Thomas Bartley (priest)
Monsignor Thomas Bartley was a Roman Catholic Priest and former Vicar General of the Diocese of Down and Connor.
Career
He was educated at St Mary's CBGS and Queen’s University, Belfast
After his Ordination to the Priesthood at St Patrick's College Maynooth on the 18 June 1950, he was appointed as a teacher at St Malachy's College, Belfast for a year.
In 1951 Monsignor Bartley's appointment as one of the band of five priests who formed the nucleus of the staff of the new St MacNissi’s College, Garron Tower. His colleagues were Fr. William Tumelty (President of the College), Fr. Charles Agnew (Bursar), Fr. Patsy McKavanagh and Fr. Brendan McGarry. St. MacNissi's College was to be his home for the next 34 years where he taught Irish and English literature.
He succeeded Fr McGarry as President of the Garron Tower in 1979. He remained there until his appointment as Parish Priest of Derriaghy in August 1985. In 1994 the parish of Derriaghy was divided to make St. Anne's at Finaghy a separate parish of which Monsignor Bartley became the parish priest. Subsequently in 1996 the parish of Our Lady Queen of Peace was formed out of St. Anne's parish.
He was appointed Vicar General of the Diocese in 1986 and remained as parish priest of St. Anne's for 17 years until his retirement in August 2002. As with so many priests of the Diocese he was most anxious to continue in full-time ministry and he was appointed full-time curate in Drumbo in Carryduff while also assisting in St. Bernadette's.
As parish priest and Vicar-General he continued his deep interest in education overseeing the setting up of Aquinas Grammar School, the Primary School in the new parish of Christ the Redeemer and the development of St. Colm's High School in the parish of St. Luke's in Twinbrook as well as continuing as Governor of St. MacNissi's College.
He died on the 31 October 2007.