he returned to england, where he was secretary to the provincial council of the archdiocese of westminster in 1873. in october 1879 he came to shrewsbury, shropshire, as secretary to james brown, then bishop of shrewsbury, and was appointed canon at the catholic cathedral there in 1883. he was also active in town life as vice-chairman of the shrewsbury school board (established 1881) and of the atcham board of guardians, and was for some 20 years roman catholic chaplain at shrewsbury prison. he gave up these public offices when he was appointed the bishop of shrewsbury by the holy see on 16 june 1897. his consecration to the episcopate took place on 16 june 1897, the principal consecrator was cardinal herbert vaughan, archbishop of westminster, and the principal co-consecrators were edward ilsley, bishop (later archbishop) of birmingham and francis mostyn, bishop of menevia (later archbishop of cardiff).