Obituaries & Tributes

The Benedictine community at Buckfast have announced that arrangements are being made with Ann Widdecombe's family to hold her funeral at Buckfast Abbey. In a statement Fr Abbot and the Monastic Community of Buckfast said: "We are working closely with the family regarding funeral arrangements and will provide further information in due course, when appropriate. We respectfully ask that the family'... Read More

The Requiem Mass for Benet Walter Bano "Ben" - took place at St Thomas of Canterbury's Catholic Church in Deal, Kent on Monday 20 July 2026 - attended by family, friends, local councillors and MPs. The celebrant was Fr Brian Coyle. A reception was held in Deal Town Hall after the funeral. Ben's daughter Sophie Skardon gave the following Eulogy. Dad was born on the 3rd February 1950 to Emmerich and... Read More

Edward Stourton, the prominent Catholic broadcaster, journalist and author, died on 18 July at the age of 68. He had been suffering from prostate cancer. His career included a decade on BBC Radio 4's Today programme and the station's weekly religion and ethics programme Sunday. He was a founding member of Channel 4 News and wrote several books. Cardinal Vincent Nichols, retired Archbishop of Westm... Read More

Ben Bano - 3 February 1950 -16 June 2026 Tributes have been pouring in to Ben Bano, a former mayor and long-serving town councillor in Deal, Kent and a member of Seeking Sanctuary, supporting migrants and asylum seekers. Ben Bano died on June 16 with his family by his side. Mr Bano was widowed with three children. His daughter, Sophie Skardon, said: "Our father was a very kind and generous man wit... Read More

Tributes have been pouring in to former Conservative minister the Rt Hon Ann Widdecombe , whose death was announced this morning. She was 78. Ann Widdecombe served as MP for Maidstone in Kent for 23 years. She was Home Office and Employment minister in Sir John Major's government between 1994 to 1997. In 1993 she converted from the Church of England to Catholicism, partly over the issue of women p... Read More

Holy Trinity Church, Dockhead, just downstream from Tower Bridge, was filled to the rafters twice this week for the funeral of Canon Alan McLean, who served the parish and the surrounding community for more than thirty years - firstly for a parish Mass on Thursday evening and then for the more formal Requiem Mass, led by Archbishop John Wilson, on Friday morning. Alan, born just a few miles away i... Read More

The Requiem Mass for Danuta Reutt, 3 January 1937 - 6 June 2026 will take place at the London Oratory on Thursday, 2 July 2026 at 11am. For almost half a century, Danuta Reutt Karol devoted herself to preserving and promoting Polish song within the Polish émigré and British communities. With a repertoire of more than 500 songs across many genres, she was especially passionate about patriotic mu... Read More

Fr Laurence Freeman from World Community for Christian Meditation (WCCM) writes: There is rejoicing in heaven and sadness on earth. Sr Ruth (born October 8, 1941) died on 14 June in Trinidad where she was born, entered the Sisters of St Joseph of Cluny and devoted her life for love of Christ and for those she served through Servol which she co-founded with her soul-friend Fr Gerry Pantin. Her sk... Read More

Jesuits in Britain report: It is with sadness that we report Fr Paul Hackett SJ died in the early hours of Tuesday 26th May. He was 96 years old and in the 80th year of religious life. May he rest in peace. Paul was born in Boscombe on 20th February 1930 to his father, Arthur, and mother, Anne Mary, and was baptised at Corpus Christi, Boscombe. After school in Southbourne, Paul entered the Soci... Read More

It is with profound grief that Development and Peace - Caritas Canada (DPCC) announces the passing of its executive director, Carl Hétu. Hétu, who had been ailing from cancer for two years, breathed his last in the wee hours of this morning, surrounded by his family. He was 66 years old and is survived by his wife, Lorraine; four children; and three grandchildren. To them, and to the countless f... Read More

Fr Colin Patrick McLean died peacefully at Candlewood House Care Home, London, on 9 April. He was 91 years of age. Fr Colin's Requiem Mass was at Our Lady of Hal, Camden Town on Wednesday 6 May 2026. Soldier, Priest and Dancer If Colin McLean's life was to be made into a stage production, or if a biography was to be written - or if his life was made into a dance production - there would be three A... Read More

Bishop Nicholas Hudson, Chair of the Department for International Affairs and Bishop of Plymouth, and Bishop Jim Curry, Vice-Chair of the Department for International Affairs and Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster, have issued a statement to mark the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Armernian Genocide Remembrance Day is held annually to commemorate the victims of the Armenian genocide of 1... Read More

As the Church recalls Pope Francis on the first anniversary of his death today, Vatican News has released a documentary film looking back over the life and legacy of the Argentine Pope. "Having received mercy, let's now become merciful." Seven words that encapsulate the heart of a Pope and the story of a pontificate. Alongside them, his wish was "How I would like a Church which is poor and for the... Read More

It has been a year since the death of Pope Francis, which occurred at Casa Santa Marta at 7.35am on April 21, 2025. Five days later, his funeral took place, and his mortal remains, according to his wishes, have since rested in the Marian Basilica of St Mary Major, which is preparing to solemnly mark the anniversary. On Tuesday, April 21, the first anniversary of the death of Pope Francis, Vatican ... Read More