Farewell to city priest, village Rector, headmaster, teacher and author Father John Francis

Tribute has been paid to former Preston cleric Father John Francis who for many years, prior to arriving in the city, combined teaching and pastoral duties.

Fr John, a curate/assistant priest at St John’s, (now Preston Minster) and St George’s CE churches in Preston from 1992 -96, died peacefully, aged 71, at his home on February 8.

Following his Preston appointment he became Rector of Ribchester from 1996 to 2010, before retiring to his home town of Fleetwood.

Father John, a music and education graduate who was ordained in his early 20s, had studied music in Birmingham and education in Oxford, combining the latter with his studies for ordination.

He was proud his family had long links with the fishing industry in Fleetwood and included many generations of fishermen.

Fr John served numerous parishes in the south as assistant priest, alongside his teaching career, before returning home to the north west. He had also served in prison ministry.

He was headmaster at Sandbach School, Cheshire from 1986 -91 and as an author shared his wisdom on teaching religious education.

A requiem mass for Fr John, who had cancer, was held at the Church of the Holy Cross in Blackpool, followed by burial at St Peter’s, Fleetwood.

Fr Chris Holden, who took the funeral service, said: “He was a good, godly and very focused priest. Not one to hold back on the telling of the truth or his opinion, an opinion always checked and backed by the truth of the Gospel.”

During his time in Ribchester Fr John, who loved art and travel, welcomed visitors to the then annual Ribchester Festival of Music and Art.Canon Brian McConkey, current Rector of Ribchester said: “A lot of sadness was expressed at the passing of Fr John.”

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