Wilfrid Rylance was born on the 27th March 1874, and educated in the school here from 1887 to 1893, when he was admitted to the novitiate as Brother Theodore. Two younger brothers, the late Fr Romuald and Fr Cyril, who happily survives him, later became monks of Downside. He was ordained in 1901. He was an exceptionally hard worker and a devoted teacher who spared no pains to get his classes on. One associates him with masses of 'gelatined' notes wherewith he supplemented or replaced the text books, and with untiring vigour on the football field. He could be gay and humorous, but he was always a shy man; and this, together with his grimly ascetic appearance tended to make him seem unapproachable. He had in fact his full share of sociability, but he was infrequently able to gratify it. However, he was a highly valued member of the community which penetrated, as communities do, the phenomena and appreciated the real man underneath. In 1906 he was sent out to work in our parishes and was stationed successively at St Alban's and St Benedict's in Warrington, at St Mary's, Brownedge, St Anne's, Liverpool, and at Workington. In 1925 he was put in charge at Abergavenny, and four years later at Lostock Hall. There he remained for thirteen years, finding much that was congenial in the firm hold on principle and strict fidelity to practice of unspoilt Lancashire. From his pulpit and in private he defended and promoted that spirit and vehemently rebuked any decline to lower standards. Consequently his people looked up to him with confidence and respect; but only those whom he had tended in distress really loved him: they had seen another and a different side of him.
In 1942 he was moved to Knaresborough and three years later to Lee House. He was tiring now, and the peace of the little parish gave him great contentment and ample opportunity for manual labour with pick and shovel. In 1956 his bodily weakness put an end to his active life and he had to accept the unwelcome rôle of invalid. He bore this patiently without self-pity, and died quietly on the 16th March 1958. By the desire of his late parishioners at Lostock Hall he was buried there. The large attendance at his funeral, although it was sixteen years since he left the parish, showed how strong and lasting an impression he had made. May he rest in peace.
WILFRID THEODORE RYLANCE 16 March 1958
1874 27 Mar Born in Leicester or Birmingham
1887 Educ Ampleforth
1893 3 Sep Habit
1895 5 Feb Simple Vows
1898 27 Mar Solemn Vows
1901 10 Mar Priest
1902 Mar Brindle
Oct Ampleforth
1906 11 Nov Warrington
1908 23 Apr St Benedict's Warrington
1911 May Brownedge
1915 Oct St Benedict's Warrington
1917 Feb$$ or March St Anne's Liverpool
1920 Workington
1925 In charge at Abergavenny
1929 Sep Lostock Hall
1942 Apr Knaresborough
1945 Sep Lee House
1956 Aug Invalided
1958 16 Mar$$ Died at St Mary's Home, Moston, Manchester
Buried at Lostock Hall