By John Bisby

Born on January 1st 1920 at Headford, County Galway, Father James Keville was the third eldest of 8 children, born to John and Mary Keville. At the age of 14 he went to St Jarleth’s, (Tuam diocese) and at 19 went to Saint Patrick’s Seminary in Carlow. On June 2nd, 1946 he was ordained priest for our diocese where he was to serve until his death.

His first appointment in October 1946 was as assistant to the Right Reverend Monsignor Provost George Knuckey at English Martyrs Church, Preston. But after just one night there, he was asked to act as “relief” priest at St Anthony of Padua at Cadley to cover for another Irish curate, Father Matthew John Hogan (Matty), who it seemed had gone on a short holiday. Fr Jimmy and “Matty” became life-long friends and perhaps appropriately died within weeks of each other. (Fr Keville had been very upset when in Mach of this year another long time Irish friend, Fr Austin Gannon died.

This secondment to St Anthony’s actually lasted for six years, in two spells. This was because the Parish Priest - Father Michael Geoghegan had already met Fr Keville while on a visit to Ireland looking for future priests. Fr Geoghegan seemed to approve of the young man’s Pioneer pin, which signalled ‘Tea-totaller.’ He is reported to have remarked to the student, “ that should go down well in getting a job in England.” It did!

Appointments followed at St Mary and Michael’s at Garstang, Saint Margaret Mary’s Parish in Carlisle, back to Saint Anthony’s at Cadley with the now ‘Canon’ Geoghegan before moving to Saint Joseph’s at Wesham and that “ good and lovely man,” Father Leo J. Wilkinson. Fr Wilkinson encouraged his new curate in his obvious love of DIY and gardening. He also played a big part in Fr. Keville’s next move to the Diocesan ‘Thanksgiving Shrine to Our Lady of Lourdes’ in Blackpool - close to Victoria Hospital. On July 6th, 1968, following eight enjoyable years at the Shrine, Fr Keville was moved to the small, rural Parish of Saint Mary’s in Lea Town. It turned out to be his last move on this earth.

It was not the most sought after appointment in the Lancaster Diocese. But he became by some considerable time, the longest serving Parish Priest in Saint Mary’s long history of over two hundred years. His love for his parishioners has been his hallmark.

Until he became ill in April of this year he still took Holy Communion, most Sundays and Holydays, to a group of six or seven old, sick or infirm parishioners – “It’s my responsibility” he used to state. Needless to say we didn’t have Eucharistic ministers at Saint Mary’s. For most of his priesthood he was associated with hospitals and the sick. He was until earlier this year the very popular Chaplain to Wesham Park Hospital, but gave it up when he could no longer manage the visits.

You could not accuse Father Keville of being a modernist. Just about the only change you would have been able to recognise in his Masses following the Second Vatican Council was that they were in English and that we had female altar servers. “We don’t shake hands at the ‘Peace be with you” during Mass. Father Keville used to say “This is mainly a farming community and you don’t know what they have been doing before coming to Mass!” When Fr Keville first became ill in April of this year Bishop Patrick stood in for him and said the vigil Mass on Saturday night. He said after the Mass that it was a very long time since he had said Mass with his back to the congregation - which was still the way of things at St Mary’s.

His greatest love was his Primary School and it’s children and in 1978 he successfully fought to keep the little school open. Then it had about 30 pupils, now there are over 100. The school itself is much modernised. Fr. Keville was a well-read man, particularly fond of Shakespeare, which he could and would quote verbatim at appropriate times. A quiet man, he would not easily offer his opinion but if you asked for it you would get it - whether you liked what he said or not!

“He was much loved by his parishioners, and will be sadly missed.”