Fr David Taylor, one of the first priests ordained for the Diocese of Broken Bay, has died over the weekend at the age of 75.
Despite being born in Melbourne, Fr David grew up on the Northern Beaches and would spend the majority of the rest of his life living and serving in the Broken Bay region.
Archbishop Anthony Randazzo, Prefect of the Dicastery for Legislative Texts and Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Broken Bay said Fr David's passing was a great moment of sadness for the Diocese.
"Fr David’s distinctive warmth, humour, and pastoral devotion to the communities he served, and many others, will ensure he is remembered with deep gratitude and affection by all who knew him," he said.
The announcement of his death by Archbishop Anthony was met with an overwhelming reaction from the faithful, with many sharing memories of being married and having their children baptised by Fr David.
David Charles Taylor was born in Melbourne, Victoria, on 25 August 1950, to Gilbert Charles and Marie Patricia Matchett. He was the eldest of six children. The family moved to the Northern Beaches of Sydney and Fr David began his education at St John the Baptist, Freshwater, and continuing at St Augustine’s College, Brookvale, where he graduated in 1968.
Feeling a call to the priesthood, he undertook studies for priestly ministry with the Augustinian Order in Brisbane from 1969 to 1971. Feeling that he was not yet ready to complete his studies for the priesthood, he returned to Sydney and eventually obtained a Master of Social Work Degree from Sydney University in 1978. He spent several years as a social worker at Concord Repatriation Hospital, working in community, medical and psychiatric care.
It was at a Harbord parish retreat in 1984 Fr David Taylor. that Fr David again contemplated the priesthood and in 1986 he entered the seminary at Manly where he studied for the next five years.
He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Patrick Murphy DD at Corpus Christi Cathedral, St Ives, on 7 December 1991.
For the newly established Diocese of Broken Bay, Fr David began his priestly ministry at the Parish of Mona Vale in 1991. He had served here as a deacon prior to his priestly ordination. He went on to serve as Assistant Priest at the parishes of Gosford (1992–1994) and Pennant Hills (1994–1996), before being appointed Parish Priest of Forestville and Davidson (1996–2008). During this time, he also served as a member of the Council of Priests, and for many years served on the Clergy Remuneration and Sick Fund.
In 2009, Fr David began his long-term ministry to the people of Manly–Freshwater as their Parish Priest, and in 2022, he served the broader region as Dean of the Northern Beaches. His faithful ministry to the community of Manly-Freshwater continued until his retirement in 2024 at which time he resided at Narrabeen. Most recently, he had been residing at Scalabrini Village in Allambie Heights.
Fr David had been in ill-health for some months but a week ago was admitted to hospital. He passed away suddenly on Saturday 25 April 2026 at 1.15pm at Northern Beaches Hospital.
A Vigil liturgy for Fr David will be held in the Parish of Frenchs Forest at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Forestville at 7.30pm on Sunday 3 May 2026.
The Funeral Mass (the Mass of Christian Burial) will be held on Monday 4 May 2026 at 11.30am in the Parish of Manly Freshwater, at St Mary Immaculate Church, Manly.
Fr David will be laid to rest thereafter with the Rite of Committal at the Frenchs Forest Bushland Cemetery, Davidson.
Requiescat in pace