Obituary Notice
This obituary notice has been digitally processed from a scanned archival document. Some words may be imperfectly rendered.
Fr. MICHAEL Myerscough (1920-1998) FR MICHAEL MYERSCOUGH (1920-1998) Not many PASSIONISTS can have heard a famous international football coach say of him that he might have a future in the top flight of professional football. The goalkeeping ability of Fr MICHAEL MYERSCOUGH was thus recognised before World War II; but the Lord had other plans for that safe pair of hands. Michael was born Francis Myerscough in Burnley, Lancashire, on 29 September 1920, and educated at the local grammar school, whose school song ’Jerusalem’ was always one of his favourites.Entering the Novitiate in 1938 after a year in the then minor seminary in Ormskirk, he was professed a Passionist on 15 October 1939 and began the course of study which led him on to priestly ordination on 28 April 1945. During his novitiate and studentate Michael was always the rubrical oracle consulted by his class-mates, who sought to be set right about knotty questions of precedence among such dignitaries as archbishops, bishops, canons, domestic prelates... and other matters of moment. . His musical ability was also recognised and he was a mainstay in the students’ choir under the (very) discerning ear and eye of Fr Sebastian Shearer, for whom he was a regular soloist. In these years he developed a love of Gregorian chant and broadened his rubrical expertise into the wider fields of the liturgy, on which he became an authority, recognised as such in the Society of St Gregory, where he was a firm friend and follower of Mgr James Crichton. After ordination, Michael was posted to various houses in England and Wales. For many years he taught our students his own love for the liturgy and music in general; his rendering of the "EXULTET?’ was regarded by those who heard it as voicing the triumph of the Resurrection. Nor was his activity confined to teaching. He was also busy in the field of missions and retreats Over many years; and was still active in supply work up to a few weeks before his death after a short illness on the 17 April 1998. He had a spell as vice-rector in the minor seminary at Ormskirk which he had attended as a boy, and coupled these duties with further teaching.Later he was appointed Rector and parish priest in our Herne Bay parish, where he was kept busy in serving the people and raising the standard of musical awareness.
/FR MICHAEL MYERSCOUGH,C.P. R.LP. page 2. But to speak. only of his external apostolate would be to miss out on his genuine devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and his sincere love for our Blessed Lady. He was tireless in his efforts for the sick in Lourdes, where he so often went on pilgrimage and where he was recognised as a leading figure, especially among the Birmingham pilgrims. His piety (to use a much maligned word) was of the simple, from- the-heart kind; his loyalty to his brethren, the Congregation, our Holy Founder and the Passionist saints was constant. Like every one of us he had his faults... taciturnity could not be numbered among those...and he was always glad to be among his brethren, regaling them with anecdotes...and anecdotes... and anecdotes... And now he has gone. More than 30 priests attended his requiem and burial in Sutton on the 23 April. The angels singing around the heavenly throne had better not presume on their experience; Michael will be listening. The province has lost someone who set high standards of liturgical and musical excellence. and who lived up to them himself through 33 years of priesthood and almost 60 years of Passionist life. May he rest in peace.
Source: Obituary Notices, Provincial Archive, St Joseph's Province. Passionist Congregation.