On 10 July 1976, John Furnival was ordained to the priesthood in his home parish of Holy Family, Southport. Fifty years later, Monsignor John celebrates his Golden Jubilee, marking five decades of faithful service.

Reflecting on the origins of his vocation, Mgr John recalls first feeling called to the priesthood as a young boy.

“It was around the age of seven or eight that I first considered becoming a priest. I followed the traditional route of serving at Mass in my parish. I received a lot of encouragement from my primary school headteacher, and our parish priest, Fr Falkner, was always in and out of the school. He was very supportive of my decision to enter the seminary.”

Mgr John attended seminary at Upholland before being ordained surrounded by family and friends.

“It was very unusual to be ordained in your home parish, but Archbishop Derek Worlock agreed to it. I remember the day very clearly. It was during the long, hot summer of 1976 and it happened to be the same day as The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, so there was a lot of traffic around. Archbishop Worlock was ten minutes late, but we couldn’t start without him!”

After ordination, Mgr John spent time studying in Rome before returning to Liverpool, where Archbishop Worlock invited him to join his staff.

“It was a 24/7 role as I lived in Archbishop’s House, so it didn’t leave much scope for parish work.

“My responsibilities were incredibly varied. I supported the Archbishop in his daily work and accompanied him on visits throughout the archdiocese, it included a lot of driving! It wasn’t the role I expected after seminary, but it gave me invaluable experience and a unique insight into the life of the Church.

“I had not anticipated having the valuable experience and the privilege of working with the Anglican Bishop of Liverpool, Bishop David Sheppard, and the Methodist Superintendent, Dr. John Newton, who with Archbishop Worlock pioneered so much of the ecumenical work in Liverpool and beyond.”

Mgr John remained as the Archbishop’s secretary for almost 20 years, serving Archbishop Worlock and later Archbishop Patrick Kelly for a short period. Among the many highlights of those years, one stands out above all others: the visit of Pope John Paul II to Liverpool in 1982.

“The Pope stayed at our house for one night. That was very unusual, as normally he would stay at the Apostolic Nuncio’s residence in London. Archbishop Worlock was a friend of the Pope’s and persuaded him to stay in Liverpool.

“He had dinner and breakfast with us. Before the visit, we asked his secretary what the Pope would like to eat. He told us that wherever he travelled, the Holy Father usually enjoyed local food. So, we served him a traditional roast lamb dinner with all the trimmings and a full English breakfast the next morning.

“When breakfast was served, the caterers brought out a plate of food for the four of us. Pope John Paul II thought it was all for him and we had to explain that it was for everyone! He certainly had a healthy appetite, although he was maintaining a gruelling schedule throughout the visit.”

One particularly memorable moment came during the Pope’s stay at Archbishop’s House. “The Pope knew that people had gathered outside hoping to catch a glimpse of him. He went upstairs, waved to the crowds and gave them his blessing. It was a very special moment.

“His presence changed the atmosphere of the house forever.”

After nearly two decades as Archbishop’s secretary, Mgr John took a sabbatical, during which he embarked on a very different adventure.

“I served as chaplain on a world cruise aboard the QE2. I was fortunate enough to visit 44 different destinations and meet all sorts of people. It gave me a much broader understanding of human nature and the wider world.”

Following his sabbatical, Mgr John was appointed parish priest of SS Peter and Paul, Crosby, where he has served for almost 30 years.

“The parish in Crosby is very busy. We celebrate lots of baptisms, weddings and funerals. I’m now baptising the children of people whom I baptised years ago.

“One of the great advantages of staying in the same place for so long is that you put down roots. You become part of the community and have the opportunity to make a real difference.”

Embedding schools into parish life has always been close to his heart.

“I make visits to local schools and school Masses a priority because young people are the future of the Church. I’ve just returned from a whole-school Mass at SS Peter and Paul Primary School. There were around 700 people there, including pupils, staff and governors. The children were incredibly enthusiastic and it was a wonderful celebration.”

Looking ahead, Mgr John remains actively involved in shaping the future of parish life.

“I love being part of this parish, and at the moment we are engaged in the pastoral development process, looking ahead and planning for the future.”

As he approaches his 75th birthday at Christmas, the age at which diocesan priests traditionally retire, Mgr John remains open to whatever lies ahead.

“Whatever happens, I hope I can continue to serve the archdiocese in other ways.”

Reflecting on the greatest privilege of priesthood, his answer is immediate.

“It is the ability to bring a spiritual dimension to people’s lives. Today, many people are weighed down by material concerns and the pressures of everyday life.

“Recently, I celebrated eight First Holy Communion Masses and met more than 1,000 people. Through these celebrations, we have the opportunity to sow the seeds of faith and help children appreciate the importance of a spiritual life.”

Pastoral care has always been central to his ministry.

“I also enjoy caring for those who need it most. I am a chaplain at Jospice and, during the Covid pandemic, I developed what I called a ‘gatepost ministry’. I would ring people’s doorbells, step back to the gate and have a conversation with them from a safe distance. Many people were lonely at that time, and it was a simple way of keeping in touch and showing that someone cared.”

Pilgrimage has also played a significant role throughout his priesthood.

“For 20 years I travelled to Lourdes alongside Archbishop Worlock. Our parish has also made annual pilgrimages to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Banneux in Belgium for two decades, and more recently we have undertaken parish pilgrimages to Iona.”

Mgr John celebrated his Golden Jubilee with a Mass of Thanksgiving at SS Peter and Paul Church, Crosby, on 10 July at 7pm. The Mass was celebrated by Archbishop John Sherrington, with Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP, Bishop Tom Neylon, Bishop John Rawsthorne and priests from across the archdiocese concelebrating.

As he reflects on 50 years of priesthood, Mgr John remains deeply grateful for the people who have accompanied him on the journey.

“A priest is nothing without his people. I have been blessed with wonderful support throughout my life - from my family, and from the parish community that has become my family. That support network is essential. I would never have been able to fulfil my vocation without it, and I am very grateful for all the people who have shared this journey with me.”