Obituaries & Tributes

Tributes have been pouring in to former Conservative minister the Rt Hon Ann Widdecombe , whose death was announced this morning. She was 78. Ann Widdecombe served as MP for Maidstone in Kent for 23 years. She was Home Office and Employment minister in Sir John Major's government between 1994 to 1997. In 1993 she converted from the Church of England to Catholicism, partly over the issue of women p... Read More

Holy Trinity Church, Dockhead, just downstream from Tower Bridge, was filled to the rafters twice this week for the funeral of Canon Alan McLean, who served the parish and the surrounding community for more than thirty years - firstly for a parish Mass on Thursday evening and then for the more formal Requiem Mass, led by Archbishop John Wilson, on Friday morning. Alan, born just a few miles away i... Read More

The Requiem Mass for Danuta Reutt, 3 January 1937 - 6 June 2026 will take place at the London Oratory on Thursday, 2 July 2026 at 11am. For almost half a century, Danuta Reutt Karol devoted herself to preserving and promoting Polish song within the Polish émigré and British communities. With a repertoire of more than 500 songs across many genres, she was especially passionate about patriotic mu... Read More

Fr Laurence Freeman from World Community for Christian Meditation (WCCM) writes: There is rejoicing in heaven and sadness on earth. Sr Ruth (born October 8, 1941) died on 14 June in Trinidad where she was born, entered the Sisters of St Joseph of Cluny and devoted her life for love of Christ and for those she served through Servol which she co-founded with her soul-friend Fr Gerry Pantin. Her sk... Read More

Jesuits in Britain report: It is with sadness that we report Fr Paul Hackett SJ died in the early hours of Tuesday 26th May. He was 96 years old and in the 80th year of religious life. May he rest in peace. Paul was born in Boscombe on 20th February 1930 to his father, Arthur, and mother, Anne Mary, and was baptised at Corpus Christi, Boscombe. After school in Southbourne, Paul entered the Soci... Read More

It is with profound grief that Development and Peace - Caritas Canada (DPCC) announces the passing of its executive director, Carl Hétu. Hétu, who had been ailing from cancer for two years, breathed his last in the wee hours of this morning, surrounded by his family. He was 66 years old and is survived by his wife, Lorraine; four children; and three grandchildren. To them, and to the countless f... Read More

Fr Colin Patrick McLean died peacefully at Candlewood House Care Home, London, on 9 April. He was 91 years of age. Fr Colin's Requiem Mass was at Our Lady of Hal, Camden Town on Wednesday 6 May 2026. Soldier, Priest and Dancer If Colin McLean's life was to be made into a stage production, or if a biography was to be written - or if his life was made into a dance production - there would be three A... Read More

Bishop Nicholas Hudson, Chair of the Department for International Affairs and Bishop of Plymouth, and Bishop Jim Curry, Vice-Chair of the Department for International Affairs and Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster, have issued a statement to mark the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Armernian Genocide Remembrance Day is held annually to commemorate the victims of the Armenian genocide of 1... Read More

As the Church recalls Pope Francis on the first anniversary of his death today, Vatican News has released a documentary film looking back over the life and legacy of the Argentine Pope. "Having received mercy, let's now become merciful." Seven words that encapsulate the heart of a Pope and the story of a pontificate. Alongside them, his wish was "How I would like a Church which is poor and for the... Read More

It has been a year since the death of Pope Francis, which occurred at Casa Santa Marta at 7.35am on April 21, 2025. Five days later, his funeral took place, and his mortal remains, according to his wishes, have since rested in the Marian Basilica of St Mary Major, which is preparing to solemnly mark the anniversary. On Tuesday, April 21, the first anniversary of the death of Pope Francis, Vatican ... Read More

Family and friends gathered in the beautiful All Saints Church, Brailsford, Derbyshire, on Friday, 6 March, for the funeral of Andrew Scadding, who worked for many charities throughout his life, including being CEO of the Thai Children's Trust. Ian Kerr gave the following Eulogy during the service: John Andrew Patrick Scadding was born in Leeds on 16th October 1948 to Sidney Alan Scadding and Isab... Read More

Three former US Democrat presidents and the current President of Colombia were among a vast array of speakers at a marathon final public memorial service for the late Baptist minister and trailblazing politician Rev Jesse Jackson in Chicago last Friday. Rev Jackson, a towering civil rights icon who battled alongside the Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr, negotiated global hostage releases, and shamed c... Read More

A large congregation gathered at Holy Apostles, Pimlico last Monday for the Requiem Mass of a much-loved parishioner: Fleur Bridget Brennan, who died on 18 February 2026. The Mass was celebrated by Canon Pat Browne, with Parish Priest Canon Chris Vipers and Fr Charles Soyombo. Nicholas Lane played beautiful organ music. Fleur's son-in-law Matthew Knight read the following eulogy: "Fleur was born i... Read More

Professor Jack Scarisbrick MBE died on Saturday, 28 February at the age of 97. After announcing the sad news, Lord Alton wrote: "I count it one of the great privileges of my life to have known Jack - a brilliant historian, his powerful intellect and profound compassion were underpinned by remarkable energy and drive. "In charting a path to create a coherent and effective pro life movement - based ... Read More