Tragedy of priest who feared parish move

Father Michael Thomas Raiswell was found hanging in a bedroom at St Joseph's Presbytery, Birkenhead, on August 14 this year.

Fr Raiswell was an assistant parish priest at St Joseph's and was due to move to a neighbouring parish, St Werburgh's, as full-time priest. The inquest was told that the move had been causing him considerable stress.

Fr Anthony Leonard, the parish priest at St Joseph's, said that Fr Raiswell was concerned about the move and had been found "walking in the dark" in the weeks leading up to his death.

On the evening of August 14 Fr Leonard returned home to be told that Fr Raiswell had not come down for his evening meal. Fr Leonard became concerned and made several telephone calls before searching the house and finding a door jammed on the third floor.

Said Fr Leonard: "I tried the handle but it wouldn't give. There appeared to be something stuck at the top of the door. I shouldered the door and heard something fall and when I opened the door I saw Father Raiswell lying face down on the floor. He appeared to be dead.

"He appeared to have a rope around his neck."

After calling the Bishop of Shrewsbury, Fr Leonard phoned for the police.

WPC Tracey Kirkham, who was first on the scene, said she found no suicide notes. She did, however, read Fr Raiswell's diary and read three passages to the court.

The first, dated August 3, said: "Last of seven sleepless nights, worried about forthcoming move." The second revealed: "Feeling under great stress."; and the third: "Feeling very depressed."

Before recording a verdict of suicide, Wirral Coroner Christopher Johnson said: "The deceased had been particularly concerned about moving to a neighbouring parish and was suffering from worry, stress and depression. There is no doubt that the deceased intended to take his own life."

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