Scottish Catholic Observer

Cardinal Gordon Joseph Gray ‘adopted’ Bauchi in the 1950s and sent priests to work there. Among them was Canon Leo Glancy who lived in Nigeria from 1968-75 where he first met the late bishop who died after a short illness.

“I remember the first time I went to Bauchi: Malachi met me at the door of the parish house, he was the son of the cook,” he said. “I’ve known him ever since. I’m shattered by the news. It’s totally unexpected.”

All through his life Bishop Goltok (right) had retained a close connection with St Andrews and Edinburgh, often spending three weeks a year there on holiday.

“We always kept in touch,” Canon Glancy said. “He’s visited me here many times. He was an extraordinary priest, it’s huge loss.”

Canon Glancy is celebrating Mass at his parish this Thursday the same day as the bishop’s funeral in Nigeria.

“When I told the people what had happened, they were just silenced by it,” he said. “I think there will be a lot here on Thursday. He liked it here very much. He moved among the people very easily.”

Cardinal Keith O’Brien, then Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, was co-consecrator at the Episcopal ordination of Bishop Malachy with Bishop James Daman of Shendam Diocese, Nigeria.

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