A SELBY man who served as a priest in the area has died at the age of 82.

The Rev Monsignor Peter McGuire was born in Selby in 1932, and was ordained as a priest in Rome in 1956.

He served in parishes around the Diocese of Leeds, including St Marie’s in Sheffield, St Theresa’s at Cross Gates, and St Anne’s Cathedral. He also served as chaplain to the University of Bradford.

He was parish priest of St Brigid’s, Churwell, until 1981, and was appointed administrator of the cathedral the same year.

Mgr McGuire was staying with friends in the Lancashire village of Parbold when he died unexpectedly but peacefully on Tuesday evening.

A diocese spokesman said: “He was, without doubt, one of the great figures in the history of the cathedral over the past century and more. The death of Mgr Peter McGuire is an occasion of sadness, not to say grief, across the diocese.

“He was truly a faithful servant of the diocese and its people for the best part of 60 years and was held in deep affection by its priests, religious and laypeople. His memory will live long in the history of the diocese and especially in the hearts and minds of all who knew him.”