By John O'Keeffe
BISHOP BERNARD WALL, for 13 years Bishop of Brentwood, died on Friday last week, aged 82. Bishop Casey of Brentwood was the chief concelebrant at Solemn Requiem Mass in St Helen's Cathedral, Brentwood, yesterday. Archbishop Cowderoy of Southwark, in whose diocese Bishop Wall spent many years as a seminary professor preached the panegyric. Bishop Wall was educated at St John's Seminary, Wonersh, the Institut Catholique in Paris and the Collegio Angelicum in Rome. He was ordained in 1918 and became a curate at English Martyrs, Walworth, south-east London.
After further studies in Paris and Rome Dr Wall became Professor of Humanities in Southwark Junior Seminary in 1920. Three years later he became Professor of Dogmatic Theology at St John's, Wonersh.
He was later parish priest at Anertey and Reigate, returning to Wonersh as Rector in 1949 until he was consecrated bishop in 1956.
Canon Martin Hancock, Provost of Brentwood Cathedral Chapter, said of the late Bishop: "He came in place
of Bishop Beck. lie had a distinguished academic career and brought a great interest in theology into the diocese.
A man of reserved nature, Bishop Wall was noted for his
, love of Latin, a trait which Pope Paul referred to as "a sign of nobleness of mind," when sending him greetings on the occasion of his golden jubilee as a a Upon reaching his 75th birthday Bishop Wall tendered his resignation to the Pope and became titular Bishop of Othona.
Following Solemh Requiem Mass at Wonersh today Bishop Wall will be laid to rest at his former seminary.