One of Glasgow’s longest-serving priests has died, after over 70 years of ministry. Fr John Chalmers, who was 95 years old, died just days after his fellow nonagenarian Fr Des Broderick.

Fr Chalmers, a native of Glasgow’s West End was ordained back in 1952 by Archbishop Campbell after studying for the priesthood at St Sulpice in Paris and the Scots College in Rome.

He was awarded a Doctorate in Canon Law at the Gregorian University in 1954 and that year returned to Glasgow to begin a lifetime of service across the Archdiocese.

He was initially assigned to be a curate at St Mary's Pollokshaws, but after a few months was sent to the Gorbals, where, from 1954 -1971 he was Assistant Priest at St John's Portugal Street, during which time he also served as a Notary in the Archdiocesan Tribunal.

His training in Canon Law was put to good use for the next decade, as from 1970 – 1982 he was Vice Officialis of the National Tribunal while residing and serving as Assistant Priest at Our Lady and St Margaret's in Kinning Park.

In 1980 the then-Archbishop Winning gave him his first parish, appointing him Parish Priest at St Charles' Kelvinside, a post he held until 1993. Next, he was made PP at St Simon's Partick, and Chaplain to Yorkhill Sick Children's Hospital and Queen Mother Maternity Hospital, posts he held for a decade until he retired in 2003.

He died peacefully in the care of the Sisters of Nazareth, fortified by the rites of Holy Church.

The Reception of Fr John’s remains will be at Our Lady of Lourdes 6th May at 6pm

Funeral Mass 7th May at 12 noon.

Burial thereafter to St Conval’s, Barrhead.

Requiescat in pace