The Archdiocese of Liverpool was saddened to learn of the death of Canon Leo Stoker. He was 82 years of age, and in his 59th year of priesthood.

Leo Patrick Stoker was born in Southport on 27th December 1943, the son of Joseph and Anne Stoker (née McNulty). He grew up in Holy Family parish, attending the parish primary school, before going on to St Joseph’s College, Upholland, to study for the priesthood. On 8th June 1968, he was ordained priest by Archbishop Beck at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, Liverpool.

Following ordination, Fr Stoker was appointed as an assistant at St Aidan’s, Huyton, where he remained for nearly six years. Archbishop Beck thanked him particularly for his splendid work as chaplain in the parish primary school when, in June 1974, he asked him to move to St Cuthbert’s, Pemberton.

In late 1975, he was invited by Archbishop Beck to enrol on a course at Mount St Anne’s Liturgy Centre, Portarlington, beginning the following autumn. He found this period of study and reflection a very important formative influence for his subsequent priestly ministry.

He returned to the archdiocese in the summer of 1977, and was appointed as assistant at St Anne’s, Liverpool. At the same time, he was appointed to the Department of Pastoral Rites within the Liturgy Commission, a role he fulfilled for the next twenty years. He served as the Commission’s chairman from 1987 and 1997.

In September 1981, he took up his first appointment as parish priest at St Patrick’s, Liverpool.

During his 17-year tenure, in addition of all his pastoral duties, he oversaw a significant reordering of the church. For much of this time he also served as the local dean.  

Always generous in his service of the wider Church, Fr Stoker was appointed as a member of the Archbishop’s Council, and a trustee of the archdiocese, in January 1990, diligently serving in this capacity for the next 17 years. In October 1992, he was appointed an honorary canon by Archbishop Worlock and promoted as a member of the Chapter six years later.

His second appointment as parish priest took him out of the city in 1998, as he moved to Corpus Christi, Rainford, where he devoted himself to the pastoral care of his parishioners for the next 21 years. Just as he had in Liverpool, Canon Stoker served the wider St Helens area for some of this period as local dean.  

Throughout his priestly ministry he always exhibited a great generosity of spirit, willing to serve in whatever way he could with dedication, kindness and unfailing courtesy. He also showed great determination and patience, especially following his stroke in the latter years at Rainford, in continuing to serve his parishioners. In 2019, he retired as parish priest and moved to Alston Court, Ainsdale.

He died early on Friday 19 June 2026.

May he rest in peace.

His funeral details are as follows:

Vigil Mass: Thursday 2 July at 7pm, Corpus Christi Church, Chapel Street, Rainford, WA11 8BY.

Canons of the Cathedral Chapter will lead a celebration of Evening Prayer at 6.30pm.

Requiem Mass: Friday 3 July at 1.15pm, Corpus Christi Church, Chapel Street, Rainford, WA11 8BY.

Archbishop John Sherrington will be the principal celebrant.

Cremation will follow at St Helens’ Crematorium at 3pm.