St Joseph's Parish, Tadcaster

Previous Parish Priest

Fr John Newman - Parish Priest 2016-2021                     

Fr John Newman became Parish Priest of St Joseph's, Tadcaster in September, 2016 .  He is a Grimsby lad by birth and upbringing and thus describes himself as a Lincolnshire missionary to Yorkshire!  The Bishop of Leeds, William Gordon Wheeler,  received Fr John into the Catholic Church in his late teens at Woodhall Carmel.  After studies and formation at Ushaw College, Durham, he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Leeds on 11th July, 1981 at the age of 26 years.  Bishop Wheeler was granted permission to ordain Fr John at his home parish church of St Mary on the Sea, Grimsby which is in the Diocese of Nottingham.  He has therefore spent the whole of his adult life,  from formation in seminary and as a priest,  in the service of the Lord and his people in the Diocese of Leeds.

After service as a deacon in St Cuthbert's, Bradford, Fr John’s priestly ministry began at Christ the King, Bramley, Leeds and then St Mary's parish, Batley . He concluded his time as a curate at St Theresa's, Crossgates, Leeds. He had two consecutive 13-year assignments as a parish priest at St Bernard's, Halifax and at St Joseph's, Bradford, respectively.

Whilst at St. Joseph's Fr John didn't live alone in the Presbytery – as he was kept busy with his two sibling border collies, Dom and Isla. They enjoyed walks along the banks of the river Wharfe and surreptitious treats from parishioners without their owner knowing!

Fr John left St. Joseph's to continue his ministry in the Vale of Clwyd in Wales, and we wish him every blessing and thank him for his ministry in Tadcaster.