The Diocese of Salford is sorry to share the sad news that Fr John (Jack) Rigby died peacefully on Thursday 25th May.

Fr Rigby was in his ninety-fourth year, the sixty-ninth year of his Sacred Priesthood.

John was born on 28th February 1930 in Philadelphia USA and was baptised on 16^th March 1930 at St Martin’s Church in Philadelphia. The family moved to England and he was educated at English Martyrs, Urmston, and St Bede’s College, Manchester.

John was accepted as an Ecclesiastical student for the Diocese of Salford in May 1944 and continued at St Bede’s as a boarder until September 1948 when he transferred to St Joseph’s College, Upholland.

Fr John Rigby was ordained to the Priesthood at Corpus Christi, Hollinwood on 18^th July 1954.

Fr Rigby served the Diocese of Salford in the following appointments:

1954-1973: St. Bede’s, College, Manchester (Spiritual Director from 1958)

August 1973: St. Edmund’s, Little Hulton as Assistant Priest

Sept 1973-1995: St. Edmund’s, Little Hulton as Parish Priest following the death of Fr Loran

1984: Appointed Dean of St. Paul’s Deanery

1993-2003: Vicar General

1995-2015: St. Vincent’s, Over Hulton as Parish Priest

Fr John retired in December 2015 and initially resided at Cathedral House before moving to Little Sisters of the Poor Care Home in Longsight in April 2017.

Fr Rigby’s body was received into the Chapel at Little Sisters of the Poor for a private Mass on Thursday 15^th June. Bishop John Arnold celebrated the Requiem Mass at St. Vincent’s, Over Hulton, on Friday 16^th June, followed by committal at Wardley Cemetery.

Please remember him in your prayers. May he rest in peace.