Father Cyprian Murray was born in Liverpool on 6th September 1894, into a devoutly Catholic family. He was educated in St Edward's School, Liverpool, and later in Ushaw. From there he came to Ampleforth and was given the habit at Belmont on 5th October 1914.
He did his studies at Belmont, Ampleforth, Oxford, and again at Ampleforth. He was not a bookish person, but acquired by hard work what did not come with ease. His work here was more in the Procurator's office than in classrooms. His first parochial appointment was in Merthyr, then belonging to Ampleforth, where he joined Fr Elphege Hind and began one of his many lifelong friendships.
After just over seven years in Merthyr he was sent to St Benedict's, Warrington, where, first under Fr Vincent Corbishley and then in charge, he remained for twenty years. Liturgically, spiritually, materially, the parish grew and prospered under his wise and genial care; and throughout the town - not least among the local officials, his influence grew.
In 1948 he was transferred to St Mary's, Cardiff, and there too he had an influence which spread through church and parish out into the city offices.
Life, however, soon became a struggle against bodily weakness, and heart-attacks were frequent and alarming. That he lived so long was due, under Providence, to the care of the good nuns of the Lord Ninian and St Winifride's Homes, including the speed with which they could reach his bedside at any hour of the night. In 1956 it was necessary for him to retire, and he was sent to be cared for by Fr Antony Spiller at St Michael's, Abergavenny, and to do what little work he could. He bore his disabilities with beautiful patience, and never referred to them save in jest. His last few weeks were happily spent in St Winifride's Home in Cardiff, when it was clear that his hitherto astonishing power of recuperation was failing. On Sunday, 6th March, he said Mass as usual. Later in the day he walked a little in the garden, and soon after he regained his room he had a slight heart attack; slight, but too much for his worn strength. It can have been no surprise to him.
The Most Reverend Archbishop of Cardiff sang the funeral Mass in St Mary's, and the spacious church was well filled with clergy and laity. Reminiscences rightly recalled his love for the beauty of God's House on which, wherever he was stationed, he lavished thought and money; on the genial magnetism which made him a centre of union and cheerfulness; his self-effacement and indifference to praise; his unfailing compassion for the sinner, the weak, anyone in any kind of need; his sound judgement and skilful administration under which all his parishes, without any sense of strain, prospered; his smile; his unruffled resignation to God's Will. We offer our warm sympathy to his sisters. May he rest in peace.
ROBERT CYPRIAN MURRAY 6 March 1960
1894 6 Sep Born Liverpool
Educ St Edward's School Liverpool, Ushaw & Ampleforth
1914 5 Oct Habit at Belmont
1921 24 Apr Priest Manchester Bishop Casartelli
1920 Oct to Oct 1921 One year at Oxford
1921 11 Nov Merthyr
1928 Mar St Benedict's Warrington
1933 Jun Incumbent at St Benedict's Warrington
1948 Sep Incumbent at St Mary's Cardiff
1956 Retired from Cardiff owing to ill health
Abergavenny
1960 6 Mar Died in St Winifride's Home Cardiff
Buried at Cardiff