Dinnington priest passes away

A PRIEST who dedicated more than three decades of his life to the people of Dinnington has died.

Father Brian Green, former St Joseph’s parish priest, passed away following a stroke on Friday 8th June, aged 82.

This week tributes were paid to Fr Green who was described as a ‘wonderful priest’ who was always willing to listen and to help.

The Sheffield-born priest trained at Ushaw College in County Durham.

He was ordained for the Diocese of Leeds and his first appointment was at St Peter’s in Doncaster.

He served at various churches before returning to Ushaw College in 1971 to become a lecturer and train new priests.

He moved in Dinnington in 1977 to take up residence as the village’s parish priest - a post he held until his retirement in 2008, when he handed over the reins to current parish priest Andy Graydon.

Coun Simon Tweed said Fr Green was a ‘was a very kind man’ who had the respect of everyone in Dinnington and the surrounding parishes.

“I have spoken to many people this week that use to attend his services and they all said what a wonderful priest he was who was always willing to listen and to help,” he added.

“One lady from Dinnington paid kind comment to him by saying he was here for me when I was suffering with lots personal problems and did the same for my daughter 20 years when she went through the same problem.”

“He will sadly missed by everyone.”

One parishioner wrote: “Although I can’t begin to imagine St Joseph’s without him, and we are all naturally saddened by this news, I can’t help myself but think that his message has always been that we should be happy. It is, I believe, a large part of what we should remember him for.”

“Personally, I am thinking about him, and wondering in what tiny way I can keep his message and just his ‘way of being’ carrying on. Although I don’t think anyone could quite live up to him I feel it is the least I can do to try.”

Fr Green was presented with our Guardian Rose by staff and pupils at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary in 2008, when he took a small step down from his duties. He was presented with a special book from pupils, packed with jokes, memories and anecdotes.

During the presentation, Fr Green spoke to the Guardian about his time in Dinnington.

He said that when he first moved to Dinnington he wasn’t going to stay, but soon changed his mind.

He said: “I didn’t plan on staying here for a long time, but that changed and I always say they’re going to have to carry me out of here in a box before I leave. The people of the parish are so warm and caring.”

He described the ‘amazing community’ which gave him lots of great memories. When Fr Green semi-retired, he continued to live at the presbytery and carry out routine duties.