| The Right Reverend Hugh Gilbert OSB |
|
|---|---|
| Bishop of Aberdeen | |
| Province | St Andrews and Edinburgh |
| Diocese | Aberdeen |
| Appointed | 4 June 2011 |
| Enthroned | 15 August 2011 |
| Predecessor | Peter Moran |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 29 June 1982 by Mario Conti |
| Consecration | 15 August 2011 by Keith O'Brien |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Edward Gilbert |
| Born | 15 March 1952 Emsworth, Hampshire, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Previous post | Abbot of Pluscarden Abbey (1992 - 2011) |
The Right Reverend Hugh Edward Gilbert, OSB (15 March 1952 - ) is the Bishop of Aberdeen. He was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI on 4 June 2011.[1] He had previously served as abbot of Pluscarden Abbey. He was ordained bishop by Cardinal Keith O'Brien on 15 August 2011.[2]
Edward Gilbert was born in 1952 in Emsworth to an Anglican family. He was received into the Catholic Church at age 18, on Christmas Eve of 1970. Educated in various schools in London including Saint Paul's. He then attended King's College, University of London and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in History in 1974.
He entered the monastery of Pluscarden in Moray, Scotland, taking the name Hugh, and was later sent to Fort Augustus Abbey for studies and preparation for the priesthood. He made his solemn monastic profession in 1979 and was ordained a priest on the Feast of SS Peter and Paul, 29 June 1982.
At Pluscarden he became sub-prior in 1984, novice master in 1985, and prior in 1990. He was elected abbot of the monastery 29 October 1992 and blessed on 8 December 1992. He was a member of the Council of the Union of Monastic Superiors from 1993 to 1997 and of the Abbot Visitor's Council since 1995. During his time as abbot the community grew to 27 monks.
When the archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor reached retirement age Fr. Hugh Gilbert was mentioned as a possible successor. It was thought however that he declined the offer.[3] Vincent Nichols, archbishop of Birmingham was appointed instead in 2009.
Hugh Gilbert will be expected to find a way of tackling secularism and boosting church attendance. The Catholic Church has suffered a fall in the size of its congregations in Scotland, in common with much of Europe and with other Christian denominations in Scotland.