification, Department Social Science, University College, Dublin (1979-1980), Senior Tutor, Department of Psychology, University College, Dublin (1979-Present), Special Lecturer, Diploma in Psychological Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (1983-1987), Head of Department of Psychology, St. John of God Hospital, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin (1979 – Present), Co-ordinator of Programme Development, St. John of God Hospital, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin (1986-Present).

In addition Senator Lydon has worked as a Consultant Psychologist with the Order of Friar Servants of Mary (Servites), the Christian Brothers, Dublin, the Union of the Sisters of Mercy (Diocese of Cork and Ross), the Congregation des Soeurs du Bon-Secours de Paris and with other religious organisations including the Divine Word Missionaries, Pallotine Fathers, Marist Fathers, Alexian Brothers, Marist Sisters, Holy Faith, White Fathers, Legionaries of Christ, etc., etc. He was for a number of years Director of Connsbrook Productions Limited and also of Corona Holidays Limited in Dublin.

He has published a number of papers in professional journals mostly in the area of Alcoholism or Psychopathology in Adolescents.

He was the first Psychologist in Ireland to be awarded a Council of Europe Medical Fellowship in 1977 in order to go abroad to study “Residential Treatment of Disturbed Adolescents”.

Apart from his current membership of the Psychological Society of Ireland he has at various times held membership of the following professional bodies:

British Psychological Society; Institute of Guidance Counsellors; Association of Family Therapy; Association for Child Psychology and Psychiatry; Association for the Psychiatric Study of Adolescence; Department of Health Consultative Group on Severely Disturbed Adolescents; British Association for Behavioural Psychotherapy; Irish Institute for Training and Development; Irish Rorschach Forum.

In his political life he has been a member of a Local Authority since 1985. He was first elected to Seanad Éireann (Irish Senate) in 1987 and has been elected at all subsequent elections. He has at various times been the Senior Senate Spokesman on Justice, Senior Senate Spokesman on the Department of the Taoiseach (P.M.) and European Affairs, Senior Senate Spokesman on European Affairs, and currently holds the position of Spokesman on Foreign Affairs with Special Responsibility for Overseas Development Assistance and Human Rights.

He has served as a member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Women’s Rights, the Joint Services Committee, the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Social, Community & Family Affairs and is currently a member of the Joint Parliamentary European Affairs Committee.

He was for a number of years a member of the Irish Council of the European Movement and served as Vice-Chairman from 1991-1993. He has been a member of the Council and the Executive of the Institute of European Affairs.

He is a Knight of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Rhodes and of Malta and in 1987 was awarded the Order of Malta Cross of Merit, pro merito milenstii and in the same year the Bronze Medal of the Irish Association of the Order of Malta. He is a Knight Grand Cross of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and has been a member of the Council of the Irish Lieutenancy of the Order since 1993. He is a Knight Commander with Star of the Pontifical Equestrian Order of Pope St. Gregory the Great and is President of the Association of Papal Orders in Ireland. He is a Knight commander of the Order of Merit (Republic of Poland), Knight of the Order of St. Maurice and Lazarus and a Grand Officer of the Order of the Holy Cross of Jerusalem.

Brigadier Thomas Ogilvie-Graham, MBE, OHBS, RAVC, OStJ, KMCO, KFO,

Colonel Tom Ogilvie-Graham was appointed to the Council of the British and Irish Delegation in 2006 and holds the rank of Knight of Merit with Star of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George.

Colonel Tom Ogilvie-Graham was born and brought-up in Perthshire, Scotland. He attended the Edinburgh Academy and then Edinburgh University. He graduated as a Veterinary Surgeon and was commissioned into the Army in 1982.

His first posting (in 1982) was to Northern Ireland. Thereafter, he undertook research in Aldershot, as well as passing Airborne Forces training (P Company), before being posted in 1985 as Veterinary Officer/ Section Commander to the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery. On promotion to Major in 1987, he undertook Junior Division Staff College before being posted to Germany.

