Canon Bill Byrne RIP
Monday 22nd May 2023We are very sorry to share the sad news that Canon William (Bill) Byrne died peacefully on Sunday 21st May at his home in Bolton.
Canon Byrne was in his eighty-eighth year, the sixty-second year of his Sacred Priesthood. May he rest in peace.
William was born on 17th April 1936 in Miles Platting, Manchester and was baptised soon after at St. Edmund’s, Miles Platting. He attended St. Edmund’s Elementary School, Miles Platting.
William was accepted as an Ecclesiastical student for the Diocese of Salford on 27th July 1949 and moved to St Bede’s College as a boarder. He transferred to St. Cuthbert’s College, Ushaw in September 1955.
Fr William Byrne was ordained to the Priesthood at the Cathedral Church of St John the Evangelist on 27th May 1961.
Following further studies at Lumen Vitae, Brussels, Fr Byrne served the Diocese of Salford in the following appointments:
1962-1966: St. Bede’s College, Member of Staff
1966-1968: Our Lady of Grace, Prestwich as Assistant Priest
1968-1969: St. Bede’s, Bury as Assistant Priest
1968-1999: Head of Catechetical Centre, Manchester.
1969-1971: Chaplain to St. Peter’s Grammar School
1969-1981: St Patrick’s, Manchester as Assistant Priest
1981-1986: St Patrick’s, Manchester as Parish Priest
1983-1986: Chairman, National Board of Religious Inspectors and Advisors
1986-1995: St. Lawrence’s, Old Trafford as Parish Priest
1995: Appointed Canon of the Chapter
2000-2017: St. Thomas of Canterbury, Bolton as Parish Priest
Fr Byrne was a Diocesan Trustee for a number of years, resigning from the Board in 2011 when he was 75.
Canon Byrne retired in 2017 and moved to Sharples Fold, Astley Bridge, Bolton.
Fr Byrne’s body was received into St Thomas of Canterbury Church, Bolton on Tuesday 30th May with a Concelebrated Mass at 7pm.
His Requiem Mass was in the same church at 10.30am on Wednesday 31st May, followed by burial at Heaton Cemetery, Bolton.
Please remember him in your prayers and in the celebration of Mass.
May he rest in peace.
