Born: 26 December 1915, Montrose, Ailesbury Park, Ballsbridge, Dublin, County Dublin
Entered: 07 September 1937, St Mary's, Emo, County Laois
Ordained: 03 June 1944, St John’s Seminary, Wonersh (Southwark Diocese)
Died: 25 June 2003, London, England
Left Society of Jesus: 31 December 1937
Father (JF Davys) was a Bank Manager who died in 1929. Mother was then supported by private means.
One sister.
Early Education at a Convent school he then went to St Gerard’s Bray in 1925. In 1930 he went to Belvedere College SJ for two years. He then went to Rosse College, Camden Street, Dublin to prepare for a Bank examination and then went to work for the Royal Bank of Ireland, Grafton Street, Dublin in January 1933. He studied at the Institute of Bankers, North Wall Quay, North Wall, Dublin
https://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/389521.a-kind-and-holy-priest/
A kind and holy priest
4th July 2003
A CLERGYMAN with strong connections to Richmond, Ham and Mortlake has died.
Canon Francis Davys, one of four children, including an elder sister and two younger brothers, was born on December 26th, 1915, in Dublin.
Known as Frank, he was educated at St Gerard’s Bray and Belvedere College, Dublin. On leaving school, he joined the Royal Bank of Ireland and felt himself called to become a Jesuit novice at Emo Park, Offaly.
He then transferred to Southwark Diocese and completed his studies at St John’s Seminary, Wonersh, where he was ordained priest on June 3rd, 1944.
His first appointment was to a church in Blackheath. After three years, he was appointed a notary to the Marriage Tribunal. In 1948 he took up the position of assistant secretary to the Southwark Rescue Society, where he worked for five years. In June 1953, he became assistant priest at a Reigate church for two years, after which he went to one in Worthing.
His next appointment, again as an assistant priest, was to a church in Cobham in 1958.
He arrived in Richmond in April 1961 when appointed to St Elizabeth’s Church, where he remained for 24 years.
The parish was divided in 1985 and Canon Davys was made the first parish priest of St Thomas Aquinas, Ham, and made arrangements for its consecration.
He continued to serve as Catholic chaplain at the Royal Star and Garter Home, completing 31 years of service there.
After seven years at Ham, he retired to Wimbledon Common before moving to St Mary’s Convent, Worthing, and finally to St George’s Retreat, Burgess Hill.
He was made an honorary canon in 1967 and served the diocese on the Schools Commission as well as being chairman of governors at Christ’s School, Richmond, and St Elizabeth’s Primary School, Richmond. During this time the school moved to new premises in Queen’s Road. He was Dean of Mortlake from 1978 to 1991.
Canon Davys had been ill for some time and suffered a heart attack on the afternoon of June 25th. He died peacefully at home at 11pm aged 88.
Friends say he was a “private man by temperament, a kind, courteous and holy priest with a sense of humour and ever sensitive to the needs of others”.
His Requiem Mass will be held at St Elizabeth’s Church in the Vineyard on Wednesday, July 9th, at noon.
