Mr Irwin, a native of Ireland, was ordained in 1938 by the Bishop of Manchester.  He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and gained his M.A., degree in 1944.  He was lecturer at Bolton parish church for nine years and a chaplain in the Royal Navy for about a year before becoming a curate at Gillingham in 1948.

He went to Buenos Aires in 1950 to be the assistant chaplain of St John’s Cathedral for a year and after that, he took a position as a house master and chaplain at St George’s College, Quilness,, the largest English college in South America.

Upon his return to England he came to Woodnewton and Apethorpe and was Inducted on 11th October 1954  to the Living.  A newspaper article written by the Stamford Mercury reports from the Institution Service held on 11th October 1954:

A NEW CHAPTER OF HISTORY STARTS – Vicar for two villages

“I want you to do your part to make your new Vicar happy, for people can do so much to help us be the kind of priest we want to be,” said the Archdeaon of Oakham (the Ven E N Millard), when he instituted the Rev Albert Samuel Irwin, to the livings of Apethorpe and Woodnewton, at Woodnewton parish church on Monday.

The Archdeacon said that instead of turning up at church only when anything special was on, they should give the Vicar a hand, and not stand aloof with a critical eye.  Unkind village chatter made it no wonder that the parish priest was unhappy and lost his vision and heart.  As a result of this the work of the parish, the church, and everyone in the parish suffered.  He asked those present to see that it did not happen in their parishes.

DRAW A LINE – “I know that you have not been too happy here recentlly, but draw a line across the page and  help this new man to be happy in this very important and new start.

The Archdeacon said that the most important part of the life of any priest was the day of his ordination.  He particularly wanted the congregation to think of the part where Mr Irwin was inducted to the church by Dr Hart, when he was given the charge of Apethorpe and Woodnewton and given the right to enjoy the living.

During the procession, the new Vicar was reminded of all the things which he should do.  It was no easy task and not simple to put his hand to a new parish, and he (the Archdeacon) wanted to be certain that those present should know how important it was to understand and know in order to help him.

REAL PROGRESS – The Archdeacon concluded by hoping the chapter in the history of Apethorpe and Woodnewton starting that night, would be one of real progress in spirit and rich in blessing for all.

Albert stayed at Woodnewton for five years and left in 1959 to become Vicar of Clyst St George and St Mary near Exeter.
 
It wasn’t long before he was back in the area being instituted to the living of St Martin’s, Stamford on 13th May 1961.  Upon Albert’s retirement from St Martin’s on 31st May 1981, he told the local newspapers that he had loved his 20 years of living and working in Stamford and that he was only going to live a few houses from the church, so would still be involved in the community and church life.  A leaving present of a cheque and a silver sugar dispenser was presented to him by the Marquess of Exeter on behalf of the parishioners.
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