Fr Michael Dolman, Rector of St Mary’s College, Oscott is delighted to announce that Fr Andrew Allman (pictured) is the new Vice Rector.

Fr Andrew, of the Diocese of Lancaster, will take up his appointment on Wednesday 3 August. He is currently the parish priest at St Clare’s, Preston and the chaplain at the Royal Preston Hospital.

St Mary’s College, Oscott, the seminary of the Archdiocese of Birmingham, forms men for the priesthood from 15 dioceses in England, Wales and Scotland, as well as Religious Congregations. It also prepares men for ministry as permanent deacons for five dioceses.

Fr Andrew takes over from Fr Paul Keane, who has been appointed as Catholic Chaplain to the University of Cambridge.

Fr Michael said: “I am very much looking forward to working with Fr Andrew and I am grateful for the generosity with which he has responded to this call to serve at St Mary’s Seminary.

“I am indebted to Bishop Paul Swarbrick of the Diocese of Lancaster, who has so readily gifted the seminary in this way. It is with deep appreciation that I bid farewell to Fr Paul Keane and assure him of our prayers and good wishes as he takes up his new responsibilities at Cambridge.”

Fr Andrew said: “I feel both honoured and humbled at my appointment as Vice Rector of Oscott. Honoured, because of the importance of the work of priestly formation and the long and rich history of St Mary’s College; and humbled, because I feel the weight of responsibility towards our future priests.

“I look forward to contributing to this vital work, helping to form a new generation of priests for our country. I am grateful to the Archbishop and to Fr Michael for their confidence in me and I look forward to coming to know the priests and people of the Archdiocese of Birmingham in the years ahead.”

Fr Andrew was born in Blackpool and grew up on the Fylde in Lancashire. He studied mathematics and statistics at Lancaster University before going to Ushaw College, Durham, for priestly formation.

He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Lancaster in 2005, served for several years as assistant priest at Lancaster Cathedral before being appointed chaplain at Blackpool Victoria Hospital and assistant priest at St Bernadette’s in the town.

From 2011 to 2014 he also served as Vocations Director for the Diocese of Lancaster, during which time he took up a new appointment as assistant priest at Our Lady of Furness, Barrow.

In early 2017 Fr Andrew was appointed Parish Priest of St Clare’s, Preston, and chaplain to the Royal Preston Hospital. In addition to parish duties, he has also served as Episcopal Vicar for Clergy in the Diocese of Lancaster, before being appointed to Oscott.

Discover Oscott