David Oakley (bishop)
English priest (born 1955)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
David James Oakley (born 28 November 1955) is a British Catholic prelate who has served as Bishop of Northampton since 2020. He is currently on a leave of absence as he awaits trial for the alleged rape of a child.[1]
David Oakley | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Northampton | |
| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| Province | Westminster |
| Diocese | Northampton |
| Appointed | 8 January 2020 |
| Installed | 19 March 2020 |
| Predecessor | Peter Doyle |
| Previous post | Rector of St Mary's College, Oscott (2013–2020) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 5 July 1980 by George Patrick Dwyer |
| Consecration | 19 March 2020 by Vincent Nichols |
| Personal details | |
| Born | David James Oakley 28 November 1955 Stourbridge, England |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Motto | Beati Pauperes Spiritu |
Coat of arms | |
Early life and education
Oakley was born in Stourbridge on 28 November 1955.[1] From 1974 to 1980, he trained for Holy Orders at St Mary's College, Oscott.[2]
Ordained ministry
He was ordained as a priest on 5 July 1980 for the Archdiocese of Birmingham.[1] From February 2013 to 2020, he served as Rector of St Mary's College, Oscott, the seminary of the Archdiocese of Birmingham.[3]
He was appointed the Bishop of the Diocese of Northampton by the Holy See on 8 January 2020.[1] His consecration to the episcopate took place at Northampton Cathedral on 19 March 2020; the principal consecrator was Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster.[1]
He is an episcopal advisor for the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in England and Wales.[4][2]
Arrest
In October 2025 it was announced that Oakley was taking a leave of absence from his duties for "personal reasons".[4] In June 2026, he was charged with two counts of rape against a female under the age of 16, having been first arrested in September 2025.[5] On 30 June 2026 it was announced that Pope Leo XIV had appointed Richard Moth, the Archbishop of Westminster, as apostolic administrator of the Northampton Diocese in Oakley's absence.[6]
