Originating in Lancashire, John Baron was educated at St. Francis Xavier Collage in Liverpool, and entered the Jesuit Noviciate in 1916. After a period of military service during the war, he resumed the noviceship in 1919. From 1924 to 1927 he was teaching at a Jesuit school in Malta, and then came back to be ordained in 1930.
In 1932 Fr. Baron went to South Africa, where for seven years he taught in St. Adrian’s Collage, Grahamstown. When he retired to England in 1939 he served on the parish staff at Preston until late in 1940 when he joined the parish staff at Wimbledon.
It was from Wimbledon that Baron became parish priest at Corpus Christi in April 1946. His fifteen years in that post covered initially the difficult post-war period of continuing shortages and other problems, and the more settled fifties, a time of re-adjustment and resettlement.
On his arrival at Corpus Christi Fr. Baron had to re-build the choir which had suffered complete disorganisation due to wartime conditions. Having a pleasant baritone voice, Fr. Baron frequently sang himself as a member of the choir. Later he arranged for the overhaul and rebuilding of the magnificent organ in the church.
Fr. Baron was of a friendly disposition, very approachable and with a sense of humour, although somewhat shy. He was kindly and courteous and able to make everyone give of the best.
On leaving Corpus Christi in September 1961, he joined the Parish staff at St. Aloysius, Oxford.
He later died in December 1972, aged72.
John Young DMA
|
