A CATHOLIC priest who served two churches in Darwen for 20 years has died.

Father Anthony Barrett, 80, died at McAuley Mount Care Home in Padiham.

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During his 57 years of priesthood he served as an assistant priest at St Joseph’s RC Church, from 1968 to 1978, and a parish priest at Sacred Heart and St Edward’s RC Church from 1996 to 2006.

Tributes have been paid to Fr Barrett, who has left behind his two surviving siblings David and Tom Barrett.

David said that being a priest was all Fr Barrett ever wanted to do.

He said: “I will remember my brother for his sense of humour for sure, which was sometimes a bit dry.

“He was always talking to people, he would speak to anyone and was a very positive person.

“The church meant so much to him and he always said that the church was his family and his second family was us.

“He always wanted to be a priest.

“He was a caring person and he will be sadly missed by so many people.”

When he wasn’t working, Fr Barrett loved watching Blackburn Rovers and reading.

In between being a priest in Darwen, Fr Barrett, who was born in Blackburn, served at St Michael’s Church in Ancoats, St Peter’s Church and St Agnes Church in Middleton and St Mary’s Church in Radcliffe.

He went to school at St Alban’s RC Primary School in Blackburn before going onto study at St Bede’s College in Manchester.

Frank Davis, a regular at Sacred Heart and St Edwards, said: “He was always walking about with his Blackburn Rovers scarf on.

“I liked his sense of humour even when others couldn’t tell when he was joking sometimes.”

A spokeswoman for the Diocese of Salford said: “It is with sadness that we learned his death. He was a much loved diocese member.” and will be dearly missed.

“May he rest in peace