Salford Diocesan Clergy

BAETINGS PETER ANTHONY

Born 23 June 1842
Ordained 26 May 1866
Died 30 April 1910

Born St Michiels, Diocese of Bois le Duc, Holland, Fr Baetings was educated at Rolduc, and was ordained at Bois le Duc. He came to the diocese in July 1870 and served at All Saints, Barton with Canon Kershaw, helping at Irlam, 1870-1874; then at St Mary Heaton Morris (not listed in Almanac). He was the first rector at the new mission of St Joseph Shaw 1874-1883. He then became rector at St Ann, Ashton under Lyne 1884-1886, was assistant to Fr Smith at Nelson (not listed in the Almanac) and then became chaplain to the Little Sisters in Longsight, Manchester 1891-1894 before becoming rector at St Joseph, Stacksteads, 1894-1896. He returned to Manchester as chaplain firstly to the Good Shepherd Convent and Girls Orphanage 1897-1899 and then to the Daughters of the Cross Convent, Blackley. He was listed as "unattached" in 1900 and retired to Holland and died at Roermond.

Sources: Obituary 1911 Almanac. The obituary omits certain of his postings. PV1-85; Curley; Bolton; Slater.

BALL JOHN

Born 1801
Ordained September 1826
Died 6 July 1847

Fr John Ball is listed in the Laity Directories for 1834-1840 as being stationed at Barton on Irwell, having succeeded Fr Henry Newsham there. Downside list his birth in 1801 and death in 1847. He trained at Ushaw. Slater in stating that a Fr T Ball came to Barton in 1832 would seem to be wrong about both the initial (T for J) and year. Fr Ball is listed as being at Doncaster from 1840 until his death at York in 1847. He is to be distinguished from Fr John Bell (QV)

Sources: Laity Directory, Catholic Directory passim

BALLENTYNE JOSEPH

Born 1869
Ordained 1897
Died date unknown

Born Lancashire and educated at Ushaw, the Almanacs note he received Tonsure and minor orders. There is no record of major orders being conferred. Downside lists him however and the Ushaw Roll lists him as ordained at S Sulpice for SLF (Downside).

BARON PETER FRANCIS

Born 18 January 1819
Ordained 21 September1844
Died 26 November1893

Son of John and Jane Baron (Mason), Peter Francis was born in Blackburn where his father was a cotton manufacturer. One of his brothers became a Jesuit, and another a teacher who ran a boarding school for young gentlemen at Lytham. After training at Valladolid (1833-1839) and Ushaw (1839-1844) where he was ordained, Fr Baron served initially in the Lancashire District, initially at St Wilfrid, Hulme 1844-1846. He then moved to St Philip and James mission at Edgeley, Stockport. When the Hierarchy was restored, he became a priest of the Shrewsbury diocese. He was made rector at Puddington in 1851. This mission also served Hooton until 1866. He remained at Puddington until his death. He died while on a visit to new Brighton and is buried at Neston.

Sources: Abbott

BARRY THOMAS

Born Unknown
Ordained Unknown
Died Unknown

This priest served as assistant at St Joseph, Goulden Street, Manchester 1857-1859.

BARTHEL JOHN BAPTIST

Born 17 February 1851
Ordained 17 September 1876
Died: date unknown

Born Zeltingen, Diocese of Trier, Fr Barthel was educated at Trier Seminary, and was ordained in Luxemburg. He came on loan to the diocese and served at St Wilfrid, Hulme 1878-1883 and at St Mary, Ashton under Lyne 1883-1884. There is no entry in the 1885 Almanac and it is presumed he was recalled to his own diocese.

Sources: PV1 189

BARTLETT ARCHIBALD

Born 1864
Ordained 1893
Died 30 December1924

Born Keighley Yorkshire, Fr Bartlett was a convert to Catholicism and joined the Redemptorists and spent the first ten years of his priesthood with them. He then came to the Salford diocese and worked as assistant at the Cathedral 1903-1905, at St Mary, Burnley 1905-1911, and at St Chad, Manchester 1911-1917. He was rector at St Edward. Lees 1917-1922 but had to take sick leave because of a heart condition. In 1923 he went as parish priest to St Mary, Clayton le Moor, and is buried in the churchyard there, For many years he edited the diocesan ordo.

Source: Obituary 1926 Almanac

BASTE EDWARD

Born 3 May 1837
Ordained 16 June 1862
Died

Born Paris, France, he was educated and ordained at the Sees Seminary. He came to the diocese on loan on 9 July 1877 and served as assistant at St Joseph, Salford 1877-1878. The almanacs hold no reference to him from 1879-1889. He then came to St Mary's, Littleborough as assistants and acted as chaplain to the Boys' Home at Buckley Hall 1889-1890; he was listed as chaplain to Buckley Hall 1890-1891, and than as assistant at St Patrick, Rochdale in 1891. No mention of him appears in the 1893 Almanac. It is presumed he was recalled to his own diocese. He may have been at St Patrick's Livesey Street for a short time.

BECKER JOHN

Born 25 May 1856
Ordained 8 January 1882
Died Unknown

Born at Werl, Paderborn, he trainsed at Paderborn and Ushaw and was ordained at Salford Cathedral. After a short spell at St Bede's College, he served as assistant at St James, Pendleton, Salford 1882-1885. He was affiliated to the diocese from 5 October 1879, but no entries for him are to found in the 1886 Almanac.

Sources - PV1 228

BEESLEY JAMES

Born 7 August 1834
Ordained 21 April 1862
Died 18 October 1910

Monsignor James Provost Beesley was born in Liverpool and was educated at St Francis Xavier School and Ushaw and was ordained in the Bishop's Chapel, Salford by Bishop Turner. He served as assistant at St Mary, Oldham 1862-1868, and as rector at St Mary, Ashton under Lyne 1868-1874. There he endured the "Murphy Riots" and voyaged to the Holy Land with Mgr Gadd to regain his health. He next served as administrator at the Cathedral 1874-1892 before becoming rector at St Anne, Stretford 1892-1910. At the Cathedral, he built the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, installed the organ, eliminated the debt and saw the Cathedral consecrated. He was also much involved with the Seminary of Pastoral Theology. He undertook extensions at Stretford. He became Canon in 1875, Provost and Monsignor in 1897, Vicar General in August 1907. He is buried at Moston.

Sources: Obituary Almanac 1911; PV1-13; Curley, Bolton, Harvest 1910 p. 261.

BELL JOHN

Born 1767
Ordained 23 December 1794
Died 31 May 1854

Fr Bell, son of Luke and Jane Bell, was born at Snaith in Yorkshire in 1767. He trained at Douai, and after his escape from the Revolution, at Crook Hall, Ushaw, being ordained by Bishop Gibson in 1794. He taught at Ushaw, 1794-1817; served at Salmesbury, 1818-1828, and was chaplain and tutor to the Silvertop Family at Kippax Hall, Pontefract, 1828-1843. He retired to selby where he died in 1854 aged 87. He was the author of "Wandering of the Human Mind". He needs to be distinguished from Fr John Ball (QV)

Sources: Laity Directory passim

BENOIT PETER LOUIS

Born 1 November 1820
Ordained 29 May 1847
Died 28 March 1892

Peter Louis Canon Benoit, son of Xaverius Joseph and Barbara Theresa (Tanghe), born in 1820, was educated Roeselare 1834-1840 and at the Episcopal Seminary at Bruges. He learnt English in a three months stay with the Weld family near Preston, having met them when professor at a College in Bruges. Originally he intended to go to South Africa but stayed in England. He served as secretary and Canon Penitentiary to Bishop Turner, was made Vicar General in 1855 and attended the First Vatican Council as his theologian. He was involved in bringing the Xaverian Brothers to Manchester. Bishop Vaughan sent him to be rector of the Mill Hill College when he became Bishop of Salford, and he is regarded as their second founder. There has been much intereest in his life and career in Belgium, and several weighty articles on him have been published in Flemish.