In 1989, he received an MSc with Distinction from Reading University. He was then posted to the Defence Animal Centre before commanding a specialist team of Royal Engineers in the Gulf War (1990-91). He was awarded an MBE for this work.

From 1991 to 1994, he was Regimental Veterinary Officer to the Household Cavalry and undertook a Doctorate in Applied Ethology at Edinburgh University. In 1994 he was attached, as Intelligence Officer, to the UK Airborne Brigade contingent deployed to Rwanda in support of the United Nations.

From 1994 until 1999, he held various staff appointments in addition to taking an operational tour Bosnia in 1996. During this time, he took a Diploma in Law (with Commendation) by distance learning from the College of Law and was Called to the Bar by Gray's Inn in 1998, after qualifying (with Commendation) from the Inns of Court School of Law. He was elected the youngest-ever Fellow of the Institute of Biologists in 1996.

In 1999, he was posted as SO1 NBC to HQ LAND, where he remained (with the exception of his being awarded a Fulbright Commission Postdoctoral Fellowship at Cornell University in 2001) until his posting to the Surgeon General's Department (SGD) as SO1 Med International in September 2001. He has recently been made a Trustee of SPANA, the British Fulbright Scholars Association and Wildlife Vets International and is an Editorial Representative/Council Member in the Royal Society of Medicine. He is a supporter of several Catholic and ecumenical charities including the Passage Homeless Centre. He regularly assists independent Peers with both research and speech writing. He is a visiting Professor at Nottingham University.

Colonel Ogilvie-Graham is married with two sons and one daughter and lives on his family's property in Hampshire as well as near Melton Mowbray, where he is presently Commandant of the Defence Animal Centre. He has recently been selected for promotion to Brigadier and appointment as Honorary Veterinary Surgeon to HM The Queen.

Dr Colin Smythe, OStJ, KCGCO, KCFO,

Dr Colin Smythe was appointed to the Council of the British and Irish delegation in 2001. From 1989-1992 Dr Smythe was the Grand Chancellor's Chargé d'Affaires a.i. in Great Britain and published The Constantinian Chronicler from1990-1992. He holds other decorations including that of Officer of the Venerable Order of St John of Jerusalem (OStJ); Knight of the Order of Polonia Restituta (Order Odrodzenia Polski); the Polish Gold Cross of Merit (Krzyz Zaslugi); Knight of the Order of Our Lady of the Conception of Vila Viçosa (Portugal); Grand Officer of Merit, Military & Hospitaller Order of St Lazarus of Jerusalem, and holds the Insigne Aeneum Concilium Oecumenicum Vaticanum II, and Pontifical Medal (1982).

Dr Smythe graduated from Trinity College Dublin in 1963, and started his publishing company two years later. Apart from its interest in publishing books by and about Irish literary figures, Colin Smythe Ltd. published Terry Pratchett's first five novels, and has acted as his agent since 1988. The company has also published books on heraldry and Orders of Knighthood and Orders of Merit 1995, by Peter Bander-van Duren, co-founder and a director of the company (of which Van Duren Publishers now forms part). He has edited books and articles on W.B.Yeats, Lady Gregory and other notable Irish literary figures, is completing a Bibliography of the Writings of W.B.Yeats (on which he has been working, sporadically, for more than a third of a century). Dr Smythe received an honorary doctorate (LL.D.) from Dublin University in 1998 for services to Irish literature. He is a Visiting Professor at the University of Ulster, Coleraine, and at the Universidade Moderna, Lisbon, and a Visiting Research Fellow at the Institute of English Studies, University of London. He is a Follow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Dr Smythe first joined the Constantinian Order in 1983 and was promoted to Knight Commander of Grace in 1990, and invested as a Knight Commander of the Royal Order of Francis I in 2005.

Sir Conrad Swan, KCVO, KGCN, KM, GCJCO, KCFO, Phd, FSA,

Sir Conrad Swan, Emeritus Garter Kings of Arms, was appointed to the Council of the British and Irish Delegation in 2002.

