Fr Matthew Burrows died on Sunday 23 May 2010 at his parents’ home in Winchmore Hill. He was forty-nine years of age and had been a priest of the Diocese for fifteen years. May he rest in peace.

Matthew Burrows was born on 21 February 1961, the elder of two sons of Peter and Joyce Burrows.  He attended St. Paul’s C. of E. Primary School in Winchmore Hill and Bishop Stopford’s School in Enfield. He went on to read theology at Worcester College, Oxford and later completed a PGCE at Kings College, London.  

Following acceptance into the Community of the Resurrection at Mirfield, West Yorkshire, Matthew was ordained in July 1989 and served as curate at St. Mary’s, Hendon, for four years.  Matthew felt called to become a Roman Catholic and was subsequently received into full communion with the Catholic Church at St. Monica’s, Palmers Green and taught at Finchley Catholic High School.

In September 1993 Matthew was accepted as a candidate for the priesthood in the Diocese and studied at Allen Hall.  He was ordained Deacon on 3rd July 1994 in the Cathedral by Bishop Pat O’Donoghue and ordained Priest, on 19th May 1995, at St. Monica’s, Palmers Green, by Cardinal Hume.  He served as Assistant in the parishes of St. John Fisher, North Harrow and Our Lady of Hal, Camden Town.

Matthew left active ministry in 1997 and returned to teaching.  He taught R.E. at Broomfield School in Enfield and was then appointed to teach R.E., Philosophy and Theology at the Greig City Academy in Hornsey where he was a highly respected member of staff.

His Funeral Mass will take place on Tuesday 15 June 2010 at 11am at St. Monica’s Church, Palmers Green.