Father Wilfrid Baines was born at Newton Heath, Manchester, on November [28th], 1860. His father was a native of Brownedge, and as soon as business in Manchester allowed, he returned to his native village. In the early nineteenth century the Baines family were familiar figures in the Brownedge district, where many of the Catholics were descendants of recusants, driven in persecution days to hide there till better days returned. In that district Benedictine missionaries had provided for them the consolations of religion, and it would be difficult for the Catholic of to-day to realize the respect and enthusiasm with which the parents spoke to their children of the work done by 'the good Benedictine priests.'
Naturally then Mr Baines sought for Benedictine schools in which to place his two sons. He thought that brothers were best separated and he sent one to Ampleforth and the other to Douai. Father Wilfrid came to Ampleforth in September, 1874. The school records show that at the end of his first year he was awarded the 'Class Prize,' and that in each succeeding year he won the prize for Mathematics, finishing his school career by matriculating at London University and winning the Matriculation Class Prize.
On September 3rd, 1881, he entered the novitiate at Belmont. He met the hardships of the religious life then in vogue at St Michael's with a cheerful spirit. Of strong and healthy constitution, he found no great difficulty in fasting, and early rising never troubled him. The common life was his standard to the end of his life, and he never sought any special privileges or exemptions. What the rest of the community were expected to do he did. This love for the common life he possessed to the end, and on one occasion, when as an old man he had to be treated for eczema in the Leeds infirmary, he chose to have a bed in the public ward. The members of his parish had to be in the public ward, and he would be no exception.
After four years at Belmont he returned to Ampleforth where he taught Mathematics, assisted the Prefect of Studies, and joined in all the games. His speed as right wing forward in Soccer was a joy to watch. To many of the boys he was a kind and good friend and a great support to any one in trouble.
Fr Wilfrid was ordained priest on March 3rd, 1889 and continued his work in the school for three more years. During these years Prior Burge was making many experiments in the curriculum, and it was not easy for a conservative mind, like that of Father Wilfrid, to keep pace with the course of the educational policy. The result was that Father Wilfrid was given a change of work and in 1892 he began his long missionary career. It was a great wrench for him to be separated from the Community: the many years he had to live far away from his monastery, and especially the long years on a single mission, was the cross which God sent him. He bore it bravely without a murmur but he always felt the wrench. For five years he was assistant priest at Dowlais and for three years at Workington. In 1900 he joined the staff at St Mary's, Warrington. There he began to develop the new parish of St Benedict's, Orford Lane. In 1902 he left St Mary's to reside in the new parish. For a time he said Mass in the Orford Lane Schools until he had erected the temporary iron chapel. In 1905 Father Oswald Swarbreck joined him to work up the parish and gather funds for the building of a new church. In 1907 he was sent to fill the vacancy at Aberford which he served till 1912 when he was appointed to Merthyr Tydfil. He was in charge of Merthyr Tydfil for eight years, but when Father Theodore Turner could no longer do the work at Aberford, Father Wilfrid was again appointed to that parish which he served till his death on January 16th 1938.
In all the discussions that took place between 1880 and 1900 concerning the nature of the work of the English Benedictine Congregation, Father Wilfrid was conservative in his outlook. To carry on the good work done by the Benedictines for the preservation of the Faith in England was to him the sacred trust that should be fulfilled by the English Benedictine Congregation.
In his later years he withdrew much of his opposition to what he regarded as a speculative development of the School buildings at Ampleforth. As at Orford Lane, he did not like building on borrowed money and shrank from embarking on large schemes where confidence in the future was called for, in order to meet an urgent need. But there was no bitterness in his criticism. His love for Ampleforth urged him to state what he thought was the right policy, and the authorities always respected the advice which helped to make them more careful to see that their ground was secure.P
In all his priestly work nothing was spoilt by vain display. Under a rather rough exterior he was the kindest, gentlest and most humble of monks. He remained at his work to the very eve of his death. He said Mass on Saturday morning, January 15th, and when Father Henry King arrived at Aberford in the evening, Father Wilfrid was saying Matins and Lauds for the next day. The bronchitis developed very quickly on the Sunday, and the doctor at midday feared the strain on his heart might be fatal. At four in the afternoon Father Wilfrid with great difficulty blessed two crucifixes for parishioners. He then asked for and received the last Sacraments, making the responses himself. All the evening he prayed, frequently making the sign of the Cross. After a short agony, with a look of great strength and effort of will on his face, he died about half-past eight. When the struggle was over an expression of perfect peace rested on his countenance.
During his retreats at Ampleforth it was his custom every morning after an early Mass to walk up the hill before breakfast to refresh his spirit with the view of the valley that was so dear to him. Father Abbot and the sixty monks who sang the Requiem and accompanied the body to the grave felt how fitting it was that Father Wilfrid should rest on that hillside where, as he had so often done for others, they too could pray for him in the monks' holy ground. May he rest in peace.
JOHN WILFRID BAINES 16 January 1938
1860 28 Nov Born Newton Heath Manchester
1874-81 Educ Ampleforth
1881 3 Sep Habit at Belmont
1882 30 Nov Simple Vows
1883 22 Dec Minor Orders
1886 12 Jan Solemn Vows Ampleforth
1887 6 Feb Subdeacon
9 Oct Deacon
1889 3 Mar Priest
Teaching staff at Ampleforth
1892 Assistant at Dowlais
1897 Assistant at Workington
1900 Assistant at St Mary's Warrington
1902 1st Incumbent of St Benedict's Warrington
1907 Aberford
1912 Incumbent at Merthyr Tydvil
1920 Aberford
1938 16 Jan Died
Buried at Ampleforth