Reverend Canon William Ryan
Canon William Ryan, a Priest of the Clifton Diocese, died on Friday 24 March 2006.
The Bishop of Clifton, Right Reverend Declan Lang, will celebrate his Requiem Mass at 11.30 am on Tuesday 4 April in Corpus Christi Church, Ellenborough Park South, Weston-super-Mare.
Those seeking further information about funeral arrangements should contact Corpus Christi Church on telephone number 01934 621929 or email corpuschristi.weston@virgin.net.
The following is a personal tribute to Canon Ryan by Right Reverend Mervyn Alexander, Retired Bishop of Clifton.
Canon Ryan will always be remembered by those who knew him as the priest with a talent for making friends and with an infectious laugh. People who met him for the first time were soon won over by his friendliness. He was also able to correct people in a pleasant way so that they did not take offence. He was a special friend to the sick and the elderly. He brought the joy of Christ into their lives. As for his laughter, it was legendary and always kindly. He was always ready to laugh at himself, as for example, when his memory let him down.
He was born in Charleville, County Cork in 1913. His training for the priesthood was at All Hallows College, Dublin and he was ordained in Roscrea Abbey in May 1937. His first appointment was to Corpus Christi, Weston-super-Mare. He often said that when he arrived there he could not believe his luck in being appointed to such a beautiful parish. As it turned out, this parish was to be a recurring theme in his ministry. His days as a curate were happy, apart from the anxieties and restrictions of wartime.
Then in 1944 he became Parish Priest in Glastonbury and he felt privileged to be responsible for this shrine of Our Lady. He was kept busy visiting the villages and farms of the parish. He always made parish visitation a priority in his ministry.
His next appointment came in 1949 to Bridgwater. Before he moved in he had some reservations about the town, but he soon came to love the parish and the local countryside. He enjoyed visiting the primary school where his laughter was disruptive of class discipline. He worked closely with the Sisters of the Holy Rosary. As a missionary congregation they brought a greater awareness of the Church overseas and later on Canon Ryan was able to visit Sierra Leone and Brazil to see the flourishing apostolate of the Holy Rosary Sisters in those countries.
After Bridgwater it was time to visit the big city and he found himself Parish Priest in Holy Cross, Bedminster, Bristol and in charge of the Diocesan Children’s Society. He soon taught the parishioners to shake hands with him after Mass - this was in the days before the Sign of Peace! His friendly approach went down well with parishioners and strengthened their sense of community.
In the end the call of Corpus Christi prevailed and in 1963 he returned to Weston-super-Mare as Parish Priest and he was duly welcomed back to the scene of his first appointment. Many families remembered him from that time and he seemed to look much the same! He still had plenty of energy for the pastoral task. He was appointed a Canon and later became Secretary of the Chapter. It was said that this protected the confidentiality of the Minutes because even he found it difficult to read his own handwriting!
In Corpus Christi over the years he had the benefit of the invaluable work of the Sisters of La Retraite and the Poor Servants of the Mother of God. He always recognised the great contribution made by the Sisters in every parish where he worked.
He retired in 1982 and went to live in St Bonaventure’s, Bishopston, Bristol where his great friend and former curate, Father Martin Fitzpatrick was Parish Priest. Canon Ryan was quite involved in the life of the parish and made many friends there. Then Father Martin, who also became a Canon, moved to Corpus Christi as Parish Priest in 1993 and persuaded Canon Ryan to go with him. So for the third time he arrived at Corpus Christi to take up residence! He was still glad to assist in the parish in various ways and people were delighted to have him back. His faith and prayer were an example to all and he was a comforting presence expressing stability and continuity.
He enjoyed a game of golf and he explained that he only gave up in his late eighties because he ran out of partners! Even after his ninetieth birthday on most days he was to be seen striding along the seafront, tall and erect as ever, with one hand in his pocket as he said the Rosary. He will be remembered with great affection as being everything that a priest should be.
