The Archdiocese of Liverpool was saddened to learn of the death of Fr John Johnson on Wednesday. He was 85 years old, and in his 57th year of priesthood.

John Johnson, the son of Thomas and Mary Johnson, was born in Wigan on 6th September 1938. He was educated at St Joseph’s School, Wigan, until the age of 15, when he left to become apprenticed as a butcher at Smales’ in Wigan market.

When he was 21, he then went to Campion House, Osterley, for two years, before entering Upholland College in 1961 to begin his formation for the priesthood. He was ordained priest on 20 May 1967 by Archbishop Hyginus Cardinale, the Apostolic Delegate, at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, Liverpool, a few days after its solemn consecration.

Following ordination, Fr Johnson served as assistant priest in several parishes across the archdiocese: St Agnes, Huyton (1967-74); Holy Ghost, Ford (1974-78); and St Oswald, Ashton-in-Makerfield (1978-86).

In March 1986, he took up his first appointment as parish priest, moving to the parish of St William, Ince, where he spent five happy years ministering with great dedication and sensitivity to the faithful entrusted to his care.

He brought that same dedication to his most significant parish appointment, when he returned to his native town in September 1991 to become parish priest of St Mary, Wigan. For several years he also had the pastoral care of two adjacent Wigan parishes: St John (2000-17) and Sacred Heart (2009-14).

For more than 30 years he provided devoted care to his parishioners, and to the countless others who came to his town-centre parish for Mass and confession. He was noted for his great devotedness to Our Blessed Lady, leading parish pilgrimages to Walsingham and promoting the Rosa Mystica devotion.

Fr Johnson also provided great support and encouragement to those discerning a vocation to the priesthood. Three priests were ordained at St Mary’s, Wigan, during his tenure as parish priest.

Such was Fr Johnson’s dedication as a priest, that he had expressed the wish to die ‘in harness’. That wish was not fulfilled, as he was forced to resign as parish priest, following surgery and a marked deterioration in his physical health, in the early part of 2024.

He died at Wigan and Leigh Hospice on Wednesday 3 April 2024, aged 85 years. He was in the 57th year of the priesthood.

May he rest in peace.

His funeral details are as follows:

Vigil Mass: Thursday 18 April 7.30pm at St Mary’s Church, Standishgate, Wigan WN1 1XL

Canons of the Chapter will lead Evening Prayer from the Office for the Dead at 7.00pm.

The reception of the body and the Vigil Mass will follow at 7.30pm

Requiem Mass: Friday 19 April 12.30 pm at St Mary’s Church, Standishgate, Wigan, WN1 1XL

Burial will follow at Gidlow Cemetery at 2pm

Picture Credit: Nick Fairhurst.