Sources: B65, B71 which includes copies of some letters to the Flemish priest-poet Guido Gezelle, B95 which contains copies of three Flemish biographies, two of which are substantial.

BENSON JOHN HENRY

Born 1 January 1865
Ordained 10 August 1890
Died 21 October 1893

Fr Benson was born in Aldershot, England but was brought up as a child in Salford, studying at the Salford Catholic Grammar School 1877-1879 before going to the English College, Lisbon. When his health gave way, he returned to England, completed his theological studies and was ordained priest by Bishop Vaughan. On leaving the Seminary of Pastoral Theology, his only posting was as assistant at St Mary, Ashton under Lyne 1890-1892. Brochitis and weak lungs necessitated sick leave, and he went to the South of England where after a long illness, he died of consumption at the Franciscan Convent in Southampton in October 1893.
Source: Obituary 1894 Almanac; Croft.

Query: Croft gives ordination as 10 September1890 and states he retired to Plymouth. 1 November is also given as date of birth?

BERRY WILLIAM SEDGEWELL

Born 23 October 1845
Ordained 25 October 1868
Died 30 August 1876

Fr Berry was the son of Henry and Carl (McCarty) and was born in Poona, India, in 1845 and was educated in Ireland. He trained at St Alban's College, Valladolid and was recalled early to the diocese, to teach at the Salford Catholic Grammar School in 1867. He was ordained at Salford Cathedral in 1868. He was sent as assistant to St Peter and Paul, Bolton, 1868-1870 and then to St Alban, Blackburn, 1870-1876. He died of smallpox caught whilst visiting the sick and was buried at Blackburn. His father, born in Liverpool in 1818 had tried his own vocation at Valladolid but left in 1838 to join the British Army and had served in Australia, India, Crimea and Ethiopia. William's brother, also became a priest, trained at Ushaw and was a professor there.

Sources: PV1-79 CRS 30 p. 241, 230; Bolton; Almanacs, Bolton gives date of death as June 1874

BESWICK HENRY

Born 3 November 1832
Ordained 20 December 1862
Died 22 February 1880

Born in Salford, Fr Beswick's mother was called Martha (Hayes). As a boy perforce attending non-catholic schools - notably Hampson's Academy, Salford - he defended his beliefs with vigour, and engaged convincingly in religious controversy as a young man notably with a Mr Darby. He finally desisted on the advice of the clergy who feared the interest he had caused might have ill repercussions. A late vocation, he was much involved with the SVP and Boys Guild before going to All Hallows, Dublin, in 1857. Bishop Turner ordained him in the Bishop's Chapel, and placed him on the staff of the newly opened Salford Catholic Grammar School. During this period he provided for the Sunday services at the chapel-of-ease of St James, Pendleton 1864-1868. On 31 December 1867 he was appointed rector to the new mission of St Peter, Greengate. His first task was to build a church, which was opened on 26 July 1874. He acted as Spiritual Director to the Adelphi Convent and to St Bede's Students whilst at Greengate. From 1878 he served as Secretary to the Moston Cemetery Board. He had served on the Borough Relief Board during the Cotton Famine. His health began to fail in late 1879. He died on a Sunday evening and the streets soon filled with a sorrowing crowd of his poor flock. He was buried at Moston.

Sources: - PV1 - 56; Obituary 1881 Almanac p. 47, "Frondes Silvulae" the Salford Catholic Grammar School magazine Vol 1 page 50, Condon 565a.

Query DoB 25.11.1832 Plumb

BEULINK FREDERICK

Born 7 January 1861
Ordained 28 July 1889
Died 17 July 1899

Born at Zelhem, Holland, in 186, Fr Beulink was educated at Reisenburg and Utrect and volunteered for the Salford when a deacon. He was ordained at Salford by Bishop Vaughan in 1889. His first appointemnt was as assistant at St Aloysius, Ardwick, Manchester,1890-1892. He then was moved to St Edmund, Miles Platting, Manchester 1892-1893. In Spring 1893 he was made rector of the Sacred Heart Mission, Urmston, 1893-1897 and then because of failing health, he was made rector at the Sacred Heart, Westhoughton 1897-1898. With deteriorating health, he went as chaplain to Buckley Hall near Rochdale 1898-1899. He went to convalesce at Blackpool but took ill and died of pneumonia and pleurisy. He was buried at Moston Cemetery.

Sources: Obituary 1900 Almanac; PV1 - 298.

BIER VINCENT

Born 24 August 1851
Ordained 28 August 1875
Died date unknown

Born at Clarenthal, Treves, Fr Bier was educated at Saarbruken, Treves, where he was ordained. He came on loan to the diocese on 3 November 1877 and served as assistant at St Peter, Greengate, Salford, 1878-1880 and at St James, Pendleton, Salford 1880-1881. He is omitted from the 1882 Almanac and must be presumed to have been recalled to his own diocese.

Sources: PV1 176; Entered Diocese 3.111.1877 on loan until recalled.

BIGGS SAMUEL SEYMOUR

Born 8 Apri1 1845
Ordained 22 December 1872
Died 15 July 1912

Son of Thomas and Ellen Biggs (Ahearne), Fr Biggs was born in Liverpool and educated at the English College, Lisbon. Bishop Brown ordained him in Shrewsbury Cathedral. He was assistant at Our Lady, Birkenhead 1872-1873, then rector at Madeley, Shropshire 1875-1877, and for a while, assistant at Macclesfield in 1877. After leaving Shrewsbury diocese, he served in Halifax, Nova Scotia before coming to the Salford diocese where he served as assistant at St Alban, Blackburn, 1893-1895. His later career remains at present a mystery.

Sources: Abbott.

BILLINGTON JOHN

Born 1 September 1763
Ordained 1784
Died 10 October 1845

Fr Billington was the son of James and Jane Billington of Durton in Broughton, near Preston. Born in 1763, he went to Sedgley Park 1773-1777 and The English College, Lisbon, 1777-1784. Fr Billington served at Sizergh Hall, Westmoreland in 1790; Cliffe Hall, Mansfield, Yorkshire 1792; Lartington Hall, Romaldskirk, Yorkshire, 1793; Carlton Towers, Yorkshire, 1823-1827; St Mary, Mulberry Street, Manchester, as assistant and then rector, 1831-44, and as founder rector, at St John, Salford. He died in 1845 of a heart complaint and consumption in the home of Miss Boardman, Stretford Road. He was buried at St Augustine, Granby Row, Manchester. He is credited with bringing the Christian Brothers from Ireland to Manchester.

Sources: Anstruther; Croft; CRS 15

Query: early education from maternal uncle Fr Parkinson at Great Eccleston?? Did he have a brother who was a priest?

