I was sad to learn that Father Michael Fisher, teacher, priest and scholar, has died.
He was a leader in studying the work of the architect Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin, who was sponsored by John, 16th Earl of Shrewsbury, building Catholic churches in the Gothic Revival style across the North Midlands and particularly around the Earl’s seat at Alton Towers, near Cheadle in Staffordshire.
Michael was educated at Leek High School and the universities of Leicester and Keele and, after serving as Head of History at King Edward VI Grammar School, Stafford, was ordained in the Church of England in 1979.
He had visited Alton Towers from boyhood, and remembered the dismemberment of the house in 1951.
In the late 1990s the Tussauds Group, then owners of the ruins and the gardens as part of their theme park, commissioned Michael to investigate the history of the site and make recommendations about how they should be conserved.
This work led to his detailed study Alton Towers: a Gothic wonderland (Michael Fisher 1999), which was followed by a succession of books on Pugin’s work in and around Staffordshire.
His knowledge of Alton Towers enabled him to guide and encourage the present owners to respect the history of the place.
He contributed to the understanding and conservation of St Chad’s Roman Catholic Cathedral, Birmingham – an Anglican priest on a Catholic committee, bringing what was described at his funeral as a “warm, ecumenical heart” to the enhancement of one of Pugin’s major buildings.
On the day of his funeral at the church where he ministered, St Chad’s, Stafford, requiem mass was sung in his honour and remembrance at St Chad’s Cathedral.
I met him only once, when I was planning my Pugin and the Gothic Revival tour which took place in September 2019.
One of my regular tour-guests happened to be Michael’s school contemporary, who gave me the privilege of enlisting him to show the group St Giles’ Roman Catholic Church in Cheadle and the tiny parish church of St John, Alton.
I couldn’t possibly have asked for a finer introduction to the area and the architect than Michael’s elegant, insightful guiding. We were very, very lucky to have him show us round.
I am researching the history of the abbey of Dieulacres and came across a reference to Father Fishers book on this. I was extremely saddened to learn that he died a year ago almost to the day. There are many questions I would have liked to have posed. As someone who had a connection with him I wonder if you can tell me more about his research into the abbey history and where, if possible, I may find a copy of his book? I would be immensely grateful for any help you can offer.
Dear Cassandra,
Michael Fisher’s book about Dieulacres Abbey was published in 1989, and getting hold of a copy now is a tall order. I can only suggest that you contact Staffordshire County Library: https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Heritage-and-archives/contact/sro/Overview.aspx.
Mike Fisher was my history master at KESS VI Stafford. I remember that he made a model of Dieulacres Abbey whilst at school. I don’t know if he ever finished it.
He was a very decent sort, and was fond of good beer. His history of Dieulacres is worth getting hold of. I got an “A” in my A level, which, given the intractable material he had to work with, redounds to his credit.
He was, in addition, a calligrapher of no little ability, and examples of his work can be found around Stafford.
I didn’t know he had died, and the news saddens me. The world is a drabber place.