Fr John Aveyard was born and brought up in Batley.

He studied for the priesthood at Ushaw College, Durham.  In 1981 he was ordained in St Mary’s, Batley and then was appointed as assistant priest to St Joseph’s, Keighley.  After just 18 months Fr John was asked to study for a degree in canon law at the Pontifical University of St Thomas in Rome.  After gaining his Licence in Canon Law he returned to Ushaw to teach and there he remained until 1993.

Since then he has been parish priest of SS John Fisher & Thomas More, Burley-in-Wharfedale (1993-1998); St Mary’s, Selby (1998-2007); Immaculate Heart of Mary, Huddersfield (2007-2011).  St Paulinus, Dewsbury (2011-2018). He took up his appointment here at St Joseph’s in September 2018.

On 22 June 2012 he was made a canon of the Leeds Cathedral and was installed on 23 July 2012.  He became Chancellor of the Diocese in August 2016 and was elected Provost of the Cathedral Chapter in 2017.