John Bilsborrow

John Bilsborrow was bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Salford from 1892 to 1903.

Bilsborrow was born in Singleton, Lancashire on 20 March 1836. He was ordained priest on 26 February 1865 at the age of 28. Following his ordination, he was posted to Barrow in Furness where he was tasked with establishing a new mission, he oversaw the building of the church of St Mary of Furness, which opened 28 August 1867. In 1872 he was transferred to St Mary's Church, Newsham, near Preston and from there established in 1883 the new mission of St Charles Borromeo, Grange over Sands.

In 1883, Bilsborrow was attached to the newly completed St Joseph's College in Upholland, West Lancashire as Vice-Rector, becoming Rector in 1885. While on the staff, he taught scripture, dogmatic, moral and ascetic theology.^[1]

On 15 July 1892, Bilsborrow was appointed third Bishop of Salford. He was ordained bishop on 24 August of the same year. He remained bishop of the Diocese until his death on 5 March 1903 at the age of 67.