A LARGE turnout is expected for the funeral of the man who served as parish priest at St Mary's RC Church, Radcliffe, for 30 years.

Father John Curran, of Stainton Road, Radcliffe, died suddenly on Sunday in North Manchester General Hospital at the age of 78.

A reception and funeral mass will be held on Monday at 7.30pm, followed by another funeral mass on Tuesday at 2pm, both at St Mary's Church. He will be buried with his parents in Moston Cemetery at 4pm.

Although Father Curran was born in Galway, he came to Britain with his family when he was young. His father was an RSPCA inspector and at first the family lived in London. Father Curran trained at various colleges - St Francis Xavier in Liverpool, Xaverian College in Manchester, St Bede's Manchester, Belmont Abbey (Benedictine) in Hereford, and Upholland College near Wigan - and was ordained at St Mary's, Oldham, in 1945. He spent 12 months as one of the bishop's secretaries in Wardley Hall.

Changes

His first appointment was at St Edmund's, Miles Platting, where he spent 10 years, and then more than six years at St Mary's, Horwich, and a further four at St Mary's, Failsworth.

He then moved to Radcliffe where he provided long-term stability through a period of many changes, including the reconstruction of the church.

Father Curran played a full part in the community. He was chairman of the governors of St Mary's RC Primary School and a governor of St Monica's High School. For 20 years he was chairman of the Salford Diocesan Sports Committee.

And for many years he was a stalwart of the Radcliffe Fraternal, dedicated to furthering the ecumenical movement.

He loved sport and was involved in the church's six soccer teams, but his greatest passion was rugby league. He retired in 1995 after 30 years serving one of the diocese's largest parishes.

St Mary's current parish priest, Father James Marnock, said: "It's impossible to count how many people's lives Father Curran has touched one way or another. He truly gave himself for his people."

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