BILLINGTON THOMAS

Born 31 December 1828
Ordained 2 March 1855
Died 20 May 1880

Fr Billington was born at Kirkham, Lancashire, and was educated at Ushaw and was ordained in the Bishop's Chapel, Salford. His first appointment was as assistant at St Wilfrid, Hulme 1855-1873. On 19 October 1873 he was placed in charge of the Mount Carmel mission at Blackley. He then succeeded Canon Carter in 1875 as rector of St Peter and Paul, Bolton where he remained until his death.

Sources - PV1 - 38, Obituary 1881 Almanac p. 48.

BILSBORROW JOHN

Born 30 March 1836
Ordained 26 February 1865
Consecrated Third Bishop of Salford 24 August 1892
Died 5 March 1903

Born Singleton Fylde Lancashire, Bishop Bilsborrow was educated at Mr Baron's Commercial School in Lytham, and from 1851, at Ushaw College. He was ordained at St Edward's College, Everton, by Bishop Goss in 1865 and served in the Liverpool diocese until his appointment to Salford. After ordination he was sent as the first resident priest to be the founder rector of the mission at Barrow in Furness, where he built the church and three schools. In ill health he was sent in 1872 to Newhouse (or Newsham) near Preston, and there built a church and presbytery at Catforth. In 1879 he went to Rome to study for several months and on his return in Summer 1880, as the new College at Upholland was not completed, he went on temporary work at Ainsdale, and then when canon Teebay fell ill, at Birkdale in Southport. His next task was to found a mission at Grange over Sands, with the help of a boyhood friend, Mr John Sutcliffe Witham. There he built a church and paid off the debt. In 1883 he moved to Upholland College as Vice Rector, teaching successively dogmatic, moral and ascetic theology, before becoming Rector in 1885, and teaching both Scripture and ascetic theology. He became a Canon in 1888 and was made a Domestic prelate in June 1890. Pople Leo XIII appointed him the Third Bishop of Salford and he was consecrated at Salford Cathedral on 24 August. He was noted as a Bishop for his concern with Education and with priestly formation. Under his episcopacy, many new missions and schools were opened throughout the diocese. He suffered from heart trouble for many years and died whilst convalescing at Babbicombe Devon and was buried at Moston.

Sources: Obituary 1904 Almanac.

Brian Plumb wrote of Bilsborrow:
Son of Richard and Elizabeth Bilsborrow (Carter), born at Singleton Lodge, Kirkham, Lancashire, on 30 March 1836. He was uncle of J R Bilsborrow (q.v) Educated at Mr Baron's Academy, Lytham, and Ushaw, he was ordained priest on 26 February 1865, by Bishop Goss, in the chapel of S.Edward's College, Liverpool.

He was immediately sent to form a new mission at Barrow-in-Furness where the expeditious rise of the iron and steel industry had brought an influx of Catholics. The first record of his ministry there is dated 13 March 1865. He opened a school-chapel almost at once, the large church of S.Mary of Furness, designed by E W Pugin following in 1867.

The implications of the Education Act of 1870 provoked him to study and develop an interest in legislation relevant to voluntary schools that was to remain with him all his life. His foresight, and campaign in the cause of Catholic education was eventually compared with that of Cardinal Vaughan.

A serious illness contracted while visiting the sick resulted in his removal to the tiny country mission of S.Mary, Newsham, in his native Fyide. From there he built a church and presbytery at nearby Catforth, in 1876. In 1879 Bishop O'Reilly was preparing to open a seminary at Upholland, and Fr.Bilsborrow was sent to study Theology in Rome, with a view to his joining the college staff. On his return, in 1882, the new buildings were still not ready for occupation, so he assisted at S.Joseph's, Birkdale for a few months, and founded another new mission and built a church - S.Charles, Gran ge-over -Sands.

In September 1882 he became professor of Moral Theology, and vice-rector of the newly opened seminary at Upholland. He became its rector in 1885, Canon of Liverpool in 1887, and Domestic prelate in 1889. On 24 August 1892 he was consecrated third bishop of Salford, in S.JohnIs Cathedral, by Archbisiop Vaughan, with Bishops O'Reilly and Riddell as co-consecrators.

Bishop Biisborrow, tall, silver-haired and of commanding presence had a pulpit manner described as riveting. It is said that everything seemed to prosper under his direction. 15 new missions and 30 new schools were opened. S.Bede's College, Manchester was vastly improved and scholarships to assist poor boys were organised. The Childrens Protection Society flourished, and at his behest a conference of the S.Vincent de Paul Society was established in almost every parish. The Catholic population increased from 217,000 in 1892 to 270,000 in 1903, and diocesan collections from about £300 to £1300 annually, over the same period.

Although suffering from heart disease and bronchitis, the bishop refused to rest and would defy medical advice to open a church, adminster Confirmation, or address a meeting. To attempt enforced rest, a change of air was suggested, so he went to Babbacombe, Torquay, where he died on 5 March 1903. The Lord Mayor of Manchester and the Mayor of Salford attended his Requiem in S.John's Cathedral, at which hundreds overflowed into the street. Bishop Bilsborrow is buried in Moston Cemetery, Manchester.

Lancashire Records Office, Preston: Singleton Register; Liverpool Catholic Annual 1904, 112-113; Salford Almanac 1904, 39-41; Ushaw Magazine XIII, 108-118.

BIRCH PETER

Born: date unknown
Ordained 185
Died: date unknown

Curley states that a Fr Peter Birch served as assistant to Fr Conway at St Mary, Oldham, after Fr Cardinael left on 8 December 1856, until 27 Fabruary 1857. There are no entries in the Catholic Directory to support or deny this statement.

Sources: Curley - Not in Laity Directory.

BLUNDELL JAMES

Born 21 August 1768
Ordained 1799
Died 7 September 1839

Born at Scarisbrick near Ormskirk in 1768, Fr Blundell was the son of James and Ann Blundell (Gill). He trained at Lisbon 1787-1799. After ordination, he worked at Edgeley, Stockport, 1799-1825, (which is now in the Shrewsbury diocese, but at the time served a large area of the future Salford diocese) where he was the first resident priest. He then went to Great Singleton, Kirkam, 1825-1839 where he died.

Sources: Anstruther

BOARDMAN CHARLES

Born 5 March 1831
Ordained 24 September 1865
Died 31 October 1894

Fr Boardman was born at Bedford Leigh, Lancashire and studied at Mount St Mary's, Stonyhurst, and St Beuno's, North Wales, where he was ordained as a Jesuit priest in 1865.He held both a D.D. and a B.A. and for some years was sub-editor of the Jesuits publication, "The Month".He served as Professor of Rhetoric at Stonyhurst, as Prefect of Studies at St Beuno's, and as Librarian at Stonyhurst. Five years after ordination, he left the Society and was accepted by the diocese. Bishop Turner first sent him as assistant to Salford Cathedral in August 1870. In 1871 he went as founder rector to the new mission of St Wilfrid, Longridge where he remained until his death in 1894 after a protracted and complicated illness. Simple and retiring in his habits, he loved the company of his books, and was a man of great erudition, much respected on matters of scholarly research. On 5 November 1894 he was buried in the cemetery at Longridge Catholic Church.

Sources: PV1-86; Obituary 1895 Almanac p. 43.

