Reverend Monsignor Canon William Joseph Mitchell MA KHS JCL - RIP
30 August 2008
Monsignor Canon William Mitchell, a priest of the Clifton Diocese, died on 29 August in Tetbury, Gloucestershire.
Monsignor Mitchell was born on 4 January 1936 in Bristol. He studied law at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, and attended the seminary of St Sulpice, Paris prior to his ordination to the priesthood on 25 June 1961. His ordination took place at the Pro Cathedral, Clifton, Bristol and he was later appointed there as Curate. After ordination and before his first appointment in September of 1963 he studied Canon Law in Rome.
His next appointment took him in 1964 to St Ambrose, the Bishop’s House, as Private Secretary to Bishop Joseph Rudderham a position he held for over 10 years. Following a three year spell as Parish Priest at St Bernadette, Whitchurch, Bristol, he returned to Rome in 1975 as Rector at the Beda College.
In 1987 he return to the Clifton Diocese and was appointed Vicar General by Bishop Mervyn Alexander; a position he held until 2001. During this time he was Parish Priest at St John’s, Bath, St Antony’s, Henbury, Bristol and St Mary-on-the-Quay, Bristol. In 1997 Bishop Alexander appointed him as the Administrator at the Cathedral Church of SS Peter & Paul, Clifton, Bristol a role he held until 2001 when he moved to St Michael’s, Tetbury as Parish Priest. Monsignor Mitchell served the Clifton Diocese as a Trustee for many years.
In December 2002 Bishop Declan Lang appointed him Vicar Judicial and Episcopal Vicar for Matrimonial Matters following the death of Monsignor Joseph Buckley. A role he fulfilled until 2007.
The Bishop of Clifton, Right Reverend Declan Lang, paid tribute to Monsignor Mitchell saying, “Monsignor Mitchell served the diocese generously for many years in parishes throughout the diocese and at the Cathedral. His ministry included administration within the diocese particularly in the marriage tribunal. He served the wider church through his time as Rector of The Beda College in Rome. Many people will be grateful for the pastoral care which he gave.”
Funeral arrangements have yet to be confirmed.
Monsignor Canon William Mitchell, a priest of the Clifton Diocese, died on 29 August in Tetbury, Gloucestershire.
Monsignor Mitchell was born on 4 January 1936 in Bristol. He studied law at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, and attended the seminary of St Sulpice, Paris prior to his ordination to the priesthood on 25 June 1961. His ordination took place at the Pro Cathedral, Clifton, Bristol and he was later appointed there as Curate. After ordination and before his first appointment in September of 1963 he studied Canon Law in Rome.
His next appointment took him in 1964 to St Ambrose, the Bishop’s House, as Private Secretary to Bishop Joseph Rudderham a position he held for over 10 years. Following a three year spell as Parish Priest at St Bernadette, Whitchurch, Bristol, he returned to Rome in 1975 as Rector at the Beda College.
In 1987 he return to the Clifton Diocese and was appointed Vicar General by Bishop Mervyn Alexander; a position he held until 2001. During this time he was Parish Priest at St John’s, Bath, St Antony’s, Henbury, Bristol and St Mary-on-the-Quay, Bristol. In 1997 Bishop Alexander appointed him as the Administrator at the Cathedral Church of SS Peter & Paul, Clifton, Bristol a role he held until 2001 when he moved to St Michael’s, Tetbury as Parish Priest. Monsignor Mitchell served the Clifton Diocese as a Trustee for many years.
In December 2002 Bishop Declan Lang appointed him Vicar Judicial and Episcopal Vicar for Matrimonial Matters following the death of Monsignor Joseph Buckley. A role he fulfilled until 2007.
The Bishop of Clifton, Right Reverend Declan Lang, paid tribute to Monsignor Mitchell saying, “Monsignor Mitchell served the diocese generously for many years in parishes throughout the diocese and at the Cathedral. His ministry included administration within the diocese particularly in the marriage tribunal. He served the wider church through his time as Rector of The Beda College in Rome. Many people will be grateful for the pastoral care which he gave.”
Funeral arrangements have yet to be confirmed.
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