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New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 20, 14 May 1903, Page 27
DEATH OF A PRIEST
General regret was felt by all Lancashire Catholics when the death was announced of the Very Rev. Canon Morrissey, of Burnley. Canon was born in Manchester, and was ordained in 1875. His first curacy was St. Mary’s, Burnley, under the late Canon Rimmer, to which he was appointed early in 1876. He remained at St. Mary’s ever since. Canon Rimmer died in 1891, and Father Morrissey succeeded him as rector. His ministry in Burnley was marked by much activity. Costly new schools had been built, St. Mary’s Church freed from debt, and at the jubilee two years ago the fabric was restored. Two mission churches had also been built-St. Mary Magdalen’s, Gannow, and St. John’s Burnley Lane. When Father Morrissey went to Burnley there was only one Catholic parish; now there are five. Two years ago, at the silver jubilee of his priesthood, Canon Morrissey was presented with a purse containing 300 guineas in recognition of his valuable and devoted ministry in Burnley. Father Morrissey expended the money on stained-glass window at St. Mary’s in memory of his predecessor, Canon Rimmer. For 23 years Canon Morrissey represented the Catholic interests on the Burnley School Board.