BOARDMAN JAMES

Born 18 May1811
Ordained December 1837
Died 12 May1880

James Canon Boardman was born in Ashton in Makerfield, and was educated at St Sulpice and Ushaw. He was appointed as assistant to St Mary, Mulberry Street, Manchester on 25 January 1838, until he was moved to St John, Salford in June 1843. He was placed in charge of St Mary, Burnley on 9 July 1849, as the future Cardinal Wiseman opned the new church there. On 7 January 1852 he exchanged missions with Fr Rimmer and went to St Marie, Bury, where he remained for some 28 years until his sudden death. He was made a Canon of the diocese when the Cathedral Chapter was erected on 24 July 1852.

Sources: Obituary 1881 Almanac p. 48.

BOGGAN JAMES

Born 15 November 1849
Ordained 18 October 1875
Died: date unknown

Born Newbay Ferns, Ireland, Fr Boggan was educated at Wexford and Louvain, being ordained at St Peter's College, Wexford in 1875. He served as assistant at St Peter, Greengate, Salford 1875-1876.

Sources: PV1-131; Unfortunately, this gives no indication as to whether he was on loan to or was affiliated to the Diocese. There is no entry in the 1877 Almanac, so it is probable that this priest was on loan and returned to his own diocese.

BOLTON SAMUEL

Born 19 February 1833
Ordained29 June 1867
Died 16 April 1895

Fr Bolton was the son of Samuel and Ellen (Derone) and was born in Kendal in 1833 of an old Catholic family, although his mother was descended from French emigres. He gave up a business in Manchester to train for the preisthood, and trained at Mount Mellery and briefly at All Hallows College, Dublin, before being accepted by Bishop Brown for the Shrewsbury diocese, and continued his studies at Valladolid 1863-1864 and at Oscott 1864-1867. He was ordained at St Werburgh, Birkenhead in 1867, where he remained for one month as assistant. He was rector at Bollington 1867-1871. He was involved in an accident on the railway at Shrewsbury which left him crippled. He had no means of support and lived with Mrs Hothersall and sons of Broughton, and then for 25 years with Mr and Mrs Swift, originally of Salmesbury then of Clayton Brook where he died in 1895. He was buried at St Bede's Cemetery, Clayton Green, Chorley, and an appeal was made in the Harvest to erect a suitable monument.

Sources: Abbott; Harvest 1896p. 167.

BOLTON THOMAS

Born 21 February 1858
Ordained 5 August 1883
Died 27 October 1907

Dean Bolton was born at Goosnargh, Lancashire and studied at Ushaw, receiving the Subdiaconate 17 February 1883, and the Diaconate 25 March 1883. He was ordained by Bishop Vaughan in Salford Cathedral and appointed to the staff of St Bede's College 1883-1887. He was then sent as assistant to Canon Lynch at Holy Family, All Saints, Manchester, 1887-1889, then to St Mary, Burnley, 1889 and to St Mary, Blackburn, 1890 before returning to St Augustine, Granby Row, Manchester 1890-1900. When Fr carroll dies, he was sent as rector to St Mary, Blackburn, 1900-1907. For some years, until 1900, he had served as assistant secretary to Bishop Bilsborrow. He succeeded Dean Woods as Rural Dead of St Cuthbert's Deanery, was a Diocesan Trustee, a member of the Finance Board, and sometime assistant Religious Inspector of Schools. He died suddenly of cerebral hemorrage, and was buried in Blackburn Municipal Cemetery.

Sources: Obituary 1908 Almanac which gives Longridge as place of birth; PV1 - 241

BOULAYE JOHN GALBOIS

Born 22 March 1840
Ordained 20 June 1864
Died 16 October 1912

Monsignor John Provost Boulaye was the son of W. C. & Jayne Boulaye (Raines), and was born in Manchester, being educated at Ushaw and the Venerable English College, Rome. He was ordained in Rome by Archbishop Bussi. His first post was as assistant to Canon Cantwell at St Patrick, Livesey Street, Manchester, 1864-1866. He then moved as assistant to St Mary Oldham, 1866-1871. He became rector at St Gregory, Farnworth, where he remained for 24 years, 1871-1895, becoming Rural Dean in 1886. He attended Bolton Workhouse for many years.In 1891 he was made a Canon, and in 1892 became a member of the Diocesan Finance Board. His health failed, and he spent two years convalesing in Switzerland. On his return he became rector at St John, Rochdale; St Mary, Osbaldeston, 1897-1900; St Chad, Cheetham Hill, Manchester, 1900-1901; St Mary, Failsworth, 1901-1903; and finally St Joseph, Halliwell, Bolton, 1903-1912. He was appointed Vicar General in 1903, was made Monsignor in 1905, and Provost in 1910. He died at Halliwell in October 1912 after some months of failing health, and was buried at Moston Cemetery.

Sources: Obituary 1913 Almanac; PV1 63; Curley; Bolton. There are slight discrepencies in dates between Curley and the Obituary in the Almanac.

BOURKE JOHN

QV: Burke John, KCHS, The spelling changed from the 1890 Almanac onwards.

BOUSFIELD JOHN THOMAS

Born 19 September 1864
Ordained 25 August 1894
Died 30 May 1945

John Thomas Canon Bousfield, R.D. was born in Manchester in 1864 in St Edmund's parish, Miles Platting although he came from Westmorland stock. He was educated at the Salford Catholic Grammar School, and at Ushaw. He served on the staff at Salford Catholic Grammar School after leaving Ushaw. He then went to St Bede's on the Rhine at Bonn. He was ordained at St Edmund, Miles Platting, Manchester, in 1894. He joined the staff at St Bede's College, Manchester, 1894-1905, becoming Vice Rector in 1900. He was the founder rector of the Sacred Heart, Blackburn, 1905-1923, and became parish priest of St Mary, Blackburn, 1923-1945. He was appointed Episcopal Visitator of Convents in 1915 during the absence of Fr O Woods who had gone as a Military Chaplain. He was made Rural Dean in 1923, and was created a Canon in 1927. He was president of the Lancashire Infirm Secular Clergy Fund, and a member of the Broughton Society, and was deeply involved in the St Peter's Brotherhood. He served on the Blackburn Board of Guardians, and for 11 years was on the Board of Governors of the Blackburn Royal Infirmary, where he became a patient prior to his death in 1945, in his 81st year, and 51st year of priesthood.

Sources: Harvest 1915, p. 149; 1923, p.66; 1928, pp. 4, 54; 1945, p.101

Query: Ordained 24 or 25 August? Born 1864 0r 1863

BOYLE PATRICK JOHN

Born 1870
Ordained 12 June 1898
Died 1921

Fr Boyle appears to have been educated at Waterford and if correctly identified was ordained there in 1898 for the diocese of Newport. However the 1899 Catholic Directory gives no details of any posting. He next appears in the 1901 and 1902 issues as being at St Anne, Blackburn, 1900-1902 with Dean Woods. The 1903 issue omits him, but he re-appears in the 1904 issue as being at St Ambrose, Kidderminster. Downside lists him as a Birmingham diocesan priest. The Salford Almanacs list him in 1901 and 1902 as "Patrick Fr" (Francis?). His year of birth is sispect as he would have been ordained aged 18!

