Roderick Wright

Roderick Wright (28 June 1940 – 23 May 2005) was a Scottish Roman Catholic bishop who served as the Bishop of Argyll and the Isles from 1990 to 1996.

Early life Born in the Kingston district of Glasgow on 28 June 1940, Wright was one of four children of a working-class merchant seaman. His parents were Andrew 'Andra' Wright and Dolina 'Dolly' MacInnes, who both came from the Outer Hebrides: Andrew came from Eriskay, and Dolina came from South Boisdale, South Uist. Roddy Wright, as he was known to family and friends, was educated at St Gerard's Secondary School in Govan. He began training for the priesthood at Blairs College in Kincardineshire when he was fourteen, and went on to St Peter's Seminary, Cardross in 1958.

Ministry Priesthood After Wright was ordained a priest on 29 June 1964, his first pastoral appointments were at St Laurence's Church, Drumchapel, Glasgow (1964–1966), and St Jude's Church, Barlanark, Glasgow (1966–1969). He returned to Blairs College as spiritual director (1969–1974). His next appointment was as an assistant priest at Our Lady and St Mun's Dunoon, Argyll (1974–1976). For a short while, he acted as a chaplain to the United States Navy base at Holy Loch. His last three appointments before his episcopal ordination were as priest at St Mary's Church, Fort William (1976–1980); St Michael's Church, Ardkenneth, South Uist (1980–1986); and St Anne's Church, Corpach, near Fort William (1986–1991). The following weekend, a former parishioner of Wright's came forward to say that she had become pregnant by him and given birth to a son in 1981.

Wright resigned as Bishop of Argyll and the Isles on 19 September 1996 and renounced the office of bishop. In his autobiography, he alleged that Jobcentre staff had leaked information about him. Wright married MacPhee in a civil ceremony in Antigua in June 1998.

Later life and death In 2002, Wright and his wife emigrated to New Zealand. He suffered in his last months from liver cancer and died on 23 May 2005, aged 64.