John Potts

He was born in Tyneside in 1854 and later became a lay preacher at All Saints Church, Derby. In 1886 he went to St Aidans Theological College in Liverpool to study for a career in the priesthood. Whilst in Derby he was befreinded by Sir Henry Bembrose, who owned a large printing company, and who may have sponsored him through his theological studies.

After St Aidans he went to Ireland and was ordained as a Deacon by Bishop Packham of Ossory and given a curacy at Crosspatrick in co. Wicklow. In 1893 he moved to Aghold, Tinaheely and in 1896 became curate to Rev. Hickey at Grange Sylvae in Goresbridge. He married Amy Gorman in 1898 and although they were both getting on in years they had a son, Charles, born in 1900.

John became Rector of Goresbridge and stayed there the rest of his life, dying in 1935.