Right Reverend Mervyn Alexander, Retired Bishop of Clifton
The Bishop of Clifton, Right Reverend Declan Lang, will celebrate his Requiem Mass at 11.30 am on Tuesday 4 April in Corpus Christi Church, Ellenborough Park South, Weston-super-Mare.
Those seeking further information about funeral arrangements should contact Corpus Christi Church on telephone number 01934 621929 or email corpuschristi.weston@virgin.net.
The following is a personal tribute to Canon Ryan by Right Reverend Mervyn Alexander, Retired Bishop of Clifton.
Canon Ryan will always be remembered by those who knew him as the priest with a talent for making friends and with an infectious laugh. People who met him for the first time were soon won over by his friendliness. He was also able to correct people in a pleasant way so that they did not take offence. He was a special friend to the sick and the elderly. He brought the joy of Christ into their lives. As for his laughter, it was legendary and always kindly. He was always ready to laugh at himself, as for example, when his memory let him down.
He was born in Charleville, County Cork in 1913. His training for the priesthood was at All Hallows College, Dublin and he was ordained in Roscrea Abbey in May 1937. His first appointment was to Corpus Christi, Weston-super-Mare. He often said that when he arrived there he could not believe his luck in being appointed to such a beautiful parish. As it turned out, this parish was to be a recurring theme in his ministry. His days as a curate were happy, apart from the anxieties and restrictions of wartime.
Then in 1944 he became Parish Priest in Glastonbury and he felt privileged to be responsible for this shrine of Our Lady. He was kept busy visiting the villages and farms of the parish. He always made parish visitation a priority in his ministry.
His next appointment came in 1949 to Bridgwater. Before he moved in he had some reservations about the town, but he soon came to love the parish and the local countryside. He enjoyed visiting the primary school where his laughter was disruptive of class discipline. He worked closely with the Sisters of the Holy Rosary. As a missionary congregation they brought a greater awareness of the Church overseas and later on Canon Ryan was able to visit Sierra Leone and Brazil to see the flourishing apostolate of the Holy Rosary Sisters in those countries.
After Bridgwater it was time to visit the big city and he found himself Parish Priest in Holy Cross, Bedminster, Bristol and in charge of the Diocesan Children’s Society. He soon taught the parishioners to shake hands with him after Mass - this was in the days before the Sign of Peace! His friendly approach went down well with parishioners and strengthened their sense of community.
In the end the call of Corpus Christi prevailed and in 1963 he returned to Weston-super-Mare as Parish Priest and he was duly welcomed back to the scene of his first appointment. Many families remembered him from that time and he seemed to look much the same! He still had plenty of energy for the pastoral task. He was appointed a Canon and later became Secretary of the Chapter. It was said that this protected the confidentiality of the Minutes because even he found it difficult to read his own handwriting!
In Corpus Christi over the years he had the benefit of the invaluable work of the Sisters of La Retraite and the Poor Servants of the Mother of God. He always recognised the great contribution made by the Sisters in every parish where he worked.
He retired in 1982 and went to live in St Bonaventure’s, Bishopston, Bristol where his great friend and former curate, Father Martin Fitzpatrick was Parish Priest. Canon Ryan was quite involved in the life of the parish and made many friends there. Then Father Martin, who also became a Canon, moved to Corpus Christi as Parish Priest in 1993 and persuaded Canon Ryan to go with him. So for the third time he arrived at Corpus Christi to take up residence! He was still glad to assist in the parish in various ways and people were delighted to have him back. His faith and prayer were an example to all and he was a comforting presence expressing stability and continuity.
He enjoyed a game of golf and he explained that he only gave up in his late eighties because he ran out of partners! Even after his ninetieth birthday on most days he was to be seen striding along the seafront, tall and erect as ever, with one hand in his pocket as he said the Rosary. He will be remembered with great affection as being everything that a priest should be.
Right Reverend Mervyn Alexander, Retired Bishop of Clifton
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