Thursday, January 24th, 1918, was a raw, rainy winter's day, yet a great crowd of mourners heedless of the weather accompanied the funeral procession when the body of the Rev. Fr Fishwick was borne through the streets of Cockermouth to its last resting place in the grave of his own choice, on the wooded slopes overlooking the Lakeland town. Not only the members of his own flock, but non-Catholics of all denominations, including the ministers of religion and civic dignitaries of the town and district, were assembled around the grave of one whose apostolic life had been a shining light in their midst.
Fr Fishwick was born in Liverpool in 1855, and at the age of twelve was sent to Ampleforth College. As a boy he did not exhibit anything extraordinary either at play or study, except those qualities of earnestness and patient perseverance which afterwards developed so finely when he began his Missionary career. At the end of his collegiate career he entered the Benedictine Order, and received the habit at Belmont in 1875. After going through the usual course of philosophy and theology he returned to Ampleforth, where he made his Solemn Vows, and was elevated to the priesthood on February 24th, 1883. Two years afterwards he was sent on the Mission, firstly to St Mary's, Warrington, for a short period, then to Brownedge, near Preston. Here the first opportunity occurred to show the mould in which Fr Fishwick's character was cast. The idea of erecting Lostock Hall into an independent mission was maturing about this time, and young though he was, Fr Fishwick was chosen by his Superior to commence the new mission. 'Whatsoever thy hand is able to do, do it earnestly.' In a short time a handsome new school chapel was erected and furnished fit for the Divine service and the education of the Catholic school children. Fr Fishwick's success was complete but at the cost of his health, which broke down under the strain. He retired to Barton-on-Humber, but became a complete invalid and was forced to rest for more than twelve months. In 1895 we find him once again at Warrington for a few months, when he was transferred to Workington in Cumberland, where he held the post of school manager until 1902. In that year the lovely Lakeland mission of Cockermouth was handed over to the Benedictines by Dr Collins, the Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, and Fr Fishwick was appointed to the office of head priest of the mission. An article, written by the late Fr Watmore, O.S.B., beautifully illustrated by Fr A. M. Powell, O.S.B., On the occasion of the celebration of the golden Jubilee of St Joseph's, Cockermouth, gives a description of the state of the mission when Fr Fishwick first took charge. The article appears in the AMPLEFORTH JOURNAL of December, 1906. The schools closed, the church and house in need of repairs, the congregation poor in numbers and poor in this world's possessions, it was the second great occasion when the dogged, earnest perseverance, the strong will, could put forth its strength and show the world what a mighty man is an earnest missioner at his work in the vineyard, not for himself but for the Master who has sent him. For fifteen years he laboured strenuously, firstly at the church, then at the schools which were re-opened in November, 1904. Again turning his attention to the House of God he made considerable improvements year by year, and finally added a new apse and sanctuary which greatly added to the beauty of the edifice.
Turning his attention to the spiritual and social condition of the people he introduced the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at Keswick during the summer months, for the benefit of the Catholic visitors and the members of his scattered flock. He was also elected a member of the Cockermouth Board of Guardians, and held the office until his death. It was one of the non-Catholic members who, at the time of his death, said : 'Fr Fishwick was an inspiration to them all at Cockermouth on account of his blameless life and his fidelity to duty.'
Two years ago the first symptoms of that fell disease from which he died began to manifest themselves. Fr Fishwick disregarded these for a time, and only sought a cure when it was too late. It was in April last year the disease reached such a crisis that all the last rites of the Church were administered. There was every sign of impending dissolution, but the prayers of the school children and people which were offered up unceasingly seemed for the moment to prevail. Fr Fishwick suddenly rallied in a wonderful manner. He went away in search of robust health, and in two or three months thought he had regained it. He returned all too soon to his beloved parish, with his soul eager for work, but his body absolutely, unfit. The result was a renewed attack of the disease and his saintly death on January 21st, 1918.
Robert Athanasius FISHWICK 21 January 1918
1855 25 Sep Born Liverpool
1867- Educ Ampleforth
1875 3 Sep Clothed
1876 12 Sep Professed
Minor Orders
1880 18 Sep Subd Ampleforth Bishop Ilsley
1881 4 Jun Deacon Ampleforth Bishop Lacy
1883 24 Feb Priest Ampleforth " "
1885 St Mary's Warrington
1886 Brownedge
1893 Barton-on-Humber
1894 Invalided
1895 St Mary's Warrington
1896 Workington
1902-18 Cockermouth
1918 21 Jan Died at Cockermouth
24 Jan Buried at Cockermouth