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Father Tom
Cooper
Parish Priest
I come from Wicklow,
Ireland and was born in 1945. I was educated locally and
then attended St. Patrick's Seminary in Maynooth, County
Kildare.
I was ordained on 20th December 1970 and my first
appointment was English Martyrs, Streatham. I have also
served in St. Mary Cray, Addiscombe and Biggin Hill
parishes, and for 16 years I was the parish priest at St.
Teresa's Ashford, Kent.
My interests include golf, skiing, windsurfing, food, wine
and opera. I was inducted as Parish Priest at
St. Bartholomew's on 5th December 2004 and took up the post
of Parish Priest on 10th December. |
Father
Francis Lynch
Assistant Priest
I was born in Peckham, south London.
We moved quite frequently and I have also lived in Bishop's
Stortford, Sutton, Barnet and many other places.
When I was eight, we moved to Brisbane in Australia,
and lived there for almost 4 years. On returning to England,
we lived Barnet, and I went to
Finchley Grammar School.
At university in Durham, I studied theoretical physics. I
did postgraduate studies in atmospheric physics at
Manchester University. After this I worked mainly in
computing in the south of England, and also in America.
When I considered a vocation to the priesthood, I was
advised to find a job with more direct interaction with
people. So I began two years of teaching, firstly in a
comprehensive school in Birkenhead, and then in St.
Benedict's School in Ealing, London.
I applied for the priesthood, and was sent by the Bishop to
the Venerable English College in Rome. There I did my
philosophy and theology degrees. I spent a further year in
South Wales, getting to know the diocese and studying the
works of Cardinal Newman.
I was ordained by Archbishop Ward in the Benedictine Parish
of Cockfosters in north London, my parents' Parish. I said
my first mass in St. Bede's, Clapham Park, which is my
brother's Parish.
I spent time in Ely, and in Llanrumney, both large council
estates on either side of Cardiff. I was appointed as parish
priest to the church of St. Francis Xavier and St. David
Lewis in the small town of Usk in Monmouthshire In 1997. The
town has two prisons, and I was appointed chaplain to both.
We also started a philosophy Society, a poetry appreciation
Society, and a pantomime group. All of which are still going
strong.
I have been a padre in the Territorial Army for several
years and last year was called up to serve in Germany. After
demobilisation, I was appointed as assistant priest in
Norbury, not that far from where I was born. |
Deacon Paul
Milligan
Permanent Deacon
I was Ordained 15th July 2000 here at St. Bartholomew's. I
have lived in the parish since 1983, and am married to
Monica, our parish secretary. We have five grown-up children
and three grandchildren, and I work for the Diocese in the
Finance Office.
I was born in Dublin and grew up in the
parish of St. Bede, Clapham Park. I spent a few years at the
Junior Seminary as a youth, but gave up my vocation and
completed my education at Clapham College (now St. Francis
Xavier College) and Sussex University.
Family and career
have tended to dominate my life for the past three decades.
However I enjoy reading, particularly philosophy and
theology, and listening to music (the Beatles, Tamla Motown
and anything pre-1900). I enjoy cooking, when Monica lets me
free in the kitchen. |
