Born in Preston sixty-seven years ago, of devout Catholic parents, as a boy of fourteen John Corbishley went to Ampleforth College. Six years later he passed on to Belmont Priory, and was clothed with the habit of St Benedict, taking his vows as a monk twelve months later. Returning to Ampleforth in 1892 he spent four years in his monastic observance, occupied with his own theological studies and in teaching junior classes in the school. On March 22nd, 1896, Dom Vincent was raised to the dignity of the priesthood. His superiors in the same year sent him forth from his monastic home to labour as a priest in the parishes that are under their care. The first nine years of his priestly life were spent in South Wales. He was attached to the church of St Illtyd's, Dowlais. Thence he was moved to Cumberland and for twelve years laboured assiduously in the parish of Our Lady Star of the Sea and St Michael's, Workington. In 1917 he was appointed Parish Priest of St Benedict's, Warrington.
Two years ago his health broke down. A prolonged leave of absence in the summer of 1932 failed to restore his health. In the autumn of that year he entered the Providence Hospital, St Helen's, for treatment. Early in 1933 he moved, the treatment failing to bring back his health, to the convent of Our Lady of the Vale, Bowden. It was in the spring of 1933 that he realised his active work as a priest was at an end and he asked Father Abbot to release him from his position as parish priest Of St Benedict's. There, at Bowden, he remained, cared for and nursed tenderly by the good Sisters until his death.
We who knew Fr Corbishley will, I think, recognise three great virtues that stand out prominently in his life, thoroughness, courage, and honesty. So, too, one knew that he never forgot his origin and vocation. He was a Lancashire man, who was a monk and a priest. When I say he was a Lancashire man, I do not mean that he was intolerant or narrow in his outlook. He had worked for many years amongst other people. In the hilly country of Wales, those he ministered to were largely immigrants from Southern Ireland, while on the coast of Cumberland the people were in a great measure the descendants of the Catholics of Northern Ireland. He never lost his appreciation of the fine Catholicity of these people and was always most sympathetic in his regard for them. He was, however, proud of his origin, and displayed in his own life that combination of deep faith, yet reticence, that grit and loyalty that is so typical of the Preston Catholicity.
As a monk, he naturally would wish his body to go back to his monastic home. It is his last profession of loyalty to the order and Abbey he so dearly loved. It was typical of him when asked where he would like to be buried that he said, 'Ampleforth, if it is not too much expense.' He too would have desired that his Requiem be in St Benedict's church, attended by his own people. For seventeen years he toiled and worked for this parish. He asked in return nothing for himself but maintenance.
Eternal rest give unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.
[NOTE.-The following paragraphs were by an unfortunate accident omitted from the notice of Dom Vincent's death which appeared in our Spring Number.-EDITOR.]
When Fr Corbishley first came to Warrington he found a young parish that, perhaps we might say, had not yet found itself. It had only been in existence fifteen years; the church had been opened only two years previously, and he was its fourth parish priest. He came a man of fifty years of age. In a certain sense it was a task that might have made a less courageous man hesitate. A debt of over £13,000, a church that had little in it except the bare essentials, and a large hospital more than two miles away. He reduced the debt by more than £6,000, he did much for the Church; the noble reredos, the magnificent altar, the beautiful Lady Chapel, the choir stalls and sanctuary furniture, the glorious church bell, are all speaking witnesses of his zeal. But above all to our mind he knit the parish together, and made it really united. His idea to make the parish a real unit was his ambition, and to complete what he conceived as a necessary feature of parochial life he finally built the Bell Hall. In all this work he displayed real courage in facing and overcoming difficulties. People of St Benedict's know well, too, his thoroughness. Every detail in the many functions of all kinds which he organised, he planned and saw to. In his work in beautifying the church and building, one may say that he was practically his own clerk of the works. During his last year at St Benedict's one could see him in all weathers, despite his failing health, supervising the work of building. He did literally wear himself out in the service of this parish.Three years ago one saw his health failing. Manfully he strove against his increasing weakness. But nothing brought out better his essential nobility than the way he faced the inevitable once he grasped the fact that his active work was over; his honesty of character, his love of St Benedict's, made him relinquish his position as Parish Priest of St Benedict's. It was a terrible sacrifice and cost him even more than we can understand. His whole life was united with the parish, his mental faculties were clear, it was only the body that was worn out. The building of the Bell Hall had been a big venture, he did so hope to justify it. As a young man he had offered himself to God when he entered into the religious life. God seemed to be asking for even a greater sacrifice now. As a young man, when he had taken his vows, as a monk he had given up the world and put himself into a life of discipline, under the will of a Superior to work for God as a priest. That was easy compared to the sacrifice now demanded of him. He must give up that good work, must be content to be a mere looker-on. He who always had been so active must learn to be passive. He must leave his home and dwell in the house of others. The Parish Priest of St Benedict's could not be a sick man. Thank God he made that great sacrifice, when the call came, completely and generously. The good God will never be outdone in generosity, and Fr Vincent found happiness at Bowden under the care of the good Sisters far more fully than he ever expected. It is good to think of those two peaceful and restful years he had before the close, on February 4th, 1935.
His final sickness lasted nearly a month. He did suffer much during this last month. But the real man, indeed a monk and priest, bore this final cross with amazing fortitude and patience. The Sisters who nursed him gladly bear witness to his piety and resignation. They have told me that they considered it a privilege to attend such a holy death-bed.
JOHN VINCENT CORBISHLEY 4 February 1935
1867 20 Oct Born Preston
1882-88 Educ Ampleforth
1888 2 Sep Habit at Belmont Abbot Raynal
1889 9 Sep Simple Vows
1891 17 May Minor Orders Bishop Hedley
1893 1 Feb (16 Jan) Solemn Vows Prior Burge
30 Apr Subdeacon Bishop Lacy
1895 31 Mar Deacon " "
1896 22 Mar Priest " "
Assistant at Dowlais
1905 Assistant at Workington
1917 Sep St Benedict's Warrington
1932 Oct Fell sick, in Providence Home St Helens
$$ Bowden Vale Cheshire
1935 4 Feb Died at Bowden Vale Cheshire
Buried at Ampleforth