[2] He subsequently held the following pastoral assignments: Following his period at St Mary's College, Blairs, he spent over a year living at Ampleforth Abbey while discerning a vocation to monastic life.

On returning to Scotland he became Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh and pastor of the united parishes of Our Lady's in North Berwick and Dunbar.

Robson's appointment was announced on 8 May 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI and he received episcopal consecration on 9 June 2012, the Feast of St Columba, from Keith Patrick Cardinal O'Brien with Archbishops Antonio Mennini and Mario Conti serving as co-consecrators.

Following his episcopal ordination, he continued Chancellor of the archdiocese and served as parish priest at Ss John Cantius and Nicholas, Broxburn, beginning in September 2012.

[11][failed verification] When Cardinal O'Brien resigned in February 2013 after being accused of sexual misconduct by other priests, Robson was named apostolic administrator and entrusted with running the daily affairs of the archdiocese.

[13] In March 2013 Robson was appointed to be one of the twelve members of the controversial McLellan Commission, which was to review how the Scottish Church deals with accusations of sexual abuse;[14] Kevin McKenna of The Guardian called its August 2015 report a "whitewash".