Fr Alban Rimmer was born in Warrington on 24 November 1911 and, as he grew up, he became very familiar with the Benedictines in their parish work. It was, no doubt, this influence that encouraged him to think of a Benedictine vocation and he came to Ampleforth, where he received the habit from Abbot Matthews in September 1930. He made his solemn vows in September 1934 and was ordained priest on 23 July 1939. He was at St Benet's Hall, Oxford from 1933 to 1936 where he obtained a second in History, after which he did his theology at Ampleforth.
During the years of teaching which followed, first at Gilling and then at Ampleforth, he began to show a natural ability to communicate with the young and understand their difficulties. He was a successful teacher, although he found some of the limitations of those days tedious and constricting. He was editor of the Ampleforth Journal from 1938 to 1950 and this gave him a wider field for the development of his interests. He responded to ideas, particularly if they were new and challenging, and sought in his teaching and work for the Journal to stimulate and persuade others to share his interests. He had a splendid voice and is remembered as one of our finest cantors.
In 1950 he was sent to work on the parishes as an assistant - first at Cardiff and then at Warrington and Brownedge. His gifts in dealing with the young at this time were especially noted. They were naturally drawn to him and he stimulated their thinking and activity.
In 1958 he was made parish priest at Aberford. He found a small congregation round the old church and a rapidly growing centre in the new housing at Garforth at the other end of the parish. He saw that the whole balance of the parish was changing, bought a new site and began to build a church and presbytery at Garforth. The decision, questioned at the time, has since proved to be absolutely right. However, cruel misfortune struck at the moment of achievement. A young award winning architect had been chosen who designed a very modern house and church - the latter of unusual construction. On the night before it was due to be opened a gale caused the church to collapse. Fr Alban showed much courage in dealing with the immediate aftermath but, as a lengthy dispute began about apportioning the blame between the parties responsible for the construction, the whole affair became too much for him and he suffered a serious breakdown in health.
Fr Alban recovered gradually, returned to Garforth and then in 1968-9 he went to Africa to learn more about the Church there. 'We are going to miss him terribly at Garforth' commented one of the leading parishioners at the time. He spent most of his time in Zambia. His interest in the third world was re-awakened and he was deeply affected by all he saw and learnt about the opportunities and difficulties of evangelisation in Africa. During his days in Garforth he had welcomed the new perspectives of Vatican II on the church, on ecumenism, on the liturgy and had done much to promote them among his parishioners. Many of the aspects of the church in his youth had made him restless. He complained of what he regarded as 'Christian stoicism'. Vatican II had come as a release and fulfilment of instincts which had always been there. Now, after his African experience his perception was deepened and simplified: 'More and more I see the work of the Church as reconciling whatever is separate, bringing unity wherever there is division.'
After his return in 1970 he became parish priest of Parbold for three years and then in 1973 he moved to the lighter work of Kirbymoorside. His health - never really robust - was failing. He suffered long from an increasing complexity of ailments with crises which put him for long periods in hospital. In 1980 he was forced to retire from active work and, in illness which was prolonged and not infrequently acute, he was looked after and nursed at Ripon by Mollie Brennan; she had been his housekeeper since he went to Aberford and he recognised and often expressed his debt of lasting gratitude to her. He could not have survived severe illness so long without her care. Always an ecumenist at heart he made friends among the chapter at Ripon and, when he was well enough, he loved to go to pray in the cathedral.
Throughout his life Fr Alban was much valued as a counsellor to those in trouble and doubt, for he was patient in listening and, having suffered adversity himself, he identified readily with those in difficulty. They felt that he understood them and he did. One who had come at a troubled time to value his advice and support described him as 'a man of vision, perception, firmness of conviction and the ability to understand the difficulties of others.'
In his last illness he was very weak but still clear-headed and very much himself. He had known frustrations and the contradictions and misunderstandings which cost him much, but there was an increasing peace in the last weeks. It was like a homecoming as he was reconciled to death, which, he said, he had feared so much but now feared no more. Hope and gratitude sustained him. He died peacefully with one of his brethren at his bedside praying with him.
DOM LEONARD ALBAN RIMMER 22 May 1984
1911 24 Nov born Orford Lancashire
1930 22 Sept Habit at Ampleforth Abbot Matthews
1931 23 Sept Simple Vows " "
1934 23 Sept Solemn Vows " "
1937 18 Jul Subdeacon Bishop Shine
1938 17 Jul Deacon " "
1939 23 Jul Priest " "
1933-36 Oxford St.Benet's Hall History
1936-38 Teaching at Gilling Castle
1938-50 Teaching at Ampleforth - Editor of the Ampleforth
Journal
1950 Sept Cardiff St.Mary's - Assistant
1952 Sept Warrington St.Oswald's "
1953 Sept Warrington St.Benedict's "
1956 Bamber Bridge St.Mary's "
1958 Jan Aberford - PP
1964 Garforth church collapse
1968 Sabbatical - Zambia
1969 Dec Returned to Ampleforth
1970 Mar Parbold PP
1973 Sept Kirbymoorside PP
1980 Sept Retired through ill-health
1981 1 Dec to Ripon
1984 22 May died peacefully in Harrogate General Hospital
buried at Ampleforth