he was appointed an auxiliary bishop of liverpool and titular bishop of "mercia" on 19 december 1968. his consecration to the episcopate took place on 16 february 1969, the principal consecrator was george andrew beck, archbishop of liverpool, and the principal co-consecrators were george patrick dwyer, archbishop of birmingham and augustine harris, bishop of middlesbrough. eleven years later, he was appointed the bishop of shrewsbury on 19 august 1980.