Sources: Downside lists him under Birmingham

Query: check with Birmingham Archdiocesan Archives

BRACKEN MICHAEL

Born 5 September 1851
Ordained 2 November 1877
Died date unknown

Born Tallkivor, Meath, Ireland, Fr Bracken was educated at Bullingar, Navan Seminary, Meath College and Maynooth, where he was apparently ordained. He was at the Salford Seminary of Pastoral Theology 1877-1878. He served as assistant at St James, Pendleton, Salford 1878-1880. As the Catholic Directory gives no indication that he was ordained for the Salford diocese, it is probable that he came on loan from Ireland, and was either not accepted after a trial period, or was recalled to his own diocese. The Almanacs for 1878-1880 record him among the clergy list, and in the 1879 and 1880 issues place him at Pendleton. In contrast, the Catholic Directory places him there only in the 1879 edition.

Sources: PV1-181

BRADLEY WILLIAM

Born 4 November 1851
Ordained 28 October 1879
Died 7 July 1929

Dean Bradley was born Cark in Cartmel, Lancashire, in 1851 and was educated at Ampleforth, Ushaw and the Seminary of Pastoral Theology where he was both student and dean. He was ordained at Bishop's House, Salford by Bishop Herbert Vaughan in 1879. He was sent to assist Fr Beswick at St Peter, Greengate, Salford, and remained as administrator when Fr Beswick died. He then spent a few weeks at St Mary, Bolton and twelve months at St Wilfrid, Hulme. He then returned to St mary, Bolton for ten years, 1883-1892, before going as rector to St Joseph, Heywood, 1892-1898. His final posting was as rector at St Edmund, Miles Platting, Manchester, 1898-1929. There he became Dean, and in 1922 built the new Infant School. He died just before his Golden Jubilee in 1929.

Sources: Obituary 1930 Almanac; PV1-206; Obituary Harvest 1929. P177 gives a Golden Jubilee account of his life which differs slightly from that in his obituary.

BRADY CHARLES

Born 13 February 1858
Ordained 7 June 1884
Died date unknown

Fr Brady was born at Ballyjamesduff, Kilmore, Ireland in 1858, and educated at the Irish College, Rome, being ordained at the Lateran Basilica, Rome, in 1884. He served as assistant at St Chad, Cheetham Hill, Manchester 1889-1892. He stated that he was affiliated to and had entered the Diocese 16 June 1889. No reference to him is found in the 1893 Almanac of Catholic Directory.

Sources: PV1-296

BRADY JAMES

Born February 1846
Ordained 27 May 1877
Died 10 February 1908

Fr Brady was born at Dundavon, Co Cavan, in the diocese of Ardagh, Ireland and was educated at St Patrick's College, Carlow. He was ordained at Salford Cathedral by Bishop Vaughan. His first appointment was as assistant at St John, Rochdale, 1877-1881. He then moved to St Mary, Oldham, 1881-1883. He was made rector at St Edward, Lees, 1884-1888 before finally going as rector to St Joseph, Mossley, 1888-1908, where he died after a year long illness, and was buried in the clergy vault at Moston on 14 February.

Sources: PV1 165; Obituary 1909 Almanac, Curley, Bracken. Place of ordination is also given as Bishop's House.

BRADY MATTHEW

Born 3 July 1850
Ordained 1888
Died: date unknown

Born at Maryhill, Scotland, in 1850, Fr Brady was educated at Blairs and the Scots College, Rome, being ordained at the Lateran Basilica in Rome in 1888, He served as assistant at St Mary, Swinton, 1888-1889. He left the diocese in July 1889. No further information about this priest is at present known.

Sources: PV1-283 - Sadly this gives no indication of his relationship to the Diocese, although he is not listed in the 1889 Catholic Directory was being ordained for Salford or any other English diocese. He left the Diocese in July 1889, and is not listed in the 1890 Almanac.

BRAMER JOHN A

Born 27 December 1852
Ordained 9 September 1877
Died 7 March 1929

Born at Vrierenvely, Utrecht, Holland, Fr Bramer was educated at Rysenburg Seminary and irdained in Salford in 1877. He served as assistant at the Holy Family, Manchester, 1877-1879 and at St Augustine, Granby Row, Manchester 1879-1882. He then took charge of St Michael, Ancoats, Manchester, 1882-1886. He served as assistant at St Patrick, Livesey Street, Manchester 1886-1877. He then served at St Joseph, Nelson, 1887-1894, and at St Anselm, Whitworth, 1894-1895. Declining health saw him posted as chaplain to Buckley Hall, 1895-1897 and to Bury Convent, 1897-1898. He then went as rector to St Gabriel, Castleton, 1898-1901. He next went on sick leave 1901-1906 but returned to become rector at St Boniface, Lower Broughton, Salford, 1906-1908. He retired initially to the Alexian Brothers, and then to the Franciscan Convent at Blackburn, where he died two years after his Golden Jubilee. He was buried at Pleasington Cemetery.

Sources: Obituary 1930 Almamac which omits Whitworth; PV1-171; Obituary Harvest 1929 p.148

Query Status at Nelson: Whitworth; Alexian-B'burn dates & status

BRENNAN PATRICK J

Born: date unknown
Ordained: date unknown
Died: date unknown

Fr Brennan was educated at Downside, ordained for an Irish diocese, and came on loan to Salford, serving as assistant at St Mary, Oldham, 1894-1896 and at St Patrick, Oldham, 1896-1899, He was then recalled to his own diocese and returned to Tralee, Co Kerry, where he later became parish priest.

BRERETON JOHN

Born
Ordained 13 September 1888
Died 2 July 1912

Born in Paisley, Scotland, of a Manchester family, Fr Brereton attended the Catholic Collegiate Institute in Manchester and then entered the Order of Friars Minor under the name of Bonaventure, being ordained priest in 1888. He served briefly in the Shrewsbury diocese 1892-1893 before being affiliated to the Salford diocese in 1893. His first posting was founder rector of St Mary, Oswaldtwistle, 1894-1912, where he erected the schools, presbytery and church, and paid off the debt. Poor health led him to stay at a nursing home in Finsbury Park, London, from where he was summoned to accept the rectorship of St Thomas of Canterbury, Higher Broughton, Salford, on the death of Fr Flavin. He returned, attended the Salford Synod in April, and accepted charge of the mission, only to have to return to Finsbury Park, where he died in July 1912. He was buried at Moston Cemetery.

Sources: Obituary Almanac 1913.

Query: postings as a Franciscan and in Shrewsbury.

BRETTARGH HENRY

Born 1826
Ordained 1851
Died 5 November 1916

Fr Brettargh was the son of Henry and Mary Sidgreaves, his father being a Calico printer in Manchester. He was educated at Ushaw. When staying at St Mary, Burnley in 1851, he tried to say Mass at Colne, escorted by a local police man, and attracted two congregations: one inside trying to pray and one outside trying to shout him down. The attempt to establish a mass centre failed. In 1851 he sailed to Canada where he worked for many years as a missionary. He returned to England in 1883 and served in the diocese of Hexham and Newcastle at Haydon Bridge, 1883-1891, and at Dodding Green 1891 to his death in 1916. He may have been Rural Rean of Kendal.

