Project Patron
The Hearts in Search of God project is delighted to welcome Bishop Patrick McKinney, the tenth Bishop of Nottingham, as project patron.
We are grateful for the support of the Bishops' Conference of England & Wales for his appointment.
Bishop Patrick is a keen walker and was a great supporter of the 2025 Pilgrimage of Hope, walking one of the final stages with the pilgrims.
He welcomed the pilgrims from all four Ways to Nottingham Cathedral and you can listen to his reflection on the occasion below.
About Bishop Patrick
Patrick McKinney was born in Birmingham in 1954, the eldest son of Patrick and Bridget McKinney, originally from Ireland. He studied for the priesthood in St Mary’s College, Oscott, the Archdiocese of Birmingham’s seminary, and was ordained priest on 29th July 1978 in St Mary’s Church, Buncrana.
Fr McKinney was appointed assistant priest of Our Lady of Lourdes parish, Yardley Wood, Birmingham. Between 1982 and 1984 he studied in Rome. Returning to Birmingham he taught fundamental theology in St Mary’s College until 1989, when he was appointed the seminary’s Rector. He was appointed Monsignor by Pope John Paul II in 1990, and a Chapter Canon of Saint Chad’s Cathedral in 1992. In 1998 he returned to parish ministry and became Episcopal Vicar for the north of the Archdiocese.
Pope Francis appointed Monsignor McKinney as tenth Bishop of Nottingham on 14th May 2015 and he was ordained bishop by Cardinal Vincent Nichols in St Barnabas Cathedral, Nottingham, on 3rd July, taking as his motto ‘Seek the face of Christ’. During Bishop Patrick’s years in Nottingham he has worked to embed three spiritual priorities of ‘Encounter, Discipleship, and Missionary Discipleship’ within the parishes, schools, and communities of the diocese.
Nationally Bishop Patrick is the lead bishop for interfaith work, and has served as a trustee of CAFOD, the Church’s overseas aid agency. He takes a keen interest in ways in which the Church can bring the love of God to people in practical ways, supporting local food banks and homelessness projects, a pregnancy advice service, and a charity supporting medical work in African countries. In his spare time he enjoys walking, discovering paths and parts of the diocese less visited.
