A BURY-born priest has died at the age of 63.

Father Michael Walsh, parish priest at St Paul’s Church in Guide Bride, Ashton-under-Lyne, suffered a suspected heart attack earlier this month.

A requiem mass took place at the same church last Wednesday and was conducted by the Bishop of Salford, the Right Rev Terence Brain.

Born in Bury in November 1944, Father Walsh was baptised at St Joseph’s in the town. He attended Guardian Angels primary school and then Thornleigh College, Bolton.

He was accepted as an ecclesiastical student in June, 1961, and began his studies at St Bede's College before transferring to Ushaw College, Durham, in 1963. He was ordained to the priesthood at Guardian Angels, Bury, in March 1969 . He served the diocese at St Peter’s, Middleton, St James’, Pendleton, Our Lady and St Paul’s, Heywood, and St Joseph’s, Longsight. He later became the chaplain to Xaverian Sixth Form College.

In 1986, he became parish priest at St Willibrord’s, Clayton, before moving to St Paul’s 17 years ago. He was a trustee of the Salford Roman Catholic Diocesan Trust, a member of the Diocesan Board of Administration and was dean of St. Teresa of Avila Deanery.

He is survived by his mother, three brothers and a sister.