John Bernard Delany

Who was John Bernard Delany?

John Bernard Delany was an American Roman Catholic bishop.

Delany was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, and studied the classics and philosophy at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester. After graduating from Boston College in June 1887, he was sent to the Seminary of Saint-Sulpice in Paris. He was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal François-Marie-Benjamin Richard on May 23, 1891.

Following his return to the United States, he served as curate at St. Anne's Church in Manchester, New Hampshire, and at Immaculate Conception Church in Portsmouth. In 1898 he became chancellor of the Diocese of Manchester and secretary to Bishop Denis Mary Bradley. He was founder and editor of the diocesan newspaper The Guidon.

On April 18, 1904, Delany was appointed the second Bishop of Manchester by Pope Pius X. He received his episcopal consecration on the following September 8 from Archbishop Diomede Falconio, with Bishops William Henry O'Connell and Edward Patrick Allen serving as co-consecrators, at St. Joseph's Cathedral. He died just 21 months later, aged 41.