Bishop Richard was born in Chingola, Zambia in 1958. He was brought up in Kent and, after leaving The Judd School, Tonbridge, began formation at St John's Seminary, Wonersh. He was ordained Priest on 3 July 1982 and served as assistant priest at St Bede's, Clapham Park before pursuing studies in Canon Law at St Paul University, Ottawa.
In 1987 he was appointed assistant priest at St Saviour's, Lewisham, during which time he also served as a Territorial Army Chaplain with 217 General Hospital RAMC(V). He served as Private Secretary to Archbishop Michael Bowen from 1992-2001, during which time he was also President of the Interdiocesan Tribunal of Second Instance of Southwark and Vocations Director. In 2001 he was appointed Vicar General and Chancellor of the Diocese. He served as Bishop of the Armed Forces from 2009-2015.
Bishop Richard is Chair of Governors at St Mary's University, Twickenham and Liaison Bishop for Prisons on behalf of the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales. He has been a Benedictine Oblate for over 30 years and is a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, with whom he has travelled many times to the Holy Land. He enjoys horse riding and walking.