BREWER HENRY

Born 14 March 1851
Ordained 26 December 1875
Died 23 January 1903

Born at Blackburn, Lancashire, Fr Brewer went in 1864 to St Alban's College, Valladolid, where he studies for 11 years. In 1875 he returned to England, and after a short stay at the Seminary of Pastoral theology in Salford, he was ordained at the Cathedral in December. Remaining at the Salford Seminary, he assisted every weekend for a year at St Gregory, Farnworth before being appointed as assistant to Fr William Taylor at St Mary, Bolton, 1876-1877, and then to Fr Richard Liptrott at Mount Carmel, Salford. In 1879 Bishop Vaughan sent him as founder rector to St Joseph, Halliwell, Bolton, where he remained until his death in 1903 after a short painful illness. At Halliwell he built the original school-cahpel, the presbytery, the new schools, and finally in 1900 the new church. In 1895 he was elected a member of the Bolton Board of Guardians and from 1902 served on the Diocesan Finance Board and was involved in some lawsuits concerning the rights of catholic children in orphanages.

Sources: Obituary 1904 Almanac; PV1 - 137.

BRIGGS JOHN

Born 1789
Ordained 9 July 1814
Died 4 January 1861

Bishop John Briggs was born atBarton Moss, and was educated at Ushaw, 1809-1814. After ordination he remained as Professor of Rhetoric until 1816. He then went to Chester 1816-1832 before returning to Ushaw as its 4th President and Coadjutor to Bishop Penswick. In 1836 he became Vicar Apostolic for the Northern District, 1836-1840, residing at York. He remained in York as Vicar Apostolic of the new Yorkshire District 1840-1850, and when the Hierarchy was restored, he became Bishop Of Beverley 1850-1862. (The diocese of Beverley was split after his death into the dioceses of Leeds and Middlesborough)

BRIGHAM CHARLES

Born 6 March 1802
Ordained 1829
Died perhaps in1884

Fr Brigham was the son of William Brigham and his wife, Sarah, daughter of John Crosswell and was born in 1802. His father sold the ancient family estate in Yorkshire and came to Manchester where he died in 1815. Fr Brigham was educated at Stonyhurst and Ushaw and ordained in 1829. Curley states that he officiated at Oldham from 4 September 1834 before he went to Sheffield. Gillow lists him as being stationed at Congleton 1831-1834; Bolton; St Patrick, Leeds; Blackbrook; Sheffield, Callaley Castle, King's Lynn and Dodding Green. He claims he was appointed to Dodding Green by Edward Riddle Esq. of Cheesburn Grange, and that this subsequently gave rise to a long dispute with the Bishop over the right of presentation. The Laity Directory does not support several of Gillow's claims and for example places Fr Brigham at Dodding Green 1841-1843 only, and then lists the mission as "vacant". Gillow has him there to 1858. Fr Brigham is supposed to have then retired to Mount St Bernard, and to have died possibly in 1884 and perhaps at Arundel. He did however write in 1841 "The Enormities of the Confessional Examined".

Sources: Gillow; CRS Vol 32 p.52; Curley p.37; Downside

BRINDLE RICHARD

Born 5 October 1832
Ordained 12 September 1858
Died 6 November 1894

Dean Brindle was born in Wigan on 5 October 1831, the son of Ralph Brindle and ?? Fishwick, one of six brothers, of whom one drowned returning from Valladolid and three became Jesuits. Several uncles and cousins were also priests. Richard was educated at Mount St Mary's, near Sheffield, and at Stonyhurst (1845). Initially he seems to have considered becoming a Jesuit, but instead went to Ushaw, where he became an undergraduate of London University He was ordained by Bishop Turner for the diocese on 12 September 1858 at St John's Cathedral. He served initally at the Cathedral, where Mgr Gadd recalls his work in the fever wards of the hospital. His role included serving both the New Bailey Prison, and the Swinton Industrial Schools. He worked to provide schools - at Adelphi, St Peter's Greengate, and St Joseph's, Salford with Canon Benoit - and alone the Young Men's Society Room and the Mount Carmel School Chapel, both free of debt, which latter formed the nucleus of the new mission of Mount Carmel, Salford. He even composed a hymn to Our Lady for its opening. He then went on 9 January 1868 as Rector to St Patrick's, Oldham, where he died Saturday, 11 November 1894 after several years of failing health. He remained the builder throughout his stay at Oldham: cottages in Foundry St were converted to a presbytery; he built the Dunbar St School, and finally bought the land in Union St and built there the present church. He was instrumental in the diocese adopting an insurance scheme for its property, and for the provision of Moston Cemetery. He become Dean in 1886, and is buried at Moston cemetery.

Sources: Curley, Bolton, Obituary 1895 Almanac, Harvest January 1895 p.12

BROOMHEAD ROLAND

Born 27 August 1751
Ordained 15 April 1775
Died 12 October 1820

Born at Stannington near Sheffield in 1751, Fr Broomhead was educated at Sedgley Park , and the Venerable English College, Rome where he was ordained in 1775. On returning to England, he served with Fr Lodge for two years in Sheffield. In 1778 he came to Manchester, covering an area stretching from Macclesfield to Bolton. The growth of the Catholic population caused Fr Broomhead and the Rook St Chapel Trustees to open in 1794 a new church in Mulberry St, dedicated to St Mary. In 1820 he opened a very large church in Granby Row dedicated to St Augustine: indeed he is said to have feared that it was too big. Ill health caused him to resign but he saw the altar consecrated before he died. The stained glass windows in Mulberry Street list him as being there 1792-1794 although technically Fr Kenyon was the first Rector there. During Fr Broomhead's stay in Manchester the number of Catholics is said to have grown from 1000 to about 40,000.

BROUGHAN MICHAEL

Born 1862
Ordained 1893
Died: date unknown

Fr Broughan served briefly at Salford Cathedral. 1895-1896. The Almanac for 1897 states he was "unattached". He served at Portsmouth Cathedral 1897-1898.

BROWN EDWARD

Born date unknown
Ordained date unknown
Died 1839

Fr Brown served as rector at St John, Rochdale, 1834-1839.While at Rochdale, he also served Bury, and is supposed to have walked from Rochdale to Bury to say Mass. He is said to have died of fever attending the sick during an epidemic. He lived in poverty, and died leaving monies owing on the Rochdale chapel.

Sources: SDA Box 58 Letters to Bp Briggs re debt at Rochdale. He has no obituary in the Catholic Directories 1840-1843.

BROWN NICHOLAS
Born 1802
Ordained 1827
Died 1878

Curley p.31-32 suggests that Fr Brown either assisted Fr Fisher at Dukinfield to operate the Lord St Chapel in Oldham from 23 December 1832 to 17 February 1833, or took charge of it. Further clarification is needed from Leeds or Hexham Diocesan Archives.

BROWNE CHARLES M

Born 7 August 1849
Ordained 22 December 1877
Died

Born Newtown Dublin, Ireland, Fr Brown was educated at Blackrock College and Salford Catholic Grammar School, and Ushaw, being ordained at Salford Cathedral in 1877. He served on the staff at St Bede's College, Manchester, 1877-1879, and as assistant at St Edmund, Miles Platting, Manchester, 1879-1881. He is not mentioned in the 1893 Almanac.

Sources: PV1-184 This does not indicate his status with the diocese.

THE BROWNE BROTHERS of Manchester: (1) Canon Edward Francis Browne of the Shresbury Diocese, born 1816, ordained 1839, died 1872; (2) Fr Richard Aloysius Browne of the Beverley, then Leeds Dioceses, born 1817, ordained 1842, died 1902; (3) Fr Henry Francis of the Salford Diocese born 1824, ordained 1849, died 1886; (4) Fr Joseph Aloysius of the Hexham Diocese, born 1825, ordained 1848, died 1897; (5) Fr John Francis, of the Salford Diocese, then of the Portsmouth Dioceses, born 1830, ordained 1853, died 1894; and finally (6) Provost William Francis, born 1831, ordained 1854, died 1887, of the Nottingham Diocese, where he became a Canon, and then from 1880 of the Middlesborough Diocese, where he became Provost. The brothers were the sons of Edward and Alice Greenhalgh, who was sister of Canon Henry Greenhalgh.

