Obituary for
The Reverend Canon Michael Cooley RIP
9th September 1938-19th August 2024
Michael Cooley was born in Croydon on 9th September 1938, the son of William and Ada Cooley, who were both converts to the Catholic faith, and was one of four children, Monica who became a Religious Sister and died in the 1970’s, Joan who died in 2013 and Helen his surviving sister. Michael was Baptised at the church of Our Lady of Reparation, West Croydon and later Confirmed there. He attended Coloma Prep primary school, Croydon, where he also celebrated his First Holy Communion and then was a pupil at. St. Joseph’s College, Beulah Hill. From an early age Michael always wanted to a priest and so it was no surprise that upon leaving school he applied to the Bishop of Southwark and was accepted as a student for the priesthood. Michael was sent to study at the Venerable English College, Rome. He was ordained as a priest on 18th February 1962 in Rome in the Chapel of the English College by Cardinal William Godfrey. He was one of the last priests to be ordained before the opening of the Second Vatican Council later that year.
Father Michael was a gifted student and following ordination he returned to England and was sent to Cambridge University where he studied English. At the end of his course in 1965 he went to Exeter University where he completed studies in his education before taking up an appointment at the Fisher School, Purley as a teacher in September 1966 and was a member of the staff until October 1971.
In October 1971, Archbishop Cowderoy released Father Michael in order for him to return to Rome, this time as a member of the staff at the English College, where he taught philosophy and was one of the assistant professors at the Gregorian University. During this time, he was also involved in ministry in the diocese of Rome and he also enrolled in further studies. His time at the Venerable English College as a member of staff, followed the conclusion of the 2ndVatican Council and this influenced Father Michael hugely, especially in his ministry later on as a parish priest.
In February 1976, the then Archbishop of Birmingham, Archbishop George Patrick Dwyer, wrote to Archbishop Cowderoy to request that, when Father Michael completed his term at the Venerable English College, he be appointed as a theology tutor at Newman College of Education. This was to become his home for the next five years until the summer of 1981.
In July 1981, Archbishop Michael Bowen appointed Father Michael as assistant priest in the parish of Our Lady and St. Philip Neri, Sydenham. In his letter of appointment to Michael the Archbishop wrote “A word of welcome back to the diocese! I am very pleased to have you in Southwark and I hope you will settle down happily in Sydenham. I hope too that your experience there will be helpful preparation for taking on a parish of your own in a couple of years’ time, or so”.
During his time at Sydenham Michael was appointed in 1983 as chaplain to The Catholic Nurses Guild in the diocese. This involved regular meetings of the executive and diocesan meetings of the Guild in Thornton Heath. Michael continued in this role for a number of years until his parish commitments prevented him for giving it the attention that it deserved and he wrote to Archbishop Michael to tender his resignation as chaplain inn January 1986.
In July 1983 Archbishop Michael wrote to Father Michael to ask him to take on a new appointment as parish priest of the parish of Our Lady of La Salette and St Joseph, Bermondsey Melior Street and at the same time chaplain at Guys Hospital where he was responsible for co-ordinating the chaplaincy work with the priests of the deanery. In his letter the Archbishop wrote of Michael’s previous appointments, “Thank you for the good work you have done in Sydenham since your arrival there. I know that you will be greatly missed by the people of Kirkdale. I do wish you every success in your new appointment and thank you for your readiness to accept this new ministry”.
Father Michael was inducted as parish priest on 27th October 1983 by Bishop Howard Tripp. This was to begin a ministry off over 34 years in the parish of Melior Street, which Michael threw himself into from the outset. He was a prolific visitor, dedicated hospital chaplain. He had a passion for Catholic education and was a regular visitor to the local schools that served his parish and served on the governing body of a number of schools.
After a few years in the parish Father Michael realised that he could not carry on the role as principal chaplain to Guys hospital in addition to the demands made on him in the parish and so he asked the Archbishop to send him another priest who could assist him in this role. He continued to be a duty chaplain at the hospital and to offer ministry to both staff and patients.
