Fr Phil Sumner is set to mark 50 years as a priest on 13 June 2026, with a celebration that recognises five decades of ministry and community work across Oldham and Manchester. His anniversary will highlight not only his service within church communities but also his longstanding commitment to community cohesion and racial justice initiatives in the borough and beyond.

Fr Sumner has spent 25 years serving communities in Oldham and a further 25 years in Moss Side and Hulme in Manchester. His priesthood has extended beyond parish life into wider social and community issues, with a particular focus on building understanding between different groups during times of tension.

During the Moss Side disturbances in 1981, he spent time listening to residents and observing events as tensions unfolded. He later became involved in efforts alongside others to improve relations between police and African Caribbean communities in the area during a period of significant strain.

Following disturbances in Oldham in May 2001, Fr Sumner moved to the town at the request of his bishop. The move drew national attention at the time, and he later worked with others to establish the Oldham Interfaith Forum. The forum continues to play a vital role in encouraging dialogue and cohesion between communities across the borough, helping to foster understanding among different faiths and backgrounds.

His work has received international recognition. In 2001, Rotary International named him a Paul Harris Fellow, commending what it described as significant assistance in promoting better understanding and friendship between communities. In 2006, he received both the individual and overall Diversity and Equality awards presented by the then Oldham Race Equality Partnership, alongside a place in The Independent newspaper's Good List, which recognised individuals making an impact as campaigners, thinkers and givers across Britain.

Fr Sumner's expertise has also taken him onto the international stage. He delivered lectures for UNESCO in Barcelona on intercultural mediation and later in Brazil during the World Conference on the Development of Cities. He has also appeared on BBC Radio 4's The Moral Maze discussing multiculturalism and the decolonisation of university curricula.

More recently, in 2025, he received a Mayor's Appreciation Award in Oldham for services to local people and communities. That same year, he was elected vice chair of the Catholic Association for Racial Justice, reflecting his ongoing dedication to equality and social justice.

Alongside this work, he has served as chaplain to the Manchester Chinese Catholic Community for more than 25 years and continues to provide a Cantonese language service each month, demonstrating his commitment to diverse communities within the region.

Celebrations for his golden jubilee will begin with a Mass at 2.30pm on 13 June, followed by a reception at Oldham Athletic Football Club at 4pm. The event will offer an opportunity for local residents and colleagues to honour a priest whose work has left a lasting mark on community life in Oldham.