Born at Crows Nest, Sydney to George and Marjorie (née Hyndes) Ingham, Peter Ingham"s early education was completed at Street Leonard"s Primary School, Naremburn, and Street Pius X College, Chatswood. He studied for the priesthood at Street Columba"s Seminary, Springwood, and at Street Patrick"s Seminary, Manly, and was ordained a priest by Cardinal Gilroy at Street Mary"s Cathedral, Sydney on 18 July 1964.
He is the fourth and current Roman Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Wollongong, serving since 2001. Ingham served as an assistant priest in Rosebery, Newtown, Street Mary"s and Auburn South. He was the private secretary to Cardinal Freeman and Secretary of the Archdiocese of Sydney.
He was nominated as a monsignor by Pope John Paul II in 1986.
In 1990 he was appointed parish priest of Street Charles" Ryde. He was appointed as an auxiliary bishop in the Sydney archdiocese on 24 May 1993 and consecrated on 12 July by Cardinal Edward Clancy as the Titular Bishop of Pudentiana.
Ingham was appointed to his bishopric on 6 June 2001 and installed as the fourth on 25 July 2001. In 2006 he was elected President of the Federation of Catholic Bishops Conferences of Oceania.
In October 2008 he participated in the 12th Synod of Bishops at the Vatican.
In September 2009, he was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI to participate in the Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops, that was held from 4 to 25 October at the Vatican, themed "The Church in Africa, at the Service of Reconciliation, Justice and Peace."
On 16 March 2010, Ingham dedicated the renovated Street Francis Xavier"s Cathedral as a sacred place, not previously undertaken by church officials, despite over 162 years of service at the location.
Ingham is a member of the Bishops Commission for Liturgy and the Bishops Commission for Mission and Faith Formation.
