Admin_History | Fr Bernard Gardner SJ was born on 17 December 1930 in Lancaster and was educated at Preston Catholic College before entering the Society of Jesus at Harlaxton on 7 September 1951.
He studied Philosophy at Heythrop and Roehampton, undertook a teacher training course at Manresa College, read English at Campion Hall, taught as a Scholastic at Stamford Hill, returned to Heythrop for Theology, and was ordained 1 August 1965. He completed his Tertianship at Pomfret Center, Connecticut, USA, then went on to the University of California where he obtained an MFA degree in Theatre Arts in 1969.
Later in 1969, Fr Gardner went to Georgetown, Guyana, where, in addition to pastoral work, he was heavily engaged in broadcasting (religious as well as secular). He gave courses in radio, television and film throughout the Caribbean under the authority of the Antilles Episcopal Conference and the Caribbean Conference of Churches.
Fr Gardner returned to Britain in 1979 and joined the staff at Holy Name, Manchester and was appointed Superior and parish priest 1980. He later died at Burton-on-Kendal, 17 June 1982. |