A Personal Conversation with Bishop Kieran Conry
Running behind schedule, Bishop Kieran rushed into the meeting room at DABCEC full of apologies, but quickly settled into a personal interview on himself “The Man Behind the Mitre”. The door was closed and we got down to business.
You were born at a very young age in Coventry.
Gladly, the Bishop’s well known humour had not left him. Yes, I was very young when I was born and the event happened on 1st February 1951.
What were your earliest memories?
I think I was less than 5 years old and my mother was ironing and I could hear a clock ticking somewhere in the background. Our Coventry house was a very happy one and a place where I felt a great deal of freedom and safety.
Where does the Conry clan come from?
Both my parents were Irish – my father from County Roscommon and my mother from County SligoI still go back to see the vast array of Conrys in Ireland and I also have a strong connection to my family in the States, where I visit whenever time allows.
What of your family? Do you have brothers and sisters?
Yes, I was brought up in a predominantly male household with four other brothers. I was the second eldest and, as such, it taught me a high degree of self-survival!
Becoming a priest may not be the first thought of every young man. What made you take this route in your life?
I did consider a number of professions when I was young, but I had a role model in Fr John Galcius in Coventry, who really was the one to give me the encouragement to follow the priesthood. This feeling kept on returning to me time after time. I understand it is one of the few paths people make early decisions about. The others seem to be medicine, law and the armed forces.
Looking back over your life as a priest you do not appear to have been in a parish for very long.
No, that’s not quite right. I have been parish priest 3 times – at Leek, Staffordshire, St Austin’s in Stafford and, don’t forget, I was also parish priest at St Chad’s Cathedral.
Did you expect to become Bishop?
Absolutely not! I remember that I was driving across Putney Heath when my phone rang. “This is the Papal Nuncio. I want you to come and see me tomorrow. However, I am very busy so it will have to be a quick meeting”
Still managing to keep on the road after this shock announcement, I hesitantly suggested that I might come over to Wimbledon Common to see him right away as I was only a couple of miles away.
What happened next and were you given choice?
Well, after a short interview I left the Papal Nuncio’s residence in somewhat of a daze. I was committed to Papal Secrecy until all the formalities had been completed, so I could not tell my mother, my family, fellow priests or friends for some days. My four hour drive back to Stafford was very long indeed. The actual appointment is made from Rome and not England.
Was I given choice? Well, no not really. I was told at the interview that 50 references had been taken up to make sure that this Fr Conry did not have a dark side to him and that I would be a good fit for the post. I could not let all these people down who had faith in me and I felt this was something the Lord had mapped out for me.
…..and the next step?
That was also slightly strange as, when I could say something of this great event, I was told to ring this priest in A & B who had been holding the fort since the departure of Cardinal Cormac. So I rang Monsignor Canon John Hull and I remember his words still to this day “I’ve been waiting for your call”.
It wasn’t until later I found out that he was waiting for a call, but did not know who it was going to be.
Is there “The Good Bishop Training Guide”?
No, definitely not! I did end up in Rome on a bishop’s training course, but my fellow bishops-in-waiting came from all over the world and had quite different needs. When we said our goodbyes it was generally agreed that we would have to learn on the job!
Did your first solo as Bishop give you the hebbie-gebbies?
It was vespers at Worth. No, I was very fortunate that the welcome was so over-whelming that my fears just melted away. This feeling of warmth has followed me around the Diocese from my ordination on 9th June 2001 to this day.
As an aside, I remember when I first talked to Cardinal Cormac about my elevation he said, “Well, Kieran, if you have to be a bishop, there is no better place than Arundel and Brighton”. He was absolutely right and every day I marvel at the beauty of the land, and the divergence and quality of those would live and work in the Diocese.
There was an interesting article in the Daily Telegraph on your (then) pending move from St Joseph’s Hall, Storrington. Was this a difficult decision to make?
It was a magnificent house with vast gardens and an orchard – quite different to my London accommodation on the South Circular which I had just left, where every heavy lorry rocked the place. The Hall was becoming increasingly difficult to manage and very expensive to maintain.
Before I arrived I know Cardinal Cormac had been trying to sell the property for a number of years and I have always thought that it sent out the wrong message to the less privileged in my care. Actually, the Boss was very pleased with the result – it became the home to a family with enough money to return the estate to its former glory.
Strangely, the story in the Daily Telegraph did not help to sell the property at all as it was sold on the internet for the asking price of £2m. Before you get any wrong ideas, the money went straight to the Diocese and not to me!
In your first few weeks as Bishop you celebrated Mass one Sunday at St Mary of the Angels, Worthing and informed the congregation that you were their new Bishop only at the final blessing. This informal and unassuming style follows you around today.
You must remember that I am a priest, first and foremost, and a Bishop second. The story is true and, quite clearly, I was there as a replacement in the absence of the parish priest.
Has this “no fuss” style created any humorous incidents?
Most definitely!
Not long ago I was talking to a mother of a newly confirmed young man at the reception after the service. “So father, which parish do you come from?” Up to this point, the conversation had been quite relaxed and informal. “All of them” I replied. “No father, you did not understand my question, which parish do you come from?”Again I replied “All of them”. The look on the mother’s face was a picture to behold, when suddenly she realised she was talking to her Bishop.
When it comes to cooking, are there staff to run around after you, or do you just dive into the freezer?
You must be joking! I do not have staff to cook for me and, actually, it is one way I relax after a heavy day. I tend to cook a batch of some thing and then freeze some for later use. I do try to avoid buying any prepared food and, so far, I do not recall poisoning anybody!
What about time off?
A regular day off is not part of my agenda, but I do try and save up some time to have longer breaks. Holidays are a necessary part of my life. Often I go away with my family, although the prospect of taking two whole weeks off together does give me withdrawal symptoms! Also, I’m quite happy to spend time on my own.
I can’t really say that I have any hobbies like golf or stamp collecting, although I do enjoy visits to Brands Hatch. I have been to watch Henry Arundel (yes, the one from the castle!) and I do like to see the cars rather than the actual racing.
What makes you sad?
Quite simply it is greed and the poor use of resources. I am very saddened by the way some parts of society rely totally on commercialism and the way people have the need to spend, spend and spend.
I am saddened when I meet someone who has never been given the insight to the Lord and our Faith. This insight can lead to the fulfilment of their life and fill the gaps they might mistakenly feel would opened up if they turned away from their lifestyle.
Strangely enough, this makes me feel more saddened than if someone has had the insight to the Lord and our Faith, and then turned away to another life. To never know is very sad indeed.
What makes you happy?
One definite pleasure is the rapport I get when visiting schools and colleges. It is the vitality and enthusiasm the students have for life and for others.
On this subject, I was at a school the other day in the Diocese and I innocently asked the question “Can you sum up in 3 words what you think of the older generation?” Quick as a flash, back came the reply from one bright spark “Boring, bossy and grumpy”. It’s the last time I’ll ask that question!
If you had not become a priest, what would you have done with your life?
Quite likely I would have followed something in the medical profession, as I have always had a high regard for those who care for others. Having said this, I’ve just remembered that my science exam results may have excluded me from this vocation!
Any thoughts on what you might like to achieve in the future?
I just want to do the very best for my people. The Lord and my Diocesan family will lead me into the future.
Well, time was against us. No doubt the conversation could have gone on for another hour or more, but the polite clearing of throats was audible outside our meeting room. It was “goodbye” and the Shepherd left to administer to his flock, some of whom were already forming an orderly queue in the corridor.
We are much blessed to have Kieran Thomas Conry as our Fourth Bishop of the Diocese of Arundel & Brighton.
Peter Burholt
