Obituary – Monsignor Frederick Anthony Miles

Monsignor Frederick Anthony Miles, Prot. Ap.

13 December 1925 – 6 April 2020

A Catholic priest shows that one ‘ of God’s greatest gifts is a sense of humour’ is the subtitle of ‘Milestones’, the memoirs of Monsignor Frederick Anthony Miles, Prot. Ap., published in 2007 when he was 82 years of age. He died aged 95, his longevity the result, in part, of having learnt to enjoy life and all that it brings. Perhaps, when he wrote his memoirs in celebration of 80 years of life, he thought it best that he wrote about himself, the way he wanted his story told, rather than being written about! The back of ‘Milestones’ summarizes Mgr Miles’ life. He ‘ … has always maintained that he was “a miserable child”…Whatever misery –real or imagined – he suffered, he lost it by the age of eleven. From then he has been at the centre of a life packed with good humour and laughter. Catholic priest, schoolmaster, Private Secretary to two Cardinals of Westminster and then Rector of a central London parish, the characters he met along the way have been colourful and diverse, the experiences rich with humour’. Mgr Miles is described as a man of devout faith, great wisdom and intelligence and with an indefatigable sense of fun.

Nearly seventy of Mgr Miles’ 94 years were lived as a priest of the Diocese of Westminster. He was born in Essex on 13 December 1925 to his parents Patrick and Elizabeth who gave birth to six children, Fred being the fifth. His father was a police officer in the Royal Irish Constabulary. He and his wife left Ireland in 1922 to live in Essex. Fred studied for the priesthood at St Edmund’s College, Ware and was ordained in the college chapel on 16 July 1950 by Cardinal Bernard Griffin. Fred Miles seems to have known about his vocation to the priesthood from the age of nine. He had been influenced by his Parish Priest in Braintree, ‘a saint of a man’, he wrote. When aged 12 he was accepted as an ecclesiastical student by Cardinal Arthur Hinsley, Archbishop of Westminster. Fr Miles’ first Mass was celebrated in his home parish of Braintree. Two weeks later he presided at the wedding of his older brother Paddy to Cynthia. Soon after Fr Miles was sent to Christ’s College, Cambridge where his studies in English and History achieved the award Master of Arts.

Life-long friends

While at Cambridge he lived at St Edmund’s House with other prieststudents who became life-long friends. He returned to St Edmund’s College to teach English to senior classes and Latin and French to junior classes, from 1953 to 1966. Fr Miles was an enthusiastic rugby player and readily admitted that his two great loves were God, and rugby. He coached the First XV and he also played and coached tennis, and was in the cricket team. He enjoyed the company of colleagues and they enjoyed his ability to mimic others during times of relaxation and merriment. Staff and students held Fr Miles in awe, and he won the respect and affection of all. He treated everyone fairly and he gave of his best and expected others to do the same. Attentive to his teaching responsibilities and as a House Master, he gave of his best including playing and coaching sport. He trained boys to serve at the altar. Fr Miles’ example of priesthood combining prayer, work and leisure demonstrating commitment and integrity inspired both students and colleagues. He is remembered as being strict but fair. He maintained links with St Edmund’s through service as a Governor from 1984-89 and he served as a Patron of the Edmundian Association.

In 1966 Fr Fred was appointed Private Secretary to the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal John Heenan and then to Cardinal Basil Hume. He described both men as ‘hugely inspirational’. He had a particular connection with Cardinal Heenan – both came from Irish stock and shared the same sense of humour. His next appointment was to St James’, Spanish Place as Rector from 1977 to 1998. These 21 years were the happiest years of his life, he told friends. His rapport with parishioners brought Fr Miles much satisfaction, and the parishioners’ lives were enriched by Fr Fred’s ministry. In 1969 he was appointed Chaplain to His holiness with the title Monsignor, and appointed Protonotary Apostolic in 2002.

