Fr Clement Standish was born at Preston on December 21st, 1860 and received in Baptism the names of John Vincent. On his father's side he was related to the Standish family of Duxbury Hall, Chorley, and on his mother's side to the Worsleys of Salmesbury and Brindle. He was in the School from 1872 to 1880 and his name appears in the Prize Lists for Drawing and Music. On leaving the School he entered the novitiate at Belmont and took the name Clement at his clothing out of respect for his relative Fr Clement Worsley, an old Amplefordian and the builder of St John's Priory, Bath. In 1884 he returned to Ampleforth and in the following year Fr Anselm Burge became Prior and almost at once began a new policy with regard to the school which gave it a new charter by which it could free itself from various out of date customs and assert its right to fall into line with the Public Schools. After his Ordination in 1887 Fr Clement was appointed Prefect of Studies and held that position throughout Prior Burge's administration. The task was no easy one for many changes had to be made but with his superior's support and full confidence and with all his own manly vigour and determination he set to work to carry out Prior Burge's wishes and for eleven years he held the position more like a modern headmaster than the old time Prefect. In later years he was wont to admit that milder treatment would have been more advisable in many cases.
As Choir Master and Organist he was very successful in pleasing everybody and gained a reputation both in and outside his monastery. Some of his compositions are still very popular and his arrangement of the Prayer of Jeremias for Tenebrae is by now an old and popular tradition.
When Prior Smith succeeded Prior Burge all the officials were changed. Everyone admired the humility of Fr Clement in relinquishing his place of honour and the zealous way in which he entered into pastoral work at St Peter's, Liverpool. He showed at once the line he would take to promote the religious life of the Parish. In his district visiting, at the Altar, in the Sacristy, in the Choir he attracted the youth by seeing that everything was well prepared and well executed. There was no resisting his energy and commanding personality.
In 1900 he was transferred to Workington where he succeeded Fr Elphege Duggan as head priest in 1905. The ceremonial and music and all to do with the reverent and dignified carrying out of the Liturgy were his first care. Equally important for him was the education of the children. His labours in this respect saw their reward in the erection of St Joseph's Schools. Another way in which he gained the affection of his people was by bringing to their parish many well known Catholic leaders. Cardinal Bourne preached at the Jubilee of the Church and was given a civic reception by the Municipality.
Fr Clement's kindness and care for his assistants and his hospitality to all the priests of West Cumberland, his appreciation and gratitude to anyone in the town and parish who did anything for him, won for him a devotion and affection that was fully demonstrated at the celebration of his Golden Jubilee in 1937. His superiors had already shown their appreciation of his worth and work by granting him the titular dignity of Cathedral Prior of Worcester.
In 1938 failing health forced him to resign the responsible position of head priest. From that date onwards he bore his sufferings patiently and cheerfully until his death on Sunday, March 23rd, 1941, in the eighty-first year of his age and the fifty-fourth of his Priesthood. Nearly all the town of Workington attended his funeral and the parish jealously saw to it that his body should remain with them. May he rest in the peace of God after his many labours for God.
JOHN CLEMENT STANDISH 23 March 1941
1860 21 Dec Born Preston
1872-80 Educ Ampleforth
1880 3 Sep Habit at Belmont
1881 10 Sep Simple Vows
1883 22 Dec Minor Orders
1885 22 Feb Solemn Vows Ampleforth
23 May Subdeacon
1887 6 Feb Deaconate York
6 Aug Priesthood
3 Sep Prefect of discipline in the school under Prior Burge
During most of this time he was choir master & organist & he did much for the music in the school in conjunction with Prior Burge. He was a composer too & gained a reputation both in & outside the monastery
1898 Jan Curate at St Peter's Liverpool 1900 Curate at Workington 1905 Head priest having succeeded Fr DugganAt Workington he did much for the reorganisation of the parish, the church services & the schools. He was much respected by the civic authorities & he did much to enable Catholics to take their place in public life.
1927 Nominated Cath Prior of Worcester by Fr Abbot & his council
1937 The celebration of his golden jubilee of priesthood was made the occasion of a great public demonstration
1938 Oct His health was failing & he retired, but lived on at Workington as an invalid till his death
1941 23 Mar Died at Workington
Buried at Workington-nearly all the town attended his funeral