Valentine Chisholm
(Western District) Born in Strathglass, 5th May 1817, the son of John Chisholm and Margaret McRae; ordained a priest, 26th March 1842, and left for Scotland, 16th April 1842; priest in charge of St. John’s, Glasgow, 1855-82; died in Bridge of Allan, 28th October 1882.
|
 |
Civil records show that Valentine Chisholm left an estate of £786 3s 11d when he died. It was left to Roderick, John and Alexander Chisholm.
Obituary of Valentine Chisholm in the Scottish Catholic Directory of 1883.
Pray for the soul of the Rev. Valentine Chisholm, who died at Bridge of Allan on the 28th October, 1882, in the 66th year of his age, and the 41st of his priesthood.
The death of the Rev. V. Chisholm, Dean of St. John’s Conference, cast a gloom over the Catholic Community of Glasgow. The oldest Priest in the City, and one of the oldest in the Archdiocese, he had long occupied a prominent place and was held in respect by all. By his own people of St. John’s, and a very wide circle of personal friends, he was greatly loved and esteemed. His loss is deeply mourned over by all and will long be felt.
Mr. Chisholm was born in Strathglass on 5th May, 1817. From his earliest years he felt that he was called to the ecclesiastical state; and after due application had been made, he was admitted to St. Mary’s College, Blairs, in November, 1830. After two years spent in the study of the classics, he was sent in the summer of 1833 to continue his studies in the Scots College, Valladolid. Here he passed the nine following years. During his whole life he often referred with a feeling of singular affection to the time he had spent in Spain. Indeed, scarcely two hours before his death he was talking, with a smile on his countenance, of his yet paying a long-promised visit to his Alma Mater as soon as he should recover. The last two years of his course he studied partly under a very distinguished Professor of Theology, who had taken refuge in the Scots College after being driven by the revolution from one of the great Franciscan Convents of the City. This Professor spoke of him for many years afterwards as one who had distinguished himself by his abilities and acquirements, both in his classes and in defending his theological theses. Mr. Chisholm was ordained Priest and returned home in the summer of 1842. He was at once appointed to the mission of Glengarry, which had just become vacant by the removal of the Rev. A. Gillis to the island of Eigg. The young Priest found a new Church and presbytery just erected for his mission. Through the generosity of the late Mr. Menzies, of Pitfoddels, Bishop Scott was enabled to erect several Churches in the Highlands; and one of them, at Fort Augustus, was intended to serve the mission of Glengarry. For ten years Mr. Chisholm laboured zealously in this poor and scattered mission. At length, early in 1852, he was called to Glasgow and placed as assistant at St. Mary’s. In October of the same year, Bishop Murdoch, who had a high opinion of his business abilities, took him to St. Andrew’s to act as secretary to himself and senior assistant in the Church. On the return to St. Andrew’s of Dr. Murdoch’s Coadjutor, Bishop Smith, Mr. Chisholm was sent for a short time to assist the Rev. Arch. Chisholm at St. Mungo’s. For some months, also, he was along with the Rev. P. Hanley at the newly-formed mission of St. Patrick’s.
At length in September, 1855, Mr. Chisholm was appointed to the important charge of St. John’s. The field was large and afforded ample scope for his zeal and administrative ability. The Catholic population of the parish could not have been less than 10,000 souls; yet the Church of St. John ‘s barely accommodated 500 sitters. School accommodation was equally defective; Mr. Chisholm set himself steadily to the task of remedying this state of things. After much labour and many sacrifices he had the happiness of seeing his efforts crowned with success by the erection, commenced in 1858, of his large and handsome schools in Warwick Street, and in 1861 by the completion of changes and additions to the Church which added 700 sittings to the accommodation. To accomplish these works a heavy debt had to be contracted, but by perseverance and careful management he cleared off the best portion of the burden two years before his death. The rapid growth of Glasgow on the south side of the Clyde rendered it necessary to open new missions from time to time in the old parish of St. John’s. Thus Govan was established as a separate mission in 1861. Next, in 1868, the eastern portion of the parish was cut off and put in charge of the Franciscan Fathers; and again, in 1874, Mr. Chisholm after long and tedious negotiations succeeded in obtaining a site for a fourth mission, in the district of Kinning Park. The last work which he undertook was the building and opening of the beautiful Chapel-School at Crosshill, thus forming another offshoot from his original charge. He visited this school on the 11th October, showing all his old interest in the progress of the children. It was his last act of parochial duty. He returned home much exhausted, but refused to take to his bed. Two or three days afterwards, by the advice of his physician, he was taken to Bridge of Allan. In the comparative solitude of this place he gave himself up almost entirely to his devotions. For a day or two he seemed to revive somewhat, but early on the morning of the 28th October, without giving any symptom of immediate change, he suddenly expired.
Mr. Chisholm suffered much for months before he died. But he tried to conceal his sufferings, and thus till the last day of his life he met his friends with expressions of cheerfulness and hope. He was of a retiring disposition. He shrank from public display but loved much to see his friends at home, and had always an open house and a hearty welcome for them. He was a man of great but unostentatious piety, homely and kind among his people; and the depth of feeling shown by the congregation of St. John’s at his death and funeral told how powerful was the hold he had on their affections. He was persuaded several years ago to take a place at the Glasgow School Board. Although this was not a post of his own choice, he discharged its duties faithfully, commanding alike the approbation of his constituents and the respect of every member of the Board.
The funeral service took place on 31st October, in St. John’s, which was crowded in every part with a sorrowing congregation. Nearly all the Priests of Glasgow and the surrounding districts assisted, as well as many from a distance. Solemn Requiem Mass coram Archipiscopo was sung by the Rev. Dr. Munro, and the funeral oration was preached by Dean Carmichael. Absolutions were sung by His Grace the Archbishop, assisted by an efficient Gregorian choir, and the remains of the lamented Dean Chisholm were then conveyed to the Catholic Cemetery at Dalbeth.