The appointment of Fr Keith as Ordinary of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, established according to the provisions of the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus, was announced in a letter from Cardinal William Levada, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

The letter was read out by Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols at the beginning of the Mass of Ordination at Westminster Cathedral, celebrated by the Archbishop on Saturday 16th January 2011, during which Rev Keith Newton, Rev John Broadhurst (former Bishop of Fulham) and Rev Andrew Burnham (former Bishop of Ebbsfleet) were ordained to the priesthood of the Roman Catholic Church. 

The Holy Father subsequently elevated Fr Keith to the rank of Protonotary Apostolic, which means he now has the title of 'monsignor'.

Mgr Keith Newton was Bishop of Richborough until 31st December 2010. His final Pastoral Letter and a Press Statement concerning his resignation can be found on this website.