Please pray for the repose of the soul of Fr Brian McWilliams, who was admitted to the Whittington Hospital in Highgate yesterday where he was visited by the Vicar General, Msgr Kevin Hale. Fr Brian died during the early hours of last night after receiving the Sacraments.
Fr Brian McWilliams was born in Belfast in 1930 and as a small child came to Ilford, where his father worked as a dentist. He was educated at SS Peter & Paul School and Clark’s College, Ilford, and after National Service in the Royal Air Force was accepted by Bishop Beck as a student for the priesthood. His training for the priesthood took place at St Edmund’s College, Ware, and Fr McWilliams was ordained by Bishop Wall in Brentwood Cathedral on 31 May 1958. As an assistant priest he served at Our Lady & St George, Walthamstow (1958), Holy Cross, Harlow (1958-1965), and Brentwood Cathedral (1965-1968). As parish priest he served at Burnham-on-Crouch (1968-1970), Ilford Lane (1970-1977), Rochford (1977-1979), Stanford-le-Hope (1979-1982), Waltham Abbey (1982-1990) and Holy Name, Chelmsford (1990-1995). In retirement Father McWilliams resided at the Ingatestone Almshouses (1995-1996) and in private accommodation in Southend-on-Sea (1996-1997) and Leigh-on-Sea (1997-2003) before taking up an appointment as chaplain at Nazareth House, Southend-on-Sea in 2003. Following the closure of Nazareth House at Southend-on-Sea he moved to Nazareth House, East Finchley.
Details of his funeral will be sent once arrangements have been made.
May he rest in peace.