so that the Apostolic Vicariate of London District formed on 30 January 1688 coinciding with a degree of freedoms. By decree of Pope Pius IX (Universalis Ecclesiae), this entity gained its elevation to the rank of a metropolitan diocese (instead of archdiocese) on 29 September 1850. Present On 3 April 2009, it was announced that the Archbishop of Birmingham, the Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, would become the 11th Archbishop of Westminster. Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, who was installed as tenth Archbishop of Westminster on 22 March 2000 and was elevated to the rank of cardinal-priest of the title of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva by Pope John Paul II on 21 February 2001, became archbishop emeritus. Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor had announced on 9 July 2007 that, in accordance with the age limit of 75 years prescribed for bishops in the 1983 Code of Canon Law, he had submitted his resignation to Pope Benedict XVI, but that the Pope had asked him to continue in his pastoral ministry as archbishop beyond the age limit until further provision was made, as occurred in 2009. The archbishop is usually assisted by four auxiliary bishops, each with specific areas of responsibility within the administration of the diocese. One of the auxiliary bishops serves as chancellor and moderator of the metropolitan curia; one as vicar for the clergy; one for pastoral affairs; and one for education and formation. The metropolitan curia and chancery offices are located at Vaughan House, outside Westminster Cathedral in central London. The diocesan seminary, Allen Hall, is located in Chelsea, West London, and (with Ushaw College) is a direct descendant of the seminary of Douai College, France. The Diocese is a registered charity No.233699. Bishops Ordinaries Vicars Apostolic of England (and Wales) William Bishop (1623–1624) Richard Smith (1624–1632) John Leyburn (1685–1688); see below Vicars Apostolic of London District John Leyburn (1688–1702); see above Bonaventure Giffard (1703–1734) Benjamin Petre (1734–1758) Richard Challoner (1758–1781) James Robert Talbot (1781–1790) John Douglass (1790–1812) William Poynter (1812–1827) James Yorke Bramston (1827–1836) Thomas Griffiths (1836–1847) Thomas Walsh (1848–1849) Nicholas Wiseman (1849–1850): see below; future Cardinal Archbishops Cardinal Nicholas Wiseman (1850–1865): see above Cardinal Henry Manning (1865–1892) Cardinal Herbert Vaughan (1892–1903) Cardinal Francis Bourne (1903–1935) Cardinal Arthur Hinsley (1935–1943) Cardinal Bernard Griffin (1943–1956) Cardinal William Godfrey (1956–1963) Cardinal John Carmel Heenan (1963–1976) Cardinal Basil Hume, OSB (1976–1999) Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor (2000–2009) Cardinal Vincent Nichols (2009–present) Coadjutor Vicars Apostolic James Yorke Bramston (1823–1827)