On the 21st of January this year, our Community was made the poorer by the death of one of its members, the Rev. George Gregory Browne.
The youngest child of a family of seventeen, of whom but two now survive, he was born in Liverpool on the 11th of July 1853, and went to Ampleforth in 1866. His career as a student, though not marked by any striking abilities, was one of patient application to study combined with a great taste for reading. His character unfolded into one of much amiability, gentleness and kindness, such as won for him many admirers and many friends. His piety was such that no one was surprised when in 1872 he asked for the habit and was admitted to the Novitiate.
He was ordained Priest at Fort Augustus in 1879, but his love for Ampleforth, as great as it was life-long, drew him back thither as soon as he was free. In due time he passed to the mission. He was Assistant at Warrington, Assistant and afterwards Rector at Maryport, and from the November of 1902, Assistant at Cardiff. Here he was destined to end his days, in the 52nd year of his age, the 26th of his Priesthood, and the 33rd of his Religious Vocation.
Always in seeming good health, he went about his usual duties until the day before his death. He said Mass on the Thursday morning and gave Benediction in the evening. On Friday, mid-day, he had to retire to bed, complaining of weakness and cold; by the same hour on Saturday he was dead. The end came so unexpectedly that there was but just time to give him the hurried Absolution and last Anointing. He expired without saying a word.
It seemed strange that one who, during the past twelve-months, had given the last rites of the Church one hundred and twenty times, should himself be debarred from the full reception of them. And yet it may be that, under God's Providence, such deprivation in the case of a priest stands as a last penance and atonement for any negligence in his ministry. Certainly a Priest's daily life is a preparation to die; and so it was with Fr. Browne. Always regular in his Mass, Office and spiritual duties, ever patient, obedient and kind to the poor, he could lay down his burden at any time and leave behind an assurance of a merciful hearing in the giving of his account. His character never changed; and he died in the same quiet way as he had lived.
Many letters of condolence from the Public Bodies of the Town, from Officials, Ministers and others, testified to the wide respect in which he was generally held. As to his own flock, they laid no perishable wreath upon his coffin; but young and old, rich and poor, brought, instead, in a most generous way, the unfading tribute of Masses for the repose of his soul.
At his funeral, some twenty-five Priests of the Diocese and a large number of sorrowing people assembled. The Bishop of the Diocese, the Rt. Rev. J. C. Hedley, O.S.B. sang Pontifical Mass of Requiem, and spoke some touching words. He called to mind that this was the first Benedictine in modern times to find his grave in Cardiff; 'but,' he said, 'as the hearse made its way to the cemetery it would pass close by the spot where, in more faithful days, a Benedictine house had stood, and where the ashes of many former Brethren still lay awaiting the final call to life.'
George Gregory BROWNE 21 January 1905 1853 11 Jul Born at West Derby, Liverpool educ at Ampleforth 1872 18 Sep Clothed 1876 8 Dec Solemn Vows 1878 Fort Augustus 1880 22 May Priest 1884 St Alban's Warrington 1887 St Mary's Warrington 1889 Maryport 1902 Cardiff 1905 21 Jan died