BROWNE HENRY FRANCIS

Born 4 January 1824
Ordained 1849
Died 10 October 1886

Born in Burnley, Dean Browne was the son of Edward and Alice Greenhalgh, the third of six brothers who all became priests. He studied at the English College, Lisbon, and was ordained at St Nicholas, Liverpool. Initially appointed as assistant at St Anthony Liverpool, he came to St Mary, Mulberry Street, Manchester 1849-1855, before presiding over the staff at the Catholic Collegiate Institute, Manchester 1855-1858. He went as rector to St Mary, Levenshulme, 1858-1860; to St Peter and Paul, Ribchester, 1860-1867 and then to St Edmund, Bolton, 1867-1880. His final post was at St Peter and Paul, Bolton, 1880-1885 where he became Dean. He retired to Southport in 1885 and endured patiently a long and painful illness from which he died in October 1886.

Sources: Obituary 1887 Almanac p. 44.

Query:Place of birth not Manchester? .

BROWNE JOHN FRANCIS
Born 1830
Ordained 26 March 1853
Died 6 November 1894

Fr John Francis Brown was the fifth son of Edward and Alice Browne (Greenhalgh) to become a priest. Born Manchester in 1830, he was educated at Lisbon, and the Venerable English College, Rome. Ordained in 1853, he served as assistant at St Chad, Cheetham Hill, Manchester, 1853-1857. He then moved to the Portsmouth diocese, serving as Forces Chaplain 1857-1888 at Gosforth, St Helena, Aldershot, Portsmouth, Cairo, and Portsmouth. He then retired, living at 45 St Thomas St, Portsmouth. He moved for a time to Springvale, Portchester, and then returned to St Thomas St. He died in 1894.

Sources - Croft.

BROWNE NICHOLAS

Born: date unknown
Ordained 19 February 1899
Died: date unknown

Fr Browne served as assistant at St Patrick, Oldham, 1899-1906. No record exists that he was ordained for the diocese. The presumption is that he came to the diocese on loan after ordination and was recalled to his own diocese in 1906.

BUCKLEY MICHAEL

Born 3 October 1859
Ordained 29 June 1883
Died 6 August 1929

Fr Buckley, one of three brother priests, (QV Thomas Buckley) was born in Ballymountain, Co. Kilkenny, in Ireland, in 1859 and was educated at St John's College, Waterford, and ordained at Salford Cathedral by Bishop Vaughan in 1883. He was sent as assistant to St Augustine, Granby Row, Manchester 1883-1884; to St Ann, Ancoats, 1884-1894 where he acted as administrator on the dealth of Canon Liptrott; and to St Mary, Burnley, 1894-1895. He then went as rector to the St Mary, Haslingden, 1895-1904. He then became rector at St Mary, Oldham, 1904-1911, before moving as rector to St Anselm, Whitworth, 1911-1929. He died there after a stroke and was buried at Moston Cemetery.

Sources: Obituary 1930 Almamac; PV1 240; Curley gives details not contained in the almanacs, though I believe he misplaces the spell at Burnley.

BUCKLEY THOMAS

Born 1857
Ordained 29 June 1883
Died 5 March 1900

One of three brother priests, Fr Buckley was born at Ballymountain, Co Kilkenny, Ireland, in the diocese of Ossory. He was educated at the College School, Waterford, St John's College, Waterford and the Seminary of Pastoral Theology in Salford, being ordained in Salford Cathedral by Bishop Herbert Vaughan. He was first sent as assistant to St Mary, Ashton under Lyne 1883-1888; then to St Augustine, Granby Row, Manchester, 1888-1889. He spent a short time as assistant at St Alban, Blackburn, 1889-1901 before returning to Manchester being placed in charge of St Mary, Mulberry Street 1891-1898. After a spell of leave, he went to St Michael, Ancoats, Manchester in 1899 where he died unexpectedly, even though he appeared to be in good health and in his prime. He was buried at Moston Cemetery.

Sources: Obituary 1901 Almanac; PV1 - 239, QV, Michael Buckley.

Query date of death 4 March?

BURKE DONATUS

Born 22 May 1867
Ordained 24 June 1892
Died 14 March 1952

The son of Donat and Margaret Burke (nee Boland), Fr Burke was born at Broadford, Killaloe, Ireland, and educated Sexton St Academy, Limerick, and All HallowsCollege, Dublin. He came on loan to the diocese but after three years was affliliated to it. He served as assistant at St Ann, Blackburn, 1892-1894; at St Anselm's House, Manchester, 1894-1896, and as Chaplain to Withington Hospital, 1896-1907. Just what St Anselm's House was planned to be remains at present unknown. Fr Burke resided there as hospital chaplain for a while, then lived at 201 Burton Rd (1897-1905) then at St Augustine, Manchester. He then went as rector to
St Mary, Bolton, 1907-1913 and then to St Peter and Paul, Ribchester, 1913-1951, although he spent part of 1935-1936 on sick leave, when Fr Barton acted as administrator. On his retirement in 1952, Fr Conway replaced him as Parish Priest, a the year before his death in 1952.

Sources: Condon.

BURKE JOHN

Born 9 August 1858
Ordained 20 December 1885
Died 12 March 1939

John Canon Burke, K.C.H.S., was born in 1858 at Glencarha, Knocklong, Co. Limerick, Ireland and was educated at St Patrick's College,Thurles, being ordained at Salford Cathedral in 1885 by Bishop Vaughan. He served as assistant at St Mary, Oldham, 1886-1888 and at St Mary, Blackburn, 1888-1894. He then went as rector to St Joseph, Shaw, 1894-1907 where he built a new church and schools; to St Patrick, Bolton, 1907-1913; and to St Joseph, Halliwell, Bolton, 1913-1938. He cleared the debt of both Bolton parishes. In failing health, he then retired to Ireland where he died in 1939. He was instrumental in the founding of the Salesian Boys' Grammar School at Thornleigh Bolton.

Sources: Obituary 1940 Almanac; PV1 -263; His name was spelt as Bourke in some earlier issues of the Almanac.

The Burke Brothers of Manchester: (1) Luke born 1833, ordained 1857, died 1906 and (2) Charles, born 1839, ordained 1863, died 1899, both Beverley then Leeds Dioceses, (3) William Alfred born 1843, ordained 1868, died 1891 (Salford Diocese then Redemptorists), (4) John Baptist born 1846, ordained 1870, died 1922 (Salford Diocese then Redemptorists) and (5) Joseph Aloysius, born 1854, ordained 1877, died 1923 (Salford Diocese).

BURKE JOHN BAPTIST

Born 11 December1846
Ordained 21 December 1870
Died 1922

Fr John Burke C,SS,R, was born in Manchester, the fourth of five brother priests, was educated at Ushaw where he gained the London University B.A. and was ordained Bishop's House, Salford by Bishop William Turner in 1870. He serves as assistant at Ct Chad, Cheetham Hill, 1870-1884 before going as Missionary Rector to St Mary, Mulberry Street, Manchester, 1884-1887. He then joined the Redemptorists 23 October 1889, having stayed with Fr Hayes at St Mary, Blackburn while settling his temporal affairs. He was professed 23 November 1890, and died at the Redemptorist Monastery, Clapham, in 1922.

