VARRILY, WILLIAM (1844-1928)

VARRILY, WILLIAM, Catholic priest, teacher, and rector at Chatham, 1871-74; b. Milltown, Co. Galway, Ireland, 6 Apr 1844, s/o William Varrily Sr and Catherine McManus; ordained 1868; d. Chatham, 7 Oct 1928.

A cousin of Father Patrick W. Dixon, William Varrily was educated at St Jarleth's College in Tuam, Ireland. In 1863 he came to Halifax and then to Chatham, where he taught at St Michael's male academy. and studied theology under Bishop James Rogers. Two years afterwards he enrolled in the Grand Seminary in Montreal to complete his training for the priesthood. After his ordination he returned to Chatham as an assistant priest and teacher of Greek and Latin at the academy.

In 1871 Varrily succeeded Father Thomas F. Barry as rector at Chatham. When he was transferred in the spring of 1874 to the mission of St Leonard he was presented with a horse and wagon, harness and saddle, buffalo robes, and a purse of $400. This was an extravagantly-handsome gift and left no doubt concerning the esteem in which he was held. About a year later he was back in Chatham as chancellor of the diocese. In 1877 he was appointed parish priest at West Bathurst. In 1887 he was chosen to preach the sermon at Father Michael Egan's funeral.

A respected scholar and theologian, Varrily was created a domestic prelate by Pope Pius X in 1905, with the title of "Monsignor." In 1910 he was an appointee to the first board of governors of St Thomas College. He retired from pastoral duties in 1919 after nearly forty years at West Bathurst. For the last three years of his life he was a resident of the Hotel Dieu Hospital in Chatham.