K
kelvinf
Guest
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-17583535
In the corner of a stained-glass window in a small Essex church is an inscription asking for people to pray for one of its former priests.
It describes how he “earnestly devoted his last moments to the religious consolation of his fellow passengers”.
Father Thomas Byles, rector at St Helen’s Roman Catholic church in Chipping Ongar for eight years, was among the 1,500 people to perish aboard the SS Titanic on 15 April 1912.
This small memorial means his actions, which were praised by Pope Pius X, will never be forgotten by the parish he once served.
’Spiritual sustenance’
Father Byles, originally from Staffordshire, was ordained as a priest in 1902 and came to the Catholic Parish of Ongar and Doddinghurst three years later.
A picture of Father Byles hangs above the porch door into his former church
According to the current priest at St Andrew’s church, Father Andrew Hurley, he was “much loved and appreciated by the people of the parish”.
Such was their affection, when Father Byles was invited to officiate at his brother’s wedding in New York, parishioners helped pay for his trip on the liner.
Father Hurley explained how Father Byles had said mass for second-class passengers on the morning of the disaster.
In it he talked about the “spiritual lifeboats that take us to God”.
Following the iceberg strike on 14 April, eyewitness accounts told how Father Byles refused several offers to board a lifeboat.
Instead, he remained on board to help others to lifeboats, take confessions, offer absolution and pray with those still on board as the ship went down.
His body was never recovered.
…
In the ship’s final moments Father Byles prayed with the 100 plus passengers trapped at the stern - Protestants, Catholics and Jews knelt in the rising waters as he gave absolution to all.
…
Wow, what a story. I have this obsession with the Titanic. The story of this priest is just so wonderful.
In the corner of a stained-glass window in a small Essex church is an inscription asking for people to pray for one of its former priests.
It describes how he “earnestly devoted his last moments to the religious consolation of his fellow passengers”.
Father Thomas Byles, rector at St Helen’s Roman Catholic church in Chipping Ongar for eight years, was among the 1,500 people to perish aboard the SS Titanic on 15 April 1912.
This small memorial means his actions, which were praised by Pope Pius X, will never be forgotten by the parish he once served.
’Spiritual sustenance’
Father Byles, originally from Staffordshire, was ordained as a priest in 1902 and came to the Catholic Parish of Ongar and Doddinghurst three years later.
A picture of Father Byles hangs above the porch door into his former church
According to the current priest at St Andrew’s church, Father Andrew Hurley, he was “much loved and appreciated by the people of the parish”.
Such was their affection, when Father Byles was invited to officiate at his brother’s wedding in New York, parishioners helped pay for his trip on the liner.
Father Hurley explained how Father Byles had said mass for second-class passengers on the morning of the disaster.
In it he talked about the “spiritual lifeboats that take us to God”.
Following the iceberg strike on 14 April, eyewitness accounts told how Father Byles refused several offers to board a lifeboat.
Instead, he remained on board to help others to lifeboats, take confessions, offer absolution and pray with those still on board as the ship went down.
His body was never recovered.
…
In the ship’s final moments Father Byles prayed with the 100 plus passengers trapped at the stern - Protestants, Catholics and Jews knelt in the rising waters as he gave absolution to all.
…
Wow, what a story. I have this obsession with the Titanic. The story of this priest is just so wonderful.