Sources: Obituary 1923 Almanac; PV1 87

Query: Were both John and William at Blackburn, or only William as indicated by the Almanac?

BURKE JOSEPH ALOYSIUS

Born 29 March 1854
Ordained 9 September 1877
Died 22 January 1923

Monsignor Joseph Canon Burke J.C.L. was the fifth and last of the five Manchester brothers who became priests. He was educated at Ushaw and at Louvain University, gaining a degree in Canon Law. Bishop Vaughan wished him to teach Canon Law at the Seminary of Pastoral Theology, which he did, as well as teaching briefly at St Bede's College. In 1880 he went as assistant to St Wilfrid, Hulme; in 1883 to At Alban, Blackburn; in 1884 to St Augustine, Granby Row, Manchester and in 1888 to St Gregory, Farnworth. He was rector at St Patrick, Bolton 1889-1907. He then moved to St Mary, Blackburn, as rector and Rural Dean, where he remained until his death. He was made a Canon in 1904, and a Domestic Prelate by Pope Benedict XY in 1915. He was a member of the Blackburn Education Committee, the Blackburn Infirmary Board, vice- chairman of the District Committee of the Catholic Federation and a representative on the Federation Diocesan Council. He cared greatly for Catholic education, especially for the work of the Ecclesiastical Education Committee. On his death, he bequethed several thousand pounds and the greater part of his collection of paintings and engravings to St Bede's College. He died in January 1922 and was buried at Pleasington Cemetery.

Sources: Obituary 1924 Almanac

BURKE TIMOTHY

Born May 1850
Ordained 15 July 1877
Died: date unknown

Fr Burke was born at Toileen, Cashel, Ireland, in 1850 and was trained at Thurles, where he was also ordained in 1877. He came on loan to the diocese and served as assistant at St Patrick, Livesey Street, Manchester, 1877-1882; at St Edward, Lees, 1882-1883; and at St Joseph, Shaw, 1883-1887. He then left the diocese and appears to have gone to Birmingham.

Sources: PV1 - 175; Downside lists under Birmingham Archdiocese.

BURKE WILLIAM ALFRED

Born 7 April 1843
Ordained 28 October 1868
Died 1891

Fr Burke was born in Manchester in 1843, the third of five brother priests, was educated at Ushaw, and ordained at Bishop's House, Salford, in 1868. He served as assistant at St Chad, Cheetham Hill, Manchester, 1869-1876; and at St Alban, Blackburn, 1876-1883. He then came as rector to St Augustine, Granby Row, Manchester, 1883-1888. His final months as a diocesan priest was spent at St Mary, Blackburn, 1888-1889 as he prepared to join the Redemptorists. He died in 1891. There seems to be no record of him then being in England or Wales.

Sources: Downside

Query: Were both he and John at Blackburn 1889?

BUTLER THOMAS

Born 14 December 1849
Ordained 24 August 1875
Died

Fr Thomas Butler was born in Limerick, Ireland, in 1849 and was educated at Louvain, gaining his B.C.L. and J.C.B. Ahter ordination in 1875 he served on the staff of the Seminary of Pastoral Theology in Salford 1876-1881; as assistant at Mount Carmel, Salford, and at Salford Cathedral, 1880-1881. He served as a Religious Inspector of Schools. It is probable that he was on loan and then recalled to his own diocese.

Sources: ?

BYRNE DENIS

Born March 1823
Ordained 29 June 1849
Died 8 August1881

Born at Bagenalstown in the diocese of Kildare, Ireland, son of James and Elizabeth Byrne (nee Brennan), Fr Byrne was educated at All Hallows, Dublin and was ordained priest at Maynooth. His two brothers Michael and Thomas also became priests of the diocese. On 11 July 1849 he was appointed as assistant to Salford Cathedral where he remained for some eleven years. On 1 March 1860 Bishop Turner appointed him as rector to St Patrick, Bolton. Fifteen years work there had its effect on his health and in 1875 Bishop Vaughan moved him as rector to St James the Less, Rawtenstall. In late 1879 he retired to the south of France and later to northern Italy, where he died and was buried at Genoa in August 1881.

Sources: Obituary 1882 Almanac p, 48.

BYRNE JOHN

Born: date unknown
Ordained: date unknown
Died: date unknown

Fr Byrne served as assistant at St Ann, Blackburn, 1892-1893.

BYRNE MICHAEL

Born 29 September 1833
Ordained 22 June 1856
Died 27 April 1898

Dean Byrne was the son of James and Elizabeth Byrne (nee Brennan) and was born in Bagnalstown, Co Carlow, Ireland. He was one of three brother priests in this diocese, the others being Denis and Thomas He was educated at All Hallows College, Dublin, and ordained in Salford Cathedral by Bishop Turner. His first posting was as assistant at St Peter and Paul, Bolton, 1856-1861. In January 1861 he went as rector to St Gregory, Farnworth, 1861-1871 before becoming rector at St Peter and Paul Ribchester 1871-1880. He then succeeded Canon Boardman as Missionary rector of St Marie, Bury, 1880-1898, becoming Dean the year before his death, after Dean Moriarty. Lent and Holy Week 1888 tested his less than robust health greatly, and he died on Low Sunday after a short illness. He was buried in Bury Cemetery.

Sources: Obituary Almanac 1899; PV1-41; Condon 277; CRS 36 p 115.

Query: Catholic University Dublin.? Date of death 17 April?

BYRNE THOMAS

Born 21 December 1841
Ordained 21 December 1867
Died 16 October 1907

Thomas Canon Byrne was the son of James and Elizabeth Byrne (Nee Brennan) and was born in Bagnalstown, in the County and Diocese of Kildare, Ireland. He was educated at Carlow, Valladolid, Paris and Bruges, where he was ordained in 1867. He had three brothers: two became priests of the diocese (Michael and Denis) and one, Patrick, a doctor who resided in Cheetham Hill. Fr Byrne served for a few months at Salford Cathedral, but in April 1868 was sent as assistant to St Patrick, Oldham, 1868-1873, and in February 1873, to St Mary, Mulberry Street, Manchester 1873-1876. He was then appointed as administrator to St Joseph, Goulden Street, Manchester 1876-1887 and became rector of the enlarged mission of St Michael, Ancoats 1887-1907 when the mission of St Joseph was joined to it. He became a Canon in 1901. One feature of his priestly work was in zeal in instructing non-Catholics, and he received into the church many converts. He was buried at Moston Cemetery.

Sources: Obituary 1908 Almanac;- PV1 77A; CRS 30 p 2243; Bracken; NWCH 12, 1985.

Query date of birth 5 December 1842

BYRNE WILLIAM

Born 4 May 1861
Ordained 24 June 1888
Died

Born at Lixnaw, Kerry, Ireland, in 1861, Fr Byrne was educated at St Brendan's Kilkenny and at Maynooth, where he was ordained in 1888. He came on loan to the diocese and served as assistant at St Mary, Mulberry Street, Manchester 1889-1890; at St Mary, Ashton under Lyne, 1890-1891 and at St Michael, Ancoats, Manchester, 1891-1893. He was then recalled to his own diocese.

Sources: PV1 - 284