Vincent Bartley RIP
It was with great sadness that we heard of the death of Vincent Bartley at the age of 86 years. Vincent was taken into hospital on Tuesday 4th November and died peacefully on Wednesday 5th November at 11am.

Vincent has had a life long association with the Cathedral having been baptised here and assisting as an Altar Server from the age of 8, continuing that ministry until the very end. Vincent was also a gifted archivist and historian of the Cathedral, and helped to organise the smooth running of many diocesan functions at the Cathedral. He was a man of deep faith and many talents which we were privileged to enjoy as he gave so willingly of his time and energy to this his beloved St Mary's.

On behalf of the Cathedral community may we offer our sincere sympathy and assurance of prayers to Vincent's wife, Connie, and all the family at this sad time for them.

'Well done, good and faithful servant… Come and join in your Master's happiness.' (Mt. 25:21)

The Requiem Mass for Vincent Bartley was celebrated on Monday 17th November in St Mary's Cathedral.

Bishop Hugh Lindsay was the chief Celebrant, and Bishop Ambrose Griffiths, Canon Cunningham and many priests who had been at St Mary's Cathedral during the many years that Vincent served there, also concelebrated. Family and friends, the Cathedral choir, altar servers, and the community of St Mary's Cathedral gathered together to take part in the Requiem Mass.

Canon Cunningham, the Diocesan Administrator paid tribute to Vincent in his homily:

"He was a man of very deep faith; he was a devout man. Today's Gospel about Simeon could be said of Vincent as well: 'He was a devout and upright man', allowing the Holy Spirit to take over in his life and lead him where he willed."

He spoke about how much Vincent loved and served the Cathedral:

"Vincent was very much part of the Cathedral down the years. He loved every stone in it. He immersed himself in its history and architecture, and above all in the priests and the people who served here down the years."

He added:

"Vincent was also a man of prayer - I'd come into the Cathedral here and I'd see him very active doing lots of things but time and time again I'd also see him sitting in prayer, bringing his life, his family, his joys and his sorrows to the Lord."

Listen to full Homily