Thanksgiving

When he retired from Spanish Place at the age of 73, due to failing eyesight, Mgr Miles went to live at St Peter’s Residence in Vauxhall, run by the Little Sisters of the Poor. He continued as a member of the Metropolitan Chapter of Westminster, as Provost. Despite issues with his eyesight he struggled on, chairing meetings of the Chapter and encouraging the other Canons, never complaining about his condition or looking for sympathy. He stood down from this role at the age of 75. While at St Peter’s he celebrated 65 years of priesthood with a Mass of Thanksgiving in the relatively small chapel with the Sisters and a representation of residents, family, friends and former parishioners, with Cardinal Vincent presiding on 16 July 2015 just five months before Miles’ ninetieth birthday. In his homily the Cardinal remarked that only one event was more important in the history of the Residence – the visit of Pope Benedict XVI in 2010!

Mgr Miles was popular among the residents, and he continued to have visits from family, friends and former parishioners, who were happy to assist him with needs due to macular degeneration and failing mobility. Mgr Miles’ kindness and appreciation for other people earned him the respect of all. He saw the good in people and situations, and maintained his dignity as the years advanced. He was always well turned out, dressing impeccably whether in a suit, cassock or casual attire.

In 2014 Mgr Miles wrote for the magazine produced by the Little Sisters of the Poor with a brief summary of his life. ‘…there has never been a moment when I doubted the decision and choice I made at the age of 9. I have been hugely blessed in the inspirational people I have met along the way…I cannot imagine living any other sort of life but that of a priest and I thank God for the gift of faith and of life.’

Mgr Miles died peacefully at home in St Peter’s Residence on 6 April 2020. His graveside funeral took place on 28 April at St Mary’s Cemetery, Kensal Green with Bishop Nicholas Hudson presiding.

Mgr Martin Hayes (Reproduced with permission)

Gordon Dimon offers his own memories of this great priest

I first met Monsignor Frederick Miles when I was a music student and organist at St Aloysius Church Somers Town. Cardinal Heenan came to celebrate Mass and Monsignor, at that time his secretary, came with him. It was intended that at the end we would sing the Te Deum. However I was unsure whether the PP, Fr Welland, had spoken to the Cardinal about this and so I spoke to Monsignor who sorted everything out.

Later when Basil Hume became Archbishop of Westminster, Mrs Sue Coote, the then Secretary of the LMS, approached him about the possible provision of a Sunday Old Rite Mass in the diocese. The Cardinal agreed and decided that it should be at St James’ Spanish Place where Monsignor had recently become Rector. He was to be the celebrant and Sue suggested I should become the regular server.

On the first Sunday that I was to serve, the sacristan had very kindly set everything out on the altar, including the missal open on its stand. I had fixed, not to say even intransigent, views about ceremonies and customs and mentioned to Monsignor somewhat nervously that it would be better for the server to take the missal in at the beginning of the Mass. Monsignor simply replied ‘as you wish’. When the Mass was over he asked if I had noticed any mistakes he might have made. He often asked me this. It was very important that everything was correct. If I mentioned a mistake on my own part he said not to be so hard on myself.

On one occasion after Mass he mentioned that though the church had a set of the special rose coloured vestments, worn only on two Sundays in the year, it lacked a suitable rose coloured tabernacle veil and fall for the benediction throne. I said airily that I did not imagine it would be a difficult task to make them and he agreed. But what a mistake. He then suggested that I might like to try and see if I could do it myself. I had no idea on how to use my mother’s old sewing machine so I had to find needle and thread and just get started. But Monsignor was pleased with the results and they are still in use.

O n another occasion he asked me why at a Sunday Low Mass the congregation stood for the Creed but the server knelt. I explained that this was a permitted custom but contrary to the rubrics and thus not extended to the server. In my enthusiasm I waxed eloquent about similar other customs which he found very amusing.

When he celebrated his last Tridentine High Mass at Spanish Place on the feast of the Holy Name of Mary in 1998 the LMS presented him with cheque for £900. A few days later he sent me a letter saying he was overwhelmed by the LMS members’ generosity and asked me to thank them.

In Monsignor’s joyous little book ‘Milestones’ he mentions his delight in the language of Chaucer’s Pilgrims Progress. Chaucer had very little time for most of the clergy of his day but says this of the Poor Priest.

There is nowhere a better priest,

I trow.

He had no thirst for pomp or reverence,

But Christ’s own lore and his apostles’ twelve

He taught, but first he followed it himself.

Monsignor was to me simply the finest priest I have ever met in my life. Laus Deo semper.