Battock, George W.

George W. Battock (1892-1984), Catholic priest, was born at Brigus South, District of Ferryland, Newfoundland, on 22 April 1892, the son of Ellen (Gregory) and John Battcock. He died at St. Patrick's Mercy Home, St. John's in 1984. He is buried at Belvedere Cemetery, St. John's.

Battock received his elementary education at the parish school at Ferryland. In 1910-11 he worked with the Reid Newfoundland Railway Company and subsequently enrolled at St. Bonaventure's College, St. John's, where he completed his high school education (1911-14). Battock attended Holy Heart Seminary, Halifax, Nova Scotia, and was ordained a priest on 21 December 1918 in the chapel of Presentation Convent, Cathedral Square, St. John's, by Edward Patrick Roche, Archbishop of St. John's.

Almost immediately following his ordination, Rev. Battock was given a temporary appointment as the administrator of St. Michael's Parish, Bell Island. In June of 1919 he was appointed as the parish priest of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, St. Lawrence. He was subsequently granted a leave of absence for health reasons. When he resumed his priestly pastoral ministry in 1923 he was selected as parish priest of the newly established Sacred Heart Parish, St. Vincent's, Saint Mary's Bay, where he served for almost 48 years.

Rev. Battock retired from active parish duties on 31 August 1970 and moved to the Cathedral Basilica Parish Residence, St. John's. As his health deteriorated, he was transferred to St. Patrick's Mercy Home where he resided at the time of his death.

Created - May 6, 2013

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