Middlesborough: Canon Louis Collingwood has died

Canon Louis Collingwood

Middlesbrough has announced the death of a much-loved priest. Canon Louis Collingwood died at 3.15pm on Tuesday 13 November 2012 in hospital.

Canon Collingwood was born in Hull on 11th January 1921. In those days there was a junior seminary at Ushaw College and he entered at 16 years of age. He was subsequently ordained for the Diocese of Middlesbrough in St Joseph’s Church, Marton Road, Middlesbrough, along with the late Canon Bob Carson and Father Tony Barry, on 13th April 1947. From his ordination Louis served only one curacy which lasted 19 years in St Alphonsus, North Ormesby, Middlesbrough.

During this time he was chaplain to the now demolished North Ormesby Hospital and simultaneously he was Diocesan chaplain to the Catholic Nurses Guild, which in those days was a National Body, and took a prominent lead in the spiritual, ethical and medical issues and was highly regarded in its influence for good in the nation’s wellbeing.

After a short spell as chaplain to the French Convent in Hull, Father Louis received his first appointment as parish priest at St Bernadette’s, Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough, where he remained until 1970, whereupon he became the parish priest for the newly opened parish of St Alban’s, Redcar. Spending 11 years in St Alban’s, he followed Monsignor Peter Storey at St Francis, Acklam, Middlesbrough, as parish priest where he stayed until his retirement from formal active ministry in 1997. It was during this latter assignment he became a member of the Cathedral Chapter of Canons and simultaneously for eight years Dean in the locality.

Throughout his life Canon Collingwood had an avid love of sport, indeed from his younger days he is still remembered as a very useful, hard-tackling team player in various football teams. His playing days over, he continued his interest at a spectator level - particularly as a season ticket holder at Ayresome Park. He was parish priest to the great Wilf Mannion who lived then in Redcar and, during his retirement years, Canon Collingwood concelebrated the Requiem Mass of Wilf in St Mary’s Cathedral. He kept in close contact with his priestly family and until his health began to fail was a regular on the golf course.

The Diocese expresses our appreciation to God for his 91 years - and especially his 65 years of generous priestly service among us. It would be remiss were we not to acknowledge the love and devotion of Louis Collingwood’s close friends who visited him in his retirement years, and especially in the twilight weeks of his earthly life. To his remaining nephews and nieces and extended family members and many friends, we extend our prayerful sympathy.

Canon Collingwood’s mortal remains will be received into St Mary’s Cathedral at 6.30pm on Thursday 22 November, and Bishop Terence will be chief celebrant at his Requiem Mass at 12 noon on Friday 23 November. He requested that he be buried with his brother in St Joseph’s RC Cemetery.