Requiem Mass for popular Derry-born priest Fr William John Bradley

A Requiem Mass will take place in The Long Tower on Monday, November 25 for a popular Derry-born priest who passed away in Brighton last month.

Father William John Bradley – known commonly as ‘John’ - was a native of Ewing Street in Derry, where he was born in 1934.

After being educated at the Brow of the Hill and St Columb’s College, Fr Bradley attended All Hallows religious seminary in Dublin – which specialised in training priests for overseas missions. He was ordained a priest in 1959 and sent on his first ministry to Deal in Kent.

It was to be the first of a number of parishes he served across the Arundel and Brighton Diocese in the south-east of England - including Farnham, Eastbourne and Hastings.

Fr. John remained a parish priest for over 40 years before retiring in 2004 – after which he continued to say mass for nuns and the residents of St Mary’s House care home in Brighton. He was a popular figure amongst both fellow priests and his former parishioners, many of whom kept in touch with him for years after his retirement.

Fr John remained proud of his Derry roots throughout his life, and on return visits to the city he made a point of helping out with masses in the Long Tower and other local churches.

Fr Bradley died peacefully on Sunday, October 13 in St Mary’s House in Brighton, where his funeral was held on Thursday, November 14. He was one of four children, alongside the late Dan and Betty.

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He is survived by his brother Patrick (the former Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland), as well as nieces and nephews in Ireland, England and the United States.

A requiem mass will be held for Fr Bradley in The Long Tower in Derry at 10.00am on Monday, November 25, after which his ashes will be interred alongside his parents in the City Cemetery.

The Requiem Mass service is open to all.