Father John Wilfrid Darby, O.S.B., died at Parbold on December [17th], 1928, and was buried there in the churchyard, a few paces away from where the altar stands at which he daily offered the Sacrifice of the Mass. He was laid to rest beside his venerable predecessor, Father Ildefonsus Brown, over whose coffin, thirteen years before, he had spoken an eloquent and very fitting panegyric. Father Darby was born on February 28th, 1857, at Liverpool, of Irish parents, and from the blood of his ancestors he inherited a peculiarly ardent love for faith and country. He went to Ampleforth when he was ten years old. One thing drew our attention to him. He was marked by a scar on the temple caused by a fall from a dog-cart on his way to Mass when quite an infant. The mark remained with him till his dying day. He was a clever boy and quickly passed through the classes of the school, skipping a class near the top, yet holding his own in rivalry for the first place.
From Ampleforth he passed to Belmont, which was then the Common Novitiate and House of Studies for the English Benedictine Congregation. In due course he took his Simple Vows, and spent the following three years in those surroundings of natural beauty, devout recollection and liturgical grandeur which so vividly impressed those whose minds were opening to the elements of religious and scholastic life. Returning to Ampleforth, he pursued his ecclesiastical studies until his Ordination to the priesthood by the venerable Bishop Lacy of Middlesbrough, who is still living.
By his natural gifts he was fitted to take up scholastic work or any other, but a monastic Providence seems to have drawn him into the radius of Procuratorial labours, from which he never escaped, and to which in later life he devoted his abilities for many years. First of all he became assistant Procurator in his monastery, and for a long time was connected with the 'Office,' so that he gained a knowledge of its financial state which he always followed with a keen interest, prudently advising and wisely influencing its progress through the years.
In 1886 he was sent to Stanbrook for two years; then in brief succession to St Alban's, Warrington, to Woolton and to St Anne's, Liverpool. Then for a time he returned to Ampleforth. In 1901 he was appointed as the head priest of St Anne's, where he had been formerly assistant. At the time that Mission was heavily in debt - something like £17,000 - and under his watchful care and wise administration this debt was paid off by about the year 1913. He visited Canada and the States on business and spent there about two years carrying on, as far as might be, his missionary work. Finally he was appointed to the quiet Mission of Parbold in Lancashire, where he passed the last thirteen years of his life.
Besides his immediate relation with the affairs of St Lawrence's monastery, he was later appointed Economus of the Province and Laurentian familia. His success in this arduous and prolonged administration was remarkable, and we all owe him gratitude for this. Only Superiors can properly appreciate his usefulness and the established security which has been created by his most efficient work. Later he was chosen to be a member of the General Chapter of the English Benedictine Congregation, filling the office of 'Inspector rei familiaris' He held this office till his death.
This is a brief synopsis of the career of Father Wilfrid Darby. In it he fulfilled the life of a useful and faithful priest reaching the allotted span of man's life, - three score and ten and a little more. This is no small thing to say. Pray God some one will be able to say as much for us when God shall summon us away.
Father Wilfrid's death leaves a gap among old friends and companions. He had a wide circle of friends, though necessarily it became narrower as age increased. As we near three score and ten, friends drop by our side and isolation grows. His official position had brought him into contact with a great many of the Benedictine Congregation and he seemed to know nearly everybody, even of remote generations. He had an exceptionally quick wit and ready flow of conversation, a store of reminiscence and an appreciation of humour which made him a welcome guest with young and old, with his Brethren, and with layfolk; but he was most at home with his Brethren. He helped many through their difficulties, not only monasteries and convents, but individuals too. He had, moreover, private troubles and anxieties which to his sensitive nature were a burden, and for many years he denied himself relaxations and recreations which our regulations allow us in order that he might be able to help others. His leading thought was for his Alma Mater. He had almost a passionate loyalty and affection for Ampleforth, and this showed itself not only in matters of the deepest concern, but overflowed to more trivial things, such as football and cricket. He had a strict sense of duty and a conscientiousness bordering on scrupulosity; and he had a deep sympathy with the poor and especially with the poor Irish, among whom he worked for many years.
It is not easy to know the serious depths of any man, and Father Wilfrid was particularly reserved. Indeed these depths were hidden by a certain boyishness which remained with him to the extreme end. It made the last days, sad as they were to us who looked on, easier. He died with his old simple ways about him. He was a man of high ideals, though natural weakness, common to us all, sometimes perhaps prevented strenuous effort in following them, for he never was a strong man, and a certain physical delicacy made the hardihood of life difficult. I think there is no one who did not grow better by living within reach of his influence.
But let us leave the dead to God. David chose wisely when he preferred rather to fall into the hands of God than be left to the judgments of men. We do not need the praise of man. Only one thing we need from them. As we speak over their coffin one thing they would utter if they could, they would ask our prayers. 'Pray for me, O you my friends, for the hand of the Lord hath touched me.'
JOHN WILFRID DARBY 17 December 1928
1857 28 Feb Born Liverpool
1867-73 Educ Ampleforth
1873 3 Sep Habit at Belmont
1874 5 Sep Simple Vows
1876 10 Sep Minor Orders
1877 10 Nov Solemn Vows Ampleforth Prior Stephen Kearney
1879 8 Mar Subdiaconate
1880 18 Sep Diaconate
1881 4 Jun Priesthood Bishop Lacy
1886 Assistant at Stanbrook
1888 St Alban's Warrington
1889 Woolton
1889 St Anne's Liverpool
1894 Returned to Ampleforth
1901 Superior at St Anne's Liverpool
1913 Aug to Feb 1915 On business Mission to Calgary Alberta
1915 7 Mar Assistant at Parbold
1917 Incumbent at Parbold
1928 17 Dec Died at Parbold
20 Dec Buried at Parbold
Economus of the Ampleforth Missions from 1895
Congregational Inspector Rei Familiaris for many years