Born in 1924 in British Columbia, Canada, Sir Conrad Swan devoted most of his life to travelling. His voyage started in his early twenties, when he left for India to serve as a Captain in the Madras Regiment during World War II. Subsequently, Sir Conrad arrived in London as a student of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London before returning back to Canada to complete his BA and MA in the University of Western Ontario. During this time, he developed a keen interest in Commonwealth affairs, which brought him back to Britain, where he acquired his PhD from Cambridge University in 1955.

Later in the same year Sir Conrad Swan started his academic career. He spent two years lecturing history at the University of Windsor before transferring to the University of Beadle in the United States. Since then Sir Conrad has been actively involved in teaching at some of the top US and Canadian universities. His appointments include the University of Yale (1964), St Thomas More College, University of Saskatchewan (1967) and the University of Alberta (1987).

In addition to his outstanding educational achievements, Sir Conrad Swan has developed an exceptional diplomatic career. He was first appointed a Rouge Dragon Pursuivant of Arms in 1962 and six years later became a York Herald of Arms. In these capacities he was among the Earl Marshal’s staff for the State Funeral of Sir Winston Churchill in 1965, the Investiture of HRH The Prince of Wales in 1969, and was Gentleman Usher-in-Waiting to HH Pope John Paul II during his visit to the United Kingdom in 1982.

Sir Conrad Swan was the first herald to execute official duties in tabard across the Atlantic (Bermuda, 1969) and in the Southern Hemisphere (Brisbane, 1977). He was instrumental in the creation of the Honours System of Antigua and Barbuda. Between 1964-1967, Sir Conrad was an adviser to the Prime Minister of Canada on the establishment of the National Flag of Canada and the Order of Canada.

A keen scholar and publicist, Sir Conrad Swan has written a number of books and articles on heraldic, sigillographic and related subjects. He is a member of several international societies and organisations and a founder of the Heraldic Society of Canada and the Heraldic Garden in Britain.

Sir Conrad Swan first joined the Constantinian Order in 1994 in the rank of Knight Grand Cross of Justice. He was knighted by HM The Queen in 1994 as a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order. Sir Conrad is also a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Nation (Antigua and Barbuda), Knight of Honour and Devotion of the Order of Malta, Knight Commander of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland and Knight Commander of the Order of the Grand Duke Gediminas (Lithuania).

His Grace The Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, GCGCO, MA, MEd, STL, Archbishop of Birmingham,
Archbishop Vincent Nichols was born in Crosby, Liverpool in 1945. He was ordained priest in 1969 and in 1992 was ordained bishop to Cardinal Hume. From 1992-2000 Bishop Vincent was appointed Auxiliary Bishop in North London. He was transferred to Birmingham in February 2000.
Before his appointment as an Auxiliary Bishop to Cardinal Hume in 1992, Bishop Vincent was General Secretary of the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales.

In addition to his pastoral oversight of the Archdiocese of Birmingham, Archbishop Nichols is a Chairman of the Department for Catholic Education and Formation of the Bishops' Conference and Chairman of the Catholic Education Service (CES).
He represented the European bishops at the November 1998 Synod of Bishops from Oceania and attended the Synod of Bishops for Europe in September 1999.

He has written Promise of Future Glory - Reflections on the Mass, published in the United Kingdom, the United States and Italy.

His Grace first joined the Constantinian Order in 1990 and was promoted to Ecclesiastical Knight Grand Cross of Grace in 2000.

The Right Reverend Monsignor Canon Adrian Arrowsmith, KCGCO,
Monsignor Canon Adrian Arrowsmith was appointed Principal Chaplain of the British and Irish Delegation in 1990 and was promoted to Ecclesiastical Knight Commander of Grace in 2002. Monsignor Arrowsmith is also a Knight of Malta.

Born in 1924, Monsignor Arrowsmith studied at St Edmund’s College in Ware. From 1942-1946 he served in the Royal Navy. In 1955, Monsignor Arrowsmith was appointed Chaplain of Westminster Cathedral. In 1990, he was elected Chapter and served as a Diocesan Youth Director between 1964-1972. His career also includes working as Parish Priest first in London Colney and later at the Pro Cathedral Church Our Lady of Victories, Kensington where the chapel of the Constantinian Order is situated.

