FATHER PATRICK SMITH

Patrick Smith was born at 158 Glasgow Street, Ardrossan on 29 November 1946. His parents were John Kelly Smith and his wife, Esther Murray, known as Hessie. Patrick was baptised in Saint Peter’s Church on 8 December 1946 by Father Matthew Littleton. The sponsors were John Joseph Murray and Esther Murray, his grandparents. Patrick has two sisters, Isobel now Devine and Joan now Foulds.

Patrick's father worked for Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) in Stevenston and in 1950 was offered a post at its plant in Dumfries. The family moved to Dumfries where Patrick was educated at Saint Andrew's School. In 1956, Patrick's father was transferred to ICI in Redcar, Yorkshire, England so the family moved to that town.

Patrick studied for the priesthood at Mount Mellery, Cappoquin, County Waterford and All Hallows College, Dublin, both Ireland. He was ordained in his home Church, Saint Augustine's, Redcar on 31 May 1970. He served in parishes in Middlesbrough, Malton, Redcar and Guisborough before becoming Parish Priest of Our Lady's Church, York in 1999.


The photograph on the right was taken in 2005.