Roderick Wright
The Right Reverend Roderick Wright | |
|---|---|
Bishop) by Luigi Barbarito | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 28 June 1940 |
| Died | 23 May 2005 (aged 64) Napier |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Spouse | Kathleen (m. June 1998) |
| Children | One son |
Roderick Wright (28 June 1940 – 23 May 2005) was a
Bishop of Argyll and the Isles from 1990 to 1996.[1]
Early life
Born in the Kingston district of
priesthood at Blairs College in Kincardineshire when he was fourteen, and went on to St Peter's Seminary, Cardross in 1958.[3][4]
Ministry
- Priesthood
After Wright was
priest on 29 June 1964, his first pastoral appointments were at St Laurence's Church, Drumchapel, Glasgow (1964–1966), and St Jude's Church, Barlanark, Glasgow (1966–1969). He returned to Blairs College as spiritual director (1969–1974). His next appointment was as an assistant priest at Our Lady and St Mun's Dunoon, Argyll (1974–1976). For a short while, he acted as a chaplain to the United States Navy base at Holy Loch. His last three appointments before his episcopal ordination were as priest at St Mary's Church, Fort William (1976–1980); St Michael's Church, Ardkenneth, South Uist (1980–1986); and St Anne's Church, Corpach, near Fort William (1986–1991).[3][4]
- Episcopate
Wright was appointed the
Resignation and marriage
Wright disappeared from his home next door to
St. Columba's Cathedral, Oban, on 4 September 1996. Kathleen MacPhee, a divorced mother of three who worked as a nurse in Fort William, vanished at the same time leaving her youngest child with relatives. There was concern among local people, including Frances Shand Kydd, the mother of Diana, Princess of Wales. Wright had advised Shand-Kydd before her reception into the Roman Catholic Church in 1994.[5] The following weekend, a former parishioner of Wright's came forward to say that she had become pregnant by him and given birth to a son in 1981.[6]
Wright resigned as Bishop of Argyll and the Isles on 19 September 1996 and renounced the office of bishop.[1]
Wright registered as unemployed and was spotted looking for work in the Jobcentre in Kendal, Cumbria, England.[7] In his autobiography, he alleged that Jobcentre staff had leaked information about him. Wright married MacPhee in a civil ceremony in Antigua in June 1998.[8]
Death
In 2002, Wright and his wife emigrated to New Zealand. He suffered in his last months from liver cancer[3] and died on 23 May 2005, aged 64.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Bishop Roderick Wright". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
- ^ Lorn MacIntyre (25 May 2005). "Roderick Wright Former Bishop of Argyll and the Isles". The Herald. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
- ^ a b c d "The Rt Rev Roderick Wright". The Daily Telegraph. 26 May 2005.
- ^ a b "Obituary – Roderick Wright". Advent Group (UK). 3 June 2003. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
- ^ "Church hopes to avert crisis over missing bishop". The Times. London. 16 September 1996.
- ^ "Runaway RC bishop has son aged 15". The Times. London. 20 September 1996.
- ^ "It's His Doliness". Sunday Mirror. 1 December 1996.
- ^ "Former Catholic bishop's secret wedding". BBC Online Network. 7 February 1999. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
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