In 2000 His Holiness Pope John Paul II made Monsignor Canon Arrowsmith a Prelate of Honour.

The Right Reverend Monsignor Canon Dr Wladislaw Wyszowadzki, KHS, KGCO,
Monsignor Canon Dr Wladislaw Wyszowadzki was appointed a Chaplain to the British and Irish Delegation in 1990 following his investiture as Ecclesiastical Knight of Grace of the Constantinian Order.

Monsignor Wyszowadzki was born in 1949 in Brezezowa, Poland. He began his religious profession in 1978 when he was ordained priest by Cardinal Wladyslaw Rubin in Paris. During most of his thirties, Monsignor Wyszowadzki undertook his academic pursuits. He received his doctorate in Theology in 1982 and seven years later acquired his second PhD in Philosophy. During this time Canon Wyszowadzki was a director of the Cardinal Glemp Foundation in Great Britain.

In 1992, Monsignor Wyszowadzki was appointed Parish Priest at Christ the King Roman Catholic Church in London. He was awarded the title Monsignor (Capellano di Sua Santita) by His Holiness John Paul II in October of the same year, and was appointed Honorary Canon of the Metropolitan Basilica St John of Warsaw in 1993.

Apart from the Constantinian Order of St George, Monsignor Wyszowadzki is also a council member in the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. He was first appointed a Magisterial Chaplain in 1989, Conventional Chaplain (1998) and was recently promoted to a Grand Cross Conventional Chaplain. In addition, Monsignor Wyszowadzki is also a Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre within the Delegation of Poland.

The Right Reverend Monsignor Canon Coronato Grima, KHS, KCGCO,

Monsignor Canon Coronato Grima was appointed a Chaplain to the British and Irish Delegation in 1990 following his investiture as Ecclesiastical Knight of Merit. In 2001 Monsignor Grima was promoted to Ecclesiastical Knight of Grace, and in 2003 to Ecclesiastical Knight Commander of Grace.

Monsignor Grima was born in 1949 in Malta and educated at St Francis School, Malta. Between 1956-1961 Monsignor Grima studied at the Government School. During the following six years Monsignor Grima continued his scholarship at the Sacred Heart Seminary where he read priestly studies.

In 1975 His Holiness Pope Paul VI ordained Monsignor Grima a Priest at St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City State.

His first clerical appointment (1975) was as Curate in Gibraltar at the Cathedral of St Mary the Crowned where in 1981 he became an Archivist and Master of Ceremonies. Monsignor Grima was also a Chaplain to a number of schools in Gibraltar including St Mary’s School, Bishop Fitzgerald School, St Joseph’s Infant School and St Joseph’s Middle School.

From 1975 until the present day, Monsignor Grima is a spiritual Director to the Legion of Mary. In 1981 he became an Administrator of St Joseph’s Parish in the Diocese of Gibraltar and later as Parish Priest.


Among Monsignor Grima’s awards are Prelate of Honour to His Holiness The Pope, an Honorary Canon of the Chapter of the Basilica of St George, Victoria in Malta. Monsignor Grima is a Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem (1988), Knight Commander of the Order of Saint Maurice and Saint Lazarus. He was decorated with Holy Land Pilgrim’s Cross in Silver and in 2000 with a Holy Land Jubilee Pilgrim’s Shell.

The Very Reverend Monsignor Vladimir Felzmann, KCHS, KGCO,

Monsignor Vladimir Felzmann was appointed a Chaplain to the British and Irish Delegation in 1990 following his investiture as Ecclesiastical Knight of Grace of the Constantinian Order.

Monsignor Felzmann was born in 1939 and later studied at Clapham College and Imperial College in London. He continued his scholarship in Rome where he received a Doctorate of Divinity.

