Fr. Anthony Wilcox has been Parish Priest of Sacred Heart, Henley-on-Thames since May 1992.  In May 2010, Fr. Anthony was made a Domestic Prelate, by Pope Benedict XVI, with the title of “Monsignor”.   The honour comes at the request of the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales for his work on behalf of the Venerable English College in Rome.  Archbishop Bernard Longley said: “I am delighted that the Holy Father has honoured two priests of the Archdiocese of Birmingham during this Year for Priests. The Church has recognised the significant ways in which Mgr Anthony Wilcox has contributed to her life and mission within and beyond our diocese. I think it was very fitting that the Venerable English College in Rome witnessed the announcement that Fr Anthony Wilcox had been made a Monsignor by Pope Benedict.  Over the years Mgr Wilcox has worked unstintingly at diocesan and national level for the welfare of priests and as a trustee of the Venerabile in support of the formation of future priests.”

Mgr Wilcox, is a Trustee of the English College which trains men for the priesthood. For the past fifteen years, in addition to his duties as parish priest in Henley, he has regularly commuted to work in Rome.  He has helped to secure the continuance of this College, which is the oldest English establishment abroad, dating back to 1362.

Mgr Wilcox added that he would like to use his title and the regalia only on formal occasions, and that he would much prefer his well-known name of Father Anthony.

Fr.  Anthony Wilcox studied for the priesthood at the English College in Rome, 1957-1964.

He was ordained in Rome on 22 Feb 1964.  He served as a curate in Warwick, 1964-65;

Stafford,1965-1966; Coventry, 1966-1968; Chasetown. 1968-1971; SS Peter and Paul

Wolverhampton, 1971-1977.

Fr. Anthony was appointed as parish priest at St John’s Great Haywood, 1977-1983 before he was

appointed parish priest at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 1983-1992 – the biggest parish in the

diocese with a main church, six other centres, five schools, two prisons, and a general hospital –

and from there, on 29^th May 1992 he went to Sacred Heart, Henley-on-Thames.

Archbishop Vincent Nichols, as Archbishop of Birmingham, appointed Mgr Wilcox Director of

Ongoing Formation for Priests in the diocese, 2003-2008. He was elected National Chairman of

Ongoing Formation Directors, 2006-2008. He was Chairman of the National Conference of Priests,

2000-2002. His hobbies include walking and boating.