Father Benedict McLaughlin OSB

Assistant Priest

1914-1915

Father Benedict was born in Carlisle in 1866 and was a graduate of London University. He came to Ampleforth College as a lay-master, eventually joining the Community there in 1893 and was ordained in 1900. For some years after ordination he again taught at Ampleforth College before coming out to serve on the Parishes in St Mary’s Warrington (1907-1909) and Dowlais, South Wales (1909-1912). In 1912 he went to Canada where, along with Father Wilfrid Darby OSB (Parbold 1915-1928), he was one of the two pioneers in a new foundation in Calgary, Alberta. Unfortunately due to political problems – of a religious nature – the Calgary foundation was abandoned in 1914 and Father Benedict returned to England to Parbold as assistant Priest to Prior Ildephonsus Brown (Parbold 1891-1917). In 1915 he became incumbent at Goosnargh before becoming Parish Priest at St Alban’s Warrington from 1918-1919. In 1919 he became assistant at Brindle and Merthyr Tydfil. From 1922 until 1938 he was assistant at Warwick Bridge until he became a complete invalid. Father Benedict died in Stillington in Yorkshire on 28 August 1938 and is buried at Ampleforth.