Priest who gave mass on one leg dies after 60 years in the church

A priest who never lost his vim and vigour for the people he helped sadly died earlier this month in a Burnley residential home aged 80.
By The Newsroom
Published 25th Oct 2016, 15:55 BST
Updated 26th Oct 2016, 16:10 BST
Father Tony Barrett died aged 80.Father Tony Barrett died aged 80.
Father Tony Barrett died aged 80.

Father Anthony Barrett was born in Blackburn, and was a Rovers season ticket holder until poor circulation resulted in the amputation of one of his legs two years ago, meaning he could no longer make it to games.

Having spent a total of 57 years working in the priesthood, Father Tony spent the last 11 years of his life at McAuley Mount Care Home on Padiham Road in Burnley, filling in for local priests and giving daily mass.

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Father Tony died on October 13th and is survived by two of his six siblings - David and Tom - with Kevin, Marie, and Michael all having died.

“He decided he wanted to be a priest when he was just 10 years old,” said David. “He was always cheering up the nuns in the home with his humour.”

Father Tony will spend the night of Thursday, October 27th at McAuley Mount, before the funeral the day after at his last parish, Sacred Heart and St Edward’s RC Church where he will be buried.

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