Father Edmund Worthy

Father Edmund Worthy is the eleventh parish priest of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, arriving on 3rd September 2003.

Edmund was born in 1947 in Harpenden and educated at St Albans School and Portsmouth Polytechnic where he obtained a BA Degree in Economics in 1969. He worked for British Rail at Euston which accounts for his lifelong interest in railways and the paintings on the walls of the Presbytery. He qualified as a Chartered Management Accountant in 1973 and then followed his father into the Prudential Assurance Company in Holborn. He had been brought up as an Anglican, singing in the choir and serving on the altar, but during his student days he came to realize the truth of the Catholic faith and was received at the London University Chaplaincy in 1971.

In 1975 the Prudential posted him to Johannesburg, South Africa, and in 1980, on the establishment of Zimbabwe, he was sent to Harare as Financial Controller and Investment Manager. He developed a love for Africa which remains today. It was through the experiences he had in these totally different countries that led to his first thoughts about becoming a priest and help others. He was unsure for some years but eventually abandoned accountancy and entered the seminary at Allen Hall in London. Edmund was ordained priest by Bishop Leo on 19 th December 1997 at St Joseph’ s Aylesbury and has since served in Luton and Burnham.

On his arrival in Wellingborough one of his first tasks was to re-introduce ‘ The Lantern ’ (the newsletter) into the parish. He also re-introduced Mass at St Hubert ’ s Chapel at Harrowden on the fourth Sunday of each month and increased the spread of the weekday Mass times. He has encouraged the growth of our Prayer Groups and fostered closer links between the parish and our schools. One of the highlights of his priesthood was on 28th November 2004 when, thanks to his Slovak friends, he was able to attend a general audience with Pope John Paul 11 and was able to greet His Holiness in Polish. He was also very privileged to say the early morning Mass at St Peter ’ s Basilica and visit St Peter’s tomb.

Apart form his love of Africa and Railways, he also has a large collection of Motown music from the 60’s. His holidays are spent in Poland and Slovakia which he regards as a second home.