Anthony Wilkinson

ANTHONY Wilkinson, who has died aged 79, was a Roman Catholic Parish Priest who served almost all of his priesthood in Yorkshire. The time away from his native county was spent in Peru where, for five years from 1961 until 1966 he was one of the first volunteer priests sent by the then Bishop of Leeds, George Dwyer, in answer to an appeal by Pope John XXIII to work with the Columbian Fathers in Lima.

Father Wilkinson was one of a succession of priests who have worked with the Leeds Diocese's Mission there on a number of projects, including constructing churches, clinics and a school for deaf people.

Fr Wilkinson was born in Bradford and studied for the priesthood at St Cuthbert's College, Ushaw, in County Durham, before being ordained at St Mary's Church, Bradford in 1956.

He then served as a curate at Holy Rosary Church, in Leeds, for five years from 1956 until he went to Peru.

When he returned from Peru in August 1966 he was appointed as curate at St Brigid's Church, Huddersfield, but a year later he moved to the parish of the Sacred Heart, in Bingley before returning to Holy Rosary, Leeds in August 1970.

A year later he moved again having been appointed Parish Priest of Hebden Bridge where he served until August 1977 when he went to be Parish Priest of St Mary's, Acomb, in York until June 1984.

He then moved again to be Parish Priest of Our Lady of Lourdes, in Huddersfield until 1992 when he took up his last appointment as Parish Priest of St Mary and St Michael's Parish, in Settle.

Father Wilkinson retired from Settle in September 2006, and in recent years he has been cared for by the Little Sisters of the Poor at Mount St Joseph's Home, Headingley, Leeds.

Fr Wilkinson is survived by his brother.