Youngest priest to leave

The youngest Catholic priest in the Midlands who has helped swell the congregation at his Wolverhampton church by 40 per cent is being moved by the diocese, leaving his parishioners distraught.

Daredevil clergyman Father James Mealy, aged 33, who qualifies as a skydiving instructor later this year, has helped raise thousands of pounds to mend the roof of St Joseph's Church, Stowheath, and put the social club back on its feet.

The son of publicans in Bearwood, he worked as a cocktail waiter, postman and a manager for coach company National Express before being ordained at the age of 26.

It made him the youngest priest in the Birmingham diocese, which covers the West Midlands, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Oxfordshire, and is a title he still holds.

Fr Mealy is being moved after less than three years due to a shortage of priests in a bigger parish in Coventry. He will not be replaced.

Upset parishioners were planning a demonstration outside the church in Willenhall Road, but have bowed to the request of officials and called it off.

Sheila Mohan, aged 58, of Vaughan Road, Portobello, said: "He will be dearly missed. He is a good and holy man who has brought a lot of people back to the church.

"We were going to hold a meeting and stage a protest because we don't want him to go.

"It doesn't seem fair, but we've accepted he has to go."

Fr Mealy said: "I'll be very sad to go but it's due to lack of personnel. This is a small parish and the diocese has to rationalise its resources.

"I will miss the people here who have been so loving and supportive of me."

Priests from St Mary's and St John's monastic order will say Mass at St Joseph's, but there will be no live-in priest.