Background
John Cunningham was born in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland on 22 February 1938.
John Cunningham was born in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland on 22 February 1938.
He was educated at Street Mary"s College, Blairs and Saint Peter"s Seminary, Cardross. From where he attended the Pontifical Gregorian University.
Later he was a student of the Scots College, Rome. He was ordained to the priesthood on 29 June 1961. From 1967 to 1981, he was extramural professor of Canon Law at Street Peter"s College, Glasgow.
He was parish priest at Street Patrick"s, Greenock from 1992–2004 and was appointed Papal Chaplain in 1994.
From 1997 to 2004 he was Vicar General of the Diocese of Paisley. He was made a Prelate of Honour in 1999.
On the day Maurice Taylor retired on 7 April 2004, Cunningham was appointed the Bishop of the Diocese of Galloway by the Holy Secretary He was consecrated to the Episcopate on 28 May 2004, the principal consecrator being Cardinal Keith O"Brien, Archbishop of Street Andrews and Edinburgh with co-consecrating bishops the Rt Rev Maurice Taylor, Bishop Emeritus of Galloway and the Rt Rev John Mone, Bishop of Paisley.
Cunningham retired on 22 November 2014 when Pope Francis" appointment of William Nolan as his successor was announced.
