Monsignor David Manson was born on 3 December 1948. His family home was in Stratford, then from 1958 to 1975 at Chelmsford, and while here he was an altar server at Our Lady Immaculate Church under Monsignor Wilson. In 1975 the family moved to Great Bentley, near Colchester.
After his secondary education in Chelmsford he undertook studies in the Law, qualifying as LL.B. For a few years he practiced as a solicitor before, at the age of thirty-one, being accepted as a student for the Diocese of Brentwood. In September 1980 David Manson entered the Venerable English College, Rome, from where he studied Philosophy and Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University. He was ordained priest by Bishop McMahon at St James the Less & St Helen, Colchester, on 28 July 1985.
Following his ordination, Father David returned to Rome for higher studies until 1988, gaining a Licence in Sacred Liturgy (SLL) in 1990. His first appointment as an assistant priest was to St Mary Mother of God, Hornchurch (1988-1991). Thereafter he went to the newly-built Cathedral of St Mary & St Helen, Brentwood, first as assistant priest, then from 1992 as Pro-Administrator (in the absence of Monsignor Donnelly, who was on sick leave), before being appointed in 1993 as Administrator (the former title given to what is the now Dean of the Cathedral). He served at the Cathedral for eight years until his appointment as Parish Priest of Colchester in 2001, in which year he became a Vicar General to Bishop McMahon and a Prelate of Honour (with the title of Monsignor).
He was Parish Priest of Ingatestone from 2005 to 2016 (where he was also Priest-in-Charge of Stock until 2014). His final appointment as a parish priest was to Braintree (2016-2025), where he also served briefly as Dean of North Essex (2017-2019). Monsignor Manson was a well- known speaker on liturgical matters and served as Chairman of the Brentwood Diocesan Liturgical Commission from 1991 to 2001 as well as being Director of Liturgical Formation – a role which he undertook in close collaboration with Bishop McMahon himself and with the Diocesan Music Department.
Under Bishop Williams he continued to serve for a number of years on the Diocesan Liturgy Planning Group and at the time of his death he remained a member of the Liturgical Executive Committee and as Liturgical Consultant to the Diocesan Historic Churches Committee.
He will be remembered for his gracious manner, his keen intellect and his friendly disposition. His death, which occurred suddenly on 18 December 2025 – two weeks after his seventy-seventh birthday – took place only four days after he had attended the Reception of the Body of Bishop McMahon in Brentwood Cathedral where, after the service, he was seen engaging with clergy, former parishioners and many other people. Requiescat in pace.
Funeral arrangements:
The body of Mgr David Manson, who died on 18 December 2025, will be received into the church of Our Lady Queen of Peace, Braintree at 6 pm on Tuesday 27 January when Mass will be celebrated.
His Requiem Mass will be celebrated at the Cathedral of St Mary and St Helen, Brentwood at 11 am on Wednesday 28 January.