During his time in Melior Street, he had the Sanctuary re-ordered and the church was consecrated by Archbishop Michael Bowen in 1996.
In the visitation report of February 2000, Bishop Tripp wrote that “the visitation to this parish was most interesting and encouraging. Although numbers are small there is a real community living the Gospel within their own parish and reaching out to both visitors and residents in the larger community. Fr Cooley has clearly developed collaborative ministry within the parish. The parishioners certainly play their part in the parish making room for everyone to fulfil their role”
Father Michael had a great respect for those less fortunate and his ministry for many years reached out to the homeless and in later years the refugees who found themselves living in this part of South London. The Manna Centre for the homeless was established in his parish and Michael was a regular visitor. He not only offered hospitality, shelter and a kind word, but practical advice and spiritual guidance. He saw that each person is made in the image of God and had the greatest respect for them.
He was aware of the needs of the community around him and that the church should be available to all people at all times. A letter written to Archbishop Michael Bowen in March 1989 from one of the members of the community, whose business were located in the parish, following the death of a work colleague testifies to this. In the letter it says “Too often one writes to complain and so rarely to praise, and for this reason I am writing to commend one of your priests, Father Cooley at Our Lady of La Salette. He said a mass yesterday for a colleague and his wife who both died in tragic circumstances. I do not know what religion they had, if any, but Father Cooley demonstrated the real spirit of Christianity by saying a most devout Mass and offering a few words of comfort to all of us. His sincerity and the simplicity of his words made a profound impression on the disparate group of people who attended some of whom belonged to other denominations, some to the eastern religions and some with no religion at all. What he had to say lifted the gloom and showed us hope. As someone said to me afterwards, if that is what Christianity is all about there really is hope for us all. I thought you as the Archbishop might like to know what excellent work this priest is doing”.
He also offered welcome and hospitality to the Slovak Catholic community in London and made his parish available to them as a home for their chaplaincy. This enabled the community to gather in a central place in London each week for Mass and the celebrations of the Sacraments and catechesis. Sadly, after Brexit and following Covid the numbers of this community have decreased but the community still gathers at Melior Street for Mass and remember Canon Michael’s hospitality to them with great fondness and gratitude.
He was a popular member of the local clergy and deanery and was a sound and wise voice at deanery meetings. In December 2004 Michael was appointed as Dean of the Cathedral Deanery, a role he was to undertake until 2013. He also served for a number of years as an Ecumenical Borough Dean, fostering links with the local Christian clergy and also helping to enhance and cement links with the local civic authorities. In 2005 Canon Michael was asked to take on an additional responsibility in the deanery as Moderator of the parishes of Our Lady of La Salette and St Joseph, and St Peter and the Guardian Angels, Rotherhithe serving in that role for a number of years.
In 2003 Archbishop Michael wrote to him to appoint him as a Canon of the Cathedral Chapter, in succession to Canon Michael Evans who had been appointed as Bishop of East Anglia. He was later also appointed as the Canon Theologian. Canon Michael continued in this role until he reached the Canonical age of 75 after which he stepped down from the Chapter and became a Canon Emeriti.
Canon Michael was passionate about the implementation of the work of the Second Vatican Council and did his utmost to encourage participation from among his parishioners in the life of the parish and the local church. He was passionate about passing on the faith and catechesis and in equipping parents in their role as the first teachers of the faith.
As a priest he had a great love for the liturgy of the church and did much to encourage active participation in the liturgy in his parish. He served for a number of years as a member of the Rites and Pastoral Committee of the Liturgy Commission and then as a full member of the commission. In September 2009, Archbishop Kevin wrote to him to ask him to take on the position as Chairman of the Liturgy Commission in succession to Monsignor Richard Moth who was moving on having been appointed as Bishop of the Forces.