Monsignor Felzmann’s career began in 1960 when he was appointed Secretary in Netherall House before being promoted a Director in 1961. During this appointment, he was also a tutor in Structures at the Architectural Association in London (1962-1964). In 1966 Monsignor Felzmann became a Lecturer in English at the Institute of Education in Rome until becoming a Chaplain at Turo University in Barcelona (1969-1970). Monsignor Felzmann was then Head of Religious Education (1973-1984) and Head of Liberal Studies and Chaplain (1976-1984) at Cardinal Vaughan School, in London.

In 1982 Monsignor Felzmann was appointed Assistant Priest at Our Lady of Grace in Chiswick where he served until 1985 when he became Chaplain at Westminster Cathedral. Whilst there, he became the sub-administrator at the Cathedral. From 1985 until 1992 Monsignor Felzmann was appointed a Chaplain at Westminster Diocesan Education Service. At the same time he became Vice–Chairman of the Passage Day Centre. In 1985, Monsignor Felzmann was appointed a National Chaplain to the Papal Knights, a position which he still holds.

Monsignor Felzmann’s involvement in ecclesiastical issues is demonstrated in his numerous initiatives. Among them is his role in setting up the Young Adults Pilgrimage to Lourdes (1990). He is also an executive Committee member of the Council of Christians and Jews (1992-1998). In addition, Monsignor Felzman is a Provincial Chaplain of the Knights of St Columba (Westminster & Northern Province). Monsignor Felzmann chairs the Friends of Bethlehem University since 1999. He is also a Director of All Saints Pastoral Centre in London Colney; a Westminster Diocese Chaplain to Young People and a Chaplain to Ascent Movement since 1999.

His numerous decorations include Prelate of Honour (1999), Knight of Polonia Restituta(1988), Knight(1994) and Knight Commander of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem (2001).

The Very Reverend Paul Chavasse, KGCO,

Paul Chavasse was appointed a Chaplain to the British and Irish Delegation in 2002 following his investiture as Ecclesiastical Knight of Grace of the Constantinian Order.

Father Chavasse was born in 1954. He studied at the Venerable English College in Rome and continued his religious studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome.

Father Chavasse began his clerical service in 1979 as an Assistant Priest at Our Lady’s Church in Birkenhead. In 1980 Father Chavasse entered the Birmingham Oratory and in 1992 was elected a Provost. In 2000 Father Chavasse was appointed Postulator General for the Confederation of the Oratory in Birmingham and in 2002 he became Postulator for the cause of the Venerable John Henry, Cardinal Newman.

The Reverend Father Mark Elvins, KCGCO, OFM, Cap.,

Father Mark Elvins was appointed a Chaplain to the British and Irish Delegation in 1982 following his investiture as Ecclesiastical Knight of Grace of the Constantinian Order of Saint George. In 2003 Father Mark was awarded the Gold Benemerenti Medal of the Constantinian Order.

He was born in 1939 as the son of a former Rector of Dover Castle, the Reverend Elvins. Father Mark studied at Dover College, St Stephen’s House in Oxford, Beda College and the Gregorian University in Rome and Heythrop College, University of London from where he graduated as a Master of Arts.

Father Mark’s career began when he entered Sandhurst and became a Captain with the Royal Army Chaplains’ Department. In 1961 he became Assistant Manager at St James’s Gallery in Jermyn Street until his appointment as Assistant Editor of Debrett' Peerage. Between 1965 and 1973 Father Mark read theology at Oxford and Rome.

Following his ordination in 1973 at Arundel Cathedral, Father Mark became Assistant Curate and Chantry Priest to The Duke of Norfolk.
His next appointment was at St Mary Magdalen’s in Brighton (1980-1990). From 1985-1986 he was Chaplain to the Master of the Worshipful Company of Scrivenors. Father Mark then became Parish Priest at Henfield (1990-1993).

Father Mark’s philanthropic commitment and compassion is expressed in his numerous Christian engagements. Father Mark is the founder of Simon House for homeless in Oxford (1967), St Thomas Fund for the Homeless in Brighton (1980), Becket Homes for the homeless in Canterbury (1997). Father Mark is also a Director of Chester Aid to the Homeless, a Council member of the Crime Prevention Initiative and the St Thomas Fund.

