Father Jim Burke

Fr. Jim described his appointment to Spalding as ‘coming home’ – born in Peterborough in 1962, he grew up in our neighbouring village of Deeping St. James. His late parents, Pat & Maureen, were Irish immigrants and met and married in Liverpool. Pat was asked to oversee a major building development in Peterborough in 1959 and they settled in the village of Deeping St. James in 1968. Fr. Jim received his primary education in St. Theresa’s Catholic Primary School, Peterborough, and the Deeping St. James County Primary School before moving on to the Deepings Comprehensive for one year before transferring to St. John Fisher Catholic School in Peterborough.

At the age of 24 he was accepted as a Church student for the Diocese of Nottingham and was sent to Campion House, Osterley (London) in 1986. In 1988 he was sent to St. Kieran’s College, Kilkenny, Ireland to complete his priestly formation. It was a happy coincidence that his father was a native of Kilkenny and his grandparents were married in the church (St. Patrick’s) across the road from the college. Jim was ordained a deacon in the college chapel on the 2nd April 1993.

Jim was given a pastoral placement in St. Mary’s, Grimsby in June 1993 and he remained there until his ordination in Deeping St. James on the 30th April 1994. His previous appointments have been:

1994 – 1995: St. Barnabas Cathedral, Nottingham as Assistant Priest
1995 – 1999: St. Mary’s, Derby as Assistant Priest
1999 – 2002: St. Mary’s, New Mills as Parish Priest
2002 – 2008: St. Patrick’s, Forest Town, Mansfield as Parish Priest
In 2008 he came to Spalding and Holbeach. In 2013 his assistant priest, Fr. Paul Lloyd, was appointed Parish Priest of Holbeach.
Fr. Jim has a great love for music, particularly Irish and contemporary folk music. He is the founding member of the Mansfield & Dukeries Irish Association. He follows the fortunes (and misfortunes!) of Derby County and Peterborough United.