Joseph Masterson
Introduction


**Joseph Masterson** (29 January 1899 – 30 November 1953\) was an [English](/wiki/United_Kingdom "United Kingdom") Roman Catholic Clergyman and sometime [Archbishop of Birmingham](/wiki/Archbishop_of_Birmingham "Archbishop of Birmingham").

Masterson was born in [Ardwick](/wiki/Ardwick "Ardwick"), [Manchester](/wiki/Manchester "Manchester"), England, the son of William Masterson, an Irish immigrant shopkeeper and his wife Celia. From 1910, he was educated at the [Xaverian College](/wiki/Xaverian_College "Xaverian College"), Rusholme until January 1915 when he was accepted as a student of the Diocese of Salford and continued his studies for a term at [St Bede's College, Manchester](/wiki/St_Bede%27s_College%2C_Manchester "St Bede's College, Manchester"), then at [Douai School](/wiki/Douai_School "Douai School") where he was captain of [cricket](/wiki/Cricket "Cricket") and [football](/wiki/Association_football "Association football").

He was ordained a priest on 27 July 1924 at the Cenacle Convent, Manchester. Following ordination he studied for two years at the English College, Rome. Returning to England in 1926 Fr Masterson served nine years as curate at [St Mary's, Mulberry Street, Manchester](/wiki/The_Hidden_Gem "The Hidden Gem"), then five years as curate at The English Martyrs, [Whalley Range](/wiki/Whalley_Range%2C_Manchester "Whalley Range, Manchester"). In 1940 he was appointed Parish Priest at St. Mary's of The Angels and St. Clare, [Levenshulme](/wiki/Levenshulme "Levenshulme").

He was elevated Archbishop of Birmingham on 8 February 1947 and was installed on 19 March 1947\. His principal consecrator was [Cardinal Bernard Griffin](/wiki/Bernard_Griffin "Bernard Griffin"), co\-consecrators [Bishop of Salford](/wiki/Bishop_of_Salford "Bishop of Salford") [Henry Vincent Marshall](/wiki/Henry_Vincent_Marshall "Henry Vincent Marshall") and [Bishop of Soli](/wiki/Bishop_of_Soli "Bishop of Soli") [Humphrey Bright](/wiki/Humphrey_Bright "Humphrey Bright"). On 15 June 1952 he spoke at a [Family Prayer Crusade Rally](/wiki/Family_Rosary_Crusade "Family Rosary Crusade") held at [Aston Villa football ground](/wiki/Villa_Park "Villa Park") alongside [Rev. Patrick Peyton](/wiki/Patrick_Peyton "Patrick Peyton"), [Prof. Thomas Bodkin](/wiki/Thomas_Bodkin "Thomas Bodkin") and Ken Mackey.

Masterson died in office on 30 November 1953, aged 54, at Archbishop's House in [Edgbaston](/wiki/Edgbaston "Edgbaston"). He received a [Requiem Mass](/wiki/Requiem_Mass "Requiem Mass") on 6 December 1953, presided over by [Cardinal Griffin](/wiki/Bernard_Griffin "Bernard Griffin"), ahead of burial at [St Mary's College, Oscott](/wiki/St_Mary%27s_College%2C_Oscott "St Mary's College, Oscott").


Where did Joseph Masterson speak at a Family Prayer Crusade Rally?