Father Mark is a keen author whose recent titles ‘The Church’s Response to the Homeless’, ‘Cardinals and Heraldry’, ‘Catholic Trivia’ and ‘Towards a People’s Liturgy’.

In 1999, Father Mark was professed as a friar of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin. He is also Chaplain of Magistral Grace of the Order of Malta.

The Reverend Father Michael Seed, KCGCO, SA,

Father Michael Seed is Chaplain to the British and Irish delegation since 1989, is Ecumenical Secretary to the Archdiocese of Westminster since 1988.

Father Michael's scholastic background includes diplomas from St Joseph 's College in Cork , The Missionary Institute (Catholic University of Louvain), Mill Hill, London , reading at The Catholic University of America, Washington DC, The Pontifical Lateran University in Rome and a PhD from The Polish University in London .

Father Michael entered the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement in 1979. Later, he became Chaplain of the Westminster Hospital 1986-1890. From 1990-2000 he was an officiating Chaplain to the Forces at Wellington Barracks.

In 1998 Father Michael was a corresponding academician of the Historical Institute of Dom Luiz I in Portugal in 1988. Fr Michael received The Cross of Merit in Gold of Poland in 1988.

From 1985 Father Michael is a member of the College of Cathedral Chaplains in Westminster .

Among his publications are I Will See You In Heaven, 1991; Letters From The Heart, 2000; Assurance, 2000; Catholic Lives (foreword) 2001; The Gift of Assurance, 2003.

Fr Michael first joined the Constantinian Order in 1989 as an Ecclesiastical Knight of Grace. In 2003 Father Michael was promoted to the rank of Ecclesiastical Knight Commander of Grace.

The Reverend Feargal McGrady, KCHS, KGCO,

The Reverend Feargal McGrady was appointed a Chaplain to the British and Irish Delegation in 2001 following his investiture as an Ecclesiastical Knight of Grace.

Father McGrady was born in 1960 in County Down, Northern Ireland. He was educated at St Joseph’s College of Education (1978-1981) and later at St Patrick’s College and Pontificial University in Ireland.

In 1985, Father McGrady was ordained Priest for the Diocese of Down and Connor, in Downpatrick. From 1985-1986 Father McGrady served as a Chaplain of the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. From 1986-1989, Father McGrady became a Curate at Castlewellan. Portaferry 1989-1992 and Ballymena from 1992-1998.

Father McGrady’s decorations include Knight (1993) and Knight Commander (1996) of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. He was appointed archivist of the Irish Lieutenancy of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre.

The Reverend Monsignor Vincent Brady, KGCO,

Father Vincent G Brady was appointed a Chaplain to the British and Irish Delegation in 2002 following his investiture as Ecclesiastical Knight of Grace of the Constantinian Order.

Father Vincent was born in 1956 and studied at the Salesian College in Battersea. After spending a year at St Edmund’s Ware, he continued his religious studies at the Diocesan Seminary, Allen Hall, Chelsea. In 1979, he was ordained a Deacon and served at St Sebastian & St Pancras Church in Kingsbury Green.

In 1980, Father Vincent was ordained Priest and was appointed to St Thomas of Canterbury Church in Wandsworth. Between 1980 and 1984 he served at Holy Rood Church in Watford and subsequently transferred to St George’s Church in Sudbury where he remained until 1988.

In 1989, Father Vincent was appointed Private Secretary to His eminence Basil, Cardinal Hume, OM, Archbishop of Westminster. Five years later, he became Parish Priest at St Matthews Church in Northwood and since 2001 has been Parish Priest at the Pro-Cathedral Church of Our Lady of Victories in Kensington, London.

In 2003 Father Vincent was appointed Private Secretary to His Excellency Pablo Puente, Apostolic Nuncio to the Court of St James's, a position that continues under the current Apostolic Nuncio, HE Archbishop Faustino Sainz Muñoz.