Fr Walsh was born in Chester and educated at Queens Park High School. His first degree is in Geography and Religious Studies from Chester College, affiliated to Liverpool University. He trained for the priesthood at Lincoln Theological College obtaining an honours degree in Theology from Nottingham University.
Fr Walsh was ordained at Sheffield Cathedral by The Rt. Rev'd David Lunn. After Ordination, Fr Walsh served his title at S. Wilfred Cantley, which is a leading Parish in the Catholic Renewal Movement. His second curacy was in the busy market town Parish of S Chad, Poulton le Fylde. Fr Walsh was Incumbent of the Parish of S. Stephen on the Cliffs in Blackpool from 1995-2003.
S. Stephen's is part of the Prayer Book Catholic tradition. As Incumbent, Fr Walsh had particular responsibility in building up the Church in worship, mission and pastoral care. Alongside this missionary work, the community of the Church began a massive programme to repair the church building to enable it to be more welcoming to visitors and tourists. The family of the Church raised just under half a million pounds in three years.
In 2003 Fr Walsh became Rector of Chester, a Minor Canon of Chester Cathedral and a Senior Selector for Ordinands in Chester. As Rector, he helped the members of the Team Parish come to a fresh vision of the nature of the Church in the City. This vision eventually saw the dissolution of the Team Parish. After the separation of the Team Fr Walsh became the first Vicar of the recreated Parish of S Oswald, Chester. The recreation of the ancient Parish of S Oswald, with its Parish Church dedicated to S Thomas of Canterbury, meant that once again there is a strong Anglo-Catholic Parish in the City of Chester.
As Parish Priest of S. Oswald’s Fr Walsh is working closely with the University of Chester to establish clear links with the local student population. These links have led to the creation of The Nine O’clock Service, which is a fresh expression of the Church. The Service is held each Sunday evening in Term time and is a peaceful reflective Communion. The family of the Church are also reaching out to work with the vibrant Garden Quarter Community. These links have seen the Church increasingly involved in music and drama events. The Church is blessed with a wonderful Aided Church School.
Fr Walsh is 42 years old and has been divorced. He has two children aged 16 and 14 who live in Lancashire. Fr Walsh has recently remarried and he and his wife take an active part in the life of Church and the local community.
Among his interests in the church Fr Walsh lists:
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Membership of the confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament |
Membership of the Society of Mary |
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Membership of the Prayer Book Society |
Priest Associate of the Church Union |
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Priest Associate of the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham |
Member of Forward in Faith |
In addition, some of his hobbies include:
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Membership of the Exmoor Society |
Membership of the National Trust |
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Membership of English Heritage |
Historical reading and research |