Neville Vincent Wilson was born at Frodsham, Cambridgeshire on May 27th, 1852. Both his parents were converts to Catholicism and his father had been a clergyman in the Church of England, and a master at Marlborough College. The intellectual atmosphere of his home left an impression on his youthful mind which was maintained and developed throughout his life. There were three boys in the family, the eldest of whom went to Downside where he was a contemporary of Cardinal Gasquet. He became an expert linguist, knew over a dozen languages, and wrote a history of fiction. Neville was sent to Ampleforth at the age of twelve, and he was followed there in a few months by his younger brother, Joseph, now Fr Anselm. Two of his masters were Fr Aidan Hickey and Br Oswald Tyndall, both of whom were well qualified to encourage his studious and artistic tastes. His outlook on life was always serious and thoughtful, and at the end of his school course he went to Belmont and took the Benedictine habit from the hands of the Prior, Roger Bede Vaughan. At the end of his novitiate he made his simple profession and began his theological studies. Returning to Ampleforth in 1875, he passed through the various stages of his ecclesiastical career, and was ordained priest on March 8th, 1879, by Bishop Cornthwaite, of Leeds. This was a period in the history of Ampleforth when controversy was rife on points of the constitutions of the Congregation, and Fr Vincent's logical mind led him to take a very definite line on the matters in dispute, but he was never actuated by any personal feeling, and in course of time his brethren learnt to set great store on his prudent counsel.
He was chosen to represent his brethren on the Council of Seniors of his Abbey, became their delegate to the General Chapter of the Congregation, and, when the important problem of a monastic foundation in Western Canada arose, he was appointed to accompany Abbot Smith on a journey of investigation. The report he presented on the project is a model of lucid exposition.
In the School he taught chiefly English subjects and drawing and he became Prefect of Discipline. His rule learnt to the stricter tradition of school management but he earned the respect of all the boys and the affection of individuals.
On October 24th, 1884, he was sent on the mission as assistant at St Peter's, Seel Street, Liverpool. From that date until 1925 he served with exemplary devotion on various missions, Birtley, Whitehaven, Workington, Brownedge, Petersfield, Leyland, Clayton Green, Dowlais and Abergavenny, but his chief work was at St. Mary's, Warrington, where he was Rector for 19 years, from September 1896 to October 1915. In April 1925 his health broke down completely. He died March 19th, 1930 and was buried at Warrington. The following address was delivered in St. Mary's, Warrington, at his funeral on March 24th. It expresses, we think, the feelings of all who knew him.
I have been asked to say the last few words over the remains of a loyal and devoted citizen, a fervent and exemplary Religious, a revered and faithful priest, and I can think of no better words than these with which to lay him to rest: 'To whomsoever much is given, of him much shall be required.' 'Eternal rest give unto him O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.'
Seventy-seven years of life, fifty years of the priesthood - they are long years, full of many graces and gifts from God, full therefore of grave responsibilities, full also of unselfish and generous deeds, but full also, for he was human, of many failings.
I would thus address a few words of simple appeal to the people of Warrington, for whom Father Wilson laboured so long and so faithfully, to the Catholics of Warrington and especially to St Mary's people, all of whom he loved with a very real love, to all his brother priests of this Archdiocese of Liverpool amongst whom he laboured for the greater part of his priestly life, and to his own brethren of the Order of St Benedict, with whom and for whom he lived and laboured for well nigh 60 years.
To the people of Warrington I think I may justly appeal to hold his name in honour as one who gave of his best, as a member of the Board of Guardians, but above all as a member of the Education Committee for 13 years. In the work of Education the town owes him a special debt of recognition, for it was in conjunction with the late Canon Stevenson and the late Rev John Yonge that he did so much to lay the foundations on which the schools of Warrington rest. Patient, understanding and wise, in the presence of many difficulties in those early years, he succeeded where others would probably have failed. All Warrington, and especially its Catholic people, should never forget that they owe to his wise guidance much of the kindliness and harmony that has always existed here in the past and still prevails. To the people of St Mary's, I am sure, I need say very little. To him are due the foundation of the convent of the Sisters of the Cross and Passion, who have done so much for the Faith in Warrington, to him are due many material improvements such as the building of the Parish Hall and the erecting of the Tower and bells; but it is not for these only that he is still remembered and I hope will always be remembered. For nearly 20 years he was your devoted parish priest, a father to you all, with your interests always at heart. He was not one that wore his heart upon his sleeve. He always had a natural difficulty in showing his feelings, but there are very many who know how warm and tender his heart could be.
No one knows better than I the value of his work here. To me his priestly bearing and example were always an inspiration. I have known him nearly 50 years - for his life was one of complete devotedness to duty, of self-abnegation and of conscientious work such as few priests can lay claim to. His words to me when laying down his trust and handing it on to me, some 14 years ago, speak volumes of his singleheartedness: 'I feel my health and strength are failing and it is due to St. Mary's people that they should not suffer through my increasing years.' He grieved to leave St Mary's, but he did so because he loved you. It is not every man who gives up the work he loves, when he feels it growing beyond his strength.
To his fellow priests of this great archdiocese, I can only say that he gave the best part of his life for it in Liverpool, Leyland, Clayton Green and Warrington. From his last resting place he appeals to everyone of you to remember him when you stand before the altar.
Lastly, to his own brethren of the Order of St Benedict, he was always a model Religious true to his vows, a model priest, and a devoted son of the Order. As the years multiplied, and old age crept upon him, there were times when he showed very plainly his natural clinging to the ways of earlier days, but it was always the heartfelt and fearless expression of conscientious conviction. His heart was always centred on his vocation as a Benedictine, and on Ampleforth the house of his profession.
For years he was the chosen councillor and representative of his brethren both in general Chapter and in the Council of the house. For years, though 20 years his junior, I was privileged to sit with him in that Council and I can testify to the great value of his work there. To every meeting he came well prepared, with every item of the agenda carefully studied and thought out, and when his turn came to speak he never failed to do so in weighty and indeed inspiring words. The English Benedictine Congregation and Ampleforth especially owe much to him, more perhaps than they can ever repay.
And so we give him back to God from whom he came and whose consecrated priest he was. 'Eternal rest give unto him O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him.'
NEVILLE VINCENT WILSON 19 March 1930
1852 27 May Born Fordham Cambridge
1864-71 Educ Ampleforth
1871 28 Sep Habit at Belmont
1872 5 Oct Simple Vows
1875 29 Aug Minor Orders
8 Dec Solemn Vows Ampleforth
1877 24 Feb Subdeacon
18 Nov Deacon
1879 8 Mar Priest Bishop Cornthwaite
1884 24 Oct Assistant at St Peter's Liverpool
1885 Nov Birtley
1886 Whitehaven
1891 Workington
1896 8 Sep Incumbent at St Mary's Warrington
1912 Visited Canada with Abbot Smith with a view to a foundation at Calgary or elsewhere
1915 Oct Brownedge
1916 Feb Petersfield
1917 Feb Leyland
1919 Dec Clayton Green
1920 Aug Leyland
Sep Petersfield
1923 Jun Dowlais (assistant, in semi-retirement)
Sep Clayton Green
1924 Nov Abergavenny
1925 Feb Clayton Green
20 Apr In a Nursing Home Liverpool
1930 19 Mar Died at Liverpool
Buried at Warrington