The Rev. Arthur Vernon Wills was born at Sydenham, Kent on March l0th 1891, son of Charles Vernon Wills and Mary Elizabeth nee Johnson. His mother's brother was th Rev. Aloysius Johnson who was 46 years P.P. of the Holy Name parish at Jesmond where he built the present church. Father Wills was educated at St. Augustine's Collegc Ramsgate. On the death of his father in 1903, the family moved north to Jesmond and he came to Ushaw College in 1903 and remained there throughout this course and was ordained priest at St. Mary's Cathedral, Newcastle, together with (Canon) Michai O'Leary, by Bishop Collins, August 5th 1917.
He was curate at St. Anthony's, Walker, October 14th 1917 to July 19th 1919; at S Michael's, Houghton-le-Spring to November 1921; St. Edward's, Whitley Bay to October 4th 1923; St.~Wilfrid's, Gateshead to August 14th 1924; St. Mary's Stockton to May 4th 1928; St. Joseph's, Murton to November 1931. When the P.P. of Murton died he was appointed parish priest of the same parish and remained there until November 3rd 1938. He was appointed to St. Ninian's, Wooler in November 1938 and remained there for thirty-two years. Shortly after celebrating the Golden Jubilee of his priesthood failing health made him retire to the Convent of Mercy, Alnwick where he spent the last thirteen years of his life. He died, aged 92, in Alnwick Convent, April 17th 1983, and after the Requiem Mass was buried in Alnwick Cemetery, April 20th.
May he rest in peace.