Former Westminster Mayor proud to say he does 'do God'

Cardinal Nichols with Cllr Robert Rigby at the event in the Throne Room at Archbishops House

The former Lord Mayor of Westminster underlined the importance of talking about faith in public life, in a speech to The Society of St Augustine of Canterbury.

Cllr Robert Rigby said: "It's always difficult to talk about your faith in public life. Tony Blair was quoted by Alastair Campbell as saying, "We don't do God."

"Well, I was proud to say that I did do God. I was blessed to have a lot of support around that - family, friends, the Catenians, and my chaplain, Father Christopher Colven."

Ampleforth-educated Cllr Rigby, Lord Mayor of Westminster from May 2024 to May 2025, spoke before an audience in the Throne Room at Archbishop's House, including Cardinal Vincent Nichols.

The former Lord Mayor said: "It is important when you go through life - certainly, public life - to have some benchmarks and my Catholicism and faith are really important to me.

"I was educated by the Benedictines and there were two themes from that experience that I pushed through my year -to listen, and to show humility. I tried to reflect those two aspects in the role that I fulfilled."

During his year as Lord Mayor, the 63-year-old councillor for St John's Wood in Westminster championed Catholic causes including the Cardinal Hume Centre, one of two charities chosen for his Mayoralty. Cllr Rigby also played a key role in the restoration - after a gap of more than 20 years - of a civic service at Westminster Cathedral to parallel that held at Westminster Abbey.

"It was another occasion on which I could showcase my Catholic faith and Catholicism to a wider audience," Cllr Rigby said; "We don't often have Lord Mayors who are Catholic, or if they are they don't necessarily want to talk about it."

The audience was told the Lord Mayor of Westminster has his own seat in Westminster Abbey and tradition dictates that everyone rises when the Lord Mayor enters. Cllr Rigby quipped he had suggested that there could be a Catholic equivalent in Westminster Cathedral, adding: "That suggestion fell on deaf ears!"

In March this year, Cllr Rigby was awarded a Papal Knighthood for his services in public life and to the Church. He received the honour of the Knight of the Pontifical Order of Saint Gregory the Great in a service at Westminster Cathedral.

After stepping down as Lord Mayor in May 2025, Cllr Rigby continues to perform Mayoral duties as Deputy Lord Mayor.

The married marketing executive also maintains his connection with the Cardinal Hume Centre as one the organisers of celebrations for the Centre's 40th anniversary, which takes place next year.

"I was able to nominate one of my favourite charities, the Cardinal Hume Centre, for my Mayoral year," Cllr Rigby said.
"I was at Ampleforth when the great bell tolled in 1976 to announce that Abbot Hume had been appointed Archbishop of Westminster by Pope Paul VI, later Cardinal. I am absolutely delighted to continue to support the Cardinal Hume Centre."