THE scholarly, slightly-built Monsignor George Bradley, who has died, aged 77, was the archivist of the Diocese of Leeds for more than 40 years and had a knowledge of Yorkshire Catholic history that was rivalled by few.
He was particularly interested in the troubled times that followed the Reformation and spent many off-duty hours researching the lives of the priests and lay people who were put to death for their faith in the county from 1537 to 1680, mainly at the
York Tyburn on the edge of today's racecourse.
Unassuming, but a gifted writer and editor, he was most widely read as the author of a long-running series, published in the Leeds diocesan newspaper, on the rich legacy of old Catholic houses and families of Yorkshire.
George Terence Bradley was born at Shipley in 1930. He went to St Bede's Grammar School, Bradford. He was still there when he was accepted for training for the priesthood.
He subsequently entered the seminary at Ushaw College, Co. Durham, and was ordained in his home parish of St Walburga, Shipley, in July, 1956.
His first appointment was to St Austin's, Wakefield, and subsequently served in Bradford, Leeds, Harrogate and Featherstone. In 1979 he was appointed Chaplain of Honour to the Pope.
But having been appointed Archivist of the Diocese of Leeds by Bishop Dwyer in 1958, he remained in that post until 2005.
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