As a teacher he was also very committed to Catholic education and Catholic schools and was a dedicated school governor for over thirty years. When he retired as a governor one of the head teachers at a school where he had served wrote of him, “Your letter to Archbishop Smith hides and underestimates the significant impact you have had and will continue to have on the staff and students of our school. On a personal note I would like to thank you for teaching me and walking with me on my journey. There is an awful lot I could write about the distinctive role you have played as a governor but suffice to say you represent everything that is good, that is truth, that has integrity, that is love, you are the “Body of Christ”
In August 2013, Canon Michael wrote to Archbishop Peter upon reaching his 75th birthday to say that he would be happy to continue in Bermondsey Melior Street for a few more years. The Archbishop replied thanking him for his letter and saying “You have weathered all those years very well. Thank you for all your years of priestly ministry in the diocese and thank you too for offering to continue for a while at Melior Street, which in the circumstances which you mention would be a great blessing”
In 2017, after 34 years Canon Michael retired as parish priest of Our Lady of La Salette and St. Joseph. In his letter Archbishop Peter wrote “I should like to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks for your dedicated service to the people of Bermondsey Melior Street. We have indeed been fortunate to have your ministry in the parish for so many years. I am sure you will be greatly missed by the people there.
Following his retirement from the parish Canon Michael took on a new ministry as chaplain to St Peter’s Residence in Vauxhall. This enabled him to continue to be active in retirement and to minister to the needs of both the residents, the sisters and the clergy who lived at St Peter’s. This was to be his role until illness saw him admitted to hospital in the summer of 2024. Canon Michael was a dedicated and conscientious chaplain and he drew on his years of experience in hospital ministry in his new role. It also enabled him to remain in the Cathedral deanery where he continued to attend deanery meetings and events.
Canon Michael was a popular priest, well known in Bermondsey and he knew and respected the people and they knew, respected and loved him. Generations of parishioners were fortunate to have his wise counsel and sound advice. He reached out to those and had a special affinity for couples preparing for marriage wanting the best for them and going out of his way to help them in their preparations.
His was a regular presence at clergy gatherings in the diocese and at On-Going Formation events and was always ready to share experiences both good and not so good. He was also a great communicator and many will remember his rendition of the Parable of the Prodigal Son in cockney rhyming slang at one Clergy in Service gathering at Merville a few years ago.
In a letter to Archbishop Peter when he reached 75 years, Canon Michael ended the letter with the following, “It is strange how formalities in earlier life become realities in later life. I have in mind the question put to me on the 18th February 1962 by Cardinal William Godfrey in the chapel of the Venerable English College in Rome, Promittis Pontifici Ordinario tuo et successoribus eius reverentiam et obdeientiam? To which I replied Promitto.
Canon Michael Cooley was a priest of the Archdiocese of Southwark for over 62 years and in those years, he was obedient and respectful to his ordinary and subsequent successors. In a letter to Canon Michael from the present Archbishop, Archbishop John Wilson wrote “You have been a faithful minister of the Gospel, whether as a tutor or as a pastor for 34 years at Melior Street, where you have lived fully the preferential option for the poor. As our Holy Father, Pope Francis wrote in the inclusion of the poor, in a section of his apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, ‘without the preferential option of the poor, the proclamation of the Gospel…risks being misunderstood or submerged’ thank you for being a witness to the Gospel, and thank you for your continued fidelity and ministry at St Peter’s”.
He will be remembered for his great commitment and ministry, his dedication to the poor and to all those on the fringes of the church and society, his pastoral zeal and devotion to his parishioners and those in his care. But most of all for his humility, his gentleness and his kindness. He did so much to show the face of the Risen Jesus to those he ministered too, to preach and teach the words of the Gospel with joy and with conviction.
Canon Michael Cooley, priest of the Archdiocese of Southwark, who died on 19th August aged 85 years and in the 62 year of his priesthood.
May he rest in peace and rise in glory.
