Monsignor David Manson was born on 3 December 1948. His family home was at Great Bentley, near Colchester, and after his secondary education in Colchester he undertook studies in the Law, qualifying as LL.B. For a few years he practised as a solicitor before, at the age of twenty-nine, he was accepted by Bishop Casey as a student for the Diocese of Brentwood. He was in fact the last seminarian to be so accepted by Bishop Casey before his resignation as Bishop of Brentwood in December 1979. In September of that same year David Manson entered the Venerable English College, Rome, from where he studied Philosophy and Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University.
He was ordained priest by Bishop Thomas McMahon at St James the Less & St Helen, Colchester, on 28 July 1985. Following his ordination, Father David returned to Rome for higher studies, gaining a Licence in Sacred Liturgy (SLL) in 1988. His first appointment as an assistant priest was to St Mary Mother of God, Hornchurch (1988-1991). Thereafter he went to the newly-built Cathedral of St Mary & St Helen, Brentwood, first as assistant priest, then from 1992 as Pro-Administrator (in the absence of Monsignor Donnelly, who was on sick leave), before being appointed in 1993 as Administrator (the former title given to what is the now Dean of the Cathedral). He served at the Cathedral for eight years until his appointment as Parish Priest of Colchester in 2001, in which year he became a Vicar General to Bishop McMahon and a Prelate of Honour (with the title of Monsignor).
He was Parish Priest of Ingatestone from 2005 to 2016 (where he was also Priest-in-Charge of Stock until 2014). His final appointment as a parish priest was to Braintree (2016-2025), where he also served briefly as Dean of North Essex (2017-2019). Monsignor Manson was a well-known speaker on liturgical matters and served as Chairman of the Brentwood Diocesan Liturgical Commission from 1991 to 2001 as well as being Director of Liturgical Formation – a role which he undertook in close collaboration with Bishop McMahon himself and with the Diocesan Music Department. Under Bishop Alan Williams he continued to serve for a number of years on the Diocesan Liturgy Planning Group and at the time of his death he remained a member of the Liturgical Executive Committee and as Liturgical Consultant to the Diocesan Historic Churches Committee. He will be remembered for his gracious manner, his keen intellect and his friendly disposition. His death occurred suddenly on 19 December 2025.
Requiescat in pace.
Funeral arrangements
The body of Mgr David Manson, who died on 19 December 2025, will be received into the church of Our Lady Queen of Peace, Braintree at 6 pm on Tuesday 27 January when Mass will be celebrated.
His Requiem Mass will be celebrated at the Cathedral of St Mary and St Helen, Brentwood at 11 am on Wednesday 28 January.