It is with regret that we inform you of the death on the 11th day of January, 2022 in Herbert House, Liverpool, aged 87, of

Father Julian Wild

Mill HIll Missionary

May he rest in peace

Julian Wild was born on the 3rd of April, 1934 in the small town of Easington in the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle in the North-East of England. He was born into a family of four other children, three sisters and one brother. His father was Thomas Wild, and his mother was Sarah Veronica Wild, nee Leavy.

After completing his Primary Education in a local school, Julian progressed to Saint Aiden’s Grammar School in Sunderland. Convinced of a call to become a Missionary Priest, he transferred school to Burn Hall in Durham (1950-1952). Upon completion of his High School studies, he was promoted to study Philosophy and associated subjects at our missionary college in Roosendaal, Holland (1952-1954). The final stages of his preparation for priesthood took place at Saint Joseph’s College, Mill Hill, London UK (1954-1958). He took the Perpetual Oath to God in our Society on the 6th of May, 1957. Little over a year later, he was ordained a Priest on the 13th of July, 1958 in the Chapel of St. Joseph’s College.  Julian’s academic abilities were recognised, when he received his First Appointment to further studies at the University of Durham. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History (Hons) in 1961.

Almost immediately after graduation, Julian was appointed to work in Kenya. He was to spend the next 47 years of his life there. During his time there, he worked in parishes, schools and colleges, at Mukumu, Misikhu, Yala, Siriba, Eregi and Kaplong. He also taught and acted as Chaplain in Kericho Girls School, Kaplong Boys Secondary School, Kipsigys Girls High School and Cardinal Otunga High School. He was for a time headmaster at Kaplong Boys School. He was also a teacher for a time in Kericho Teacher Training College. Julian certainly used his further studies to great effect in Kenya, touching the lives of so many young people and made a valuable contribution to education in Kenya. Before leaving Kenya, Julian was Chaplain to the Lwak Sisters, an appointment both the Sisters and he enjoyed. Julian had an opportunity in 1984 to participate in a renewal course at Nemi, near Rome.

Latterly in his years in Kenya, Julian’s health was not so great. He had difficulties walking and his eye sight was failing. So, in 2008 he was appointed to retirement at Herbert House, Liverpool. Remarkably, even before he entered retirement, he made arrangements to further his studies again! This time, he had his heart set on following a Masters Degree course in Pastoral Theology; a course he could use his many years as a missionary in East Africa as an invaluable resource. He graduated MA in late 2011 and was highly commended for graduating in his late 70’s, one of the oldest graduates the Maryvale Institute has ever had. As his body began to show signs of wear, Julian grew ever more frustrated at his inability to walk and his failing eye sight. Even with the assistance of a specialist magnifying machine, he could no longer read. He found some pleasure in audio books, which the local library provided for free. Some months ago, Julian became bed-bound and highly dependent on the care of Sr. Anne and the Care Staff at Herbert House. He died peacefully at Herbert House in the late afternoon of the 11th of January. Julian’s remains will be received into the Chapel of Herbert House on Thursday the 20th of January at 4.00.pm. The Requiem Mass will be on Friday the 21st at 10.00.am followed by burial in our private cemetery close by to Herbert House.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.