We deeply regret to announce the death of Very Rev. Fr. Egwin (Wilkes), C.P., Rector, which occurred at St. Joseph’s Retreat, Highgate, London, on July 19th. For some months past he had obviously been in failing health, and the illness which immediately preceded his death was of comparatively short duration.
Known in the world as Henry Herbert Wilkes, the late Father Egwin was born in London on January 28th, 1862. At the age of twenty-seven he sought admission to the Passionist Congregation; and having completed his novitiate, he was professed at St. Saviour’s Retreat, Broadway, Worcs. on December 15th, 1888. At the conclusion of his ecclesiastical studies he was raised to the priesthood at St. Anne’s Retreat, Sutton, on September 8th, 1894, by Most Rev. Dr. Whiteside, Archbishop of Liverpool. The occasion, by the way, was noteworthy, as it was the first ordination ever held at Sutton Monastery.
From Harborne Monastery, where he was appointed Vicar in 1900, Fr. Egwin was transferred to the Paris House in Avenue Hoche, where he was a member of the last community to reside there, prior to the expulsion of the Religious Orders from France in 1903. The major portion of hid priestly life was spent at Sutton, where on different occasions he fulfilled several terms as Rector. The present monastery was largely built through the indefatigable labours and untiring energy of Fr. Egwin. Only once was he stationed in Ireland, when from 1911-1914 he held the office of Master of Novices in St. Gabriel’s Retreat, Enniskillen. At different periods he was elected Rector of the Retreats at Broadway, Harborne, Sutton and Highgate. In July 1929, he became Second Consultor in St. Joseph’s Province, and at the time of his death he was Rector of Highgate, where his loss will be keenly felt.
Gifted with a sonorous voice and a fine commanding presence, Fr. Egwin was much in demand for missionary work. He excelled also in giving retreats, and conducted the spiritual exercises for religious communities in many parts of England. Eschewing all flights of fancy and flowers of rhetoric, his lectures were always marked by sound practical commonsense, helped out and enlivened by many an entertaining anecdote or personal reminiscence. Devotion to duty was a prominent characteristic of this true son of the Congregation; without counting the personal cost, he applied himself with the utmost diligence to the punctual discharge of whatever duties obedience had laid upon him. So it was, that even at the end, when he might have pleaded the excuse of failing health or advancing years, he undertook without complaint or murmur, the heavy burden of the Rectorship of Highgate. Of him, it may be well and truly said that he was “faithful unto death.”
On Friday, July 21st, after Solemn Requiem Mass at St. Joseph’s Retreat, Highgate, the interment took place in the private mausoleum of the Retreat.
We regret that in the short time at our disposal, we were unable to obtain a photograph of the deceased for reproduction in The Cross. – R.I.P.
(The Cross, Vol. XXIV, 1933-34; p.159)