Career
By profession he was an architect, but subsequently devoted himself to journalism in Paris. He was one of the band of laymen who surrounded Frederick Ozanam and who founded with him the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. At Ozanam"s suggestion, he wrote some letters to The Tablet describing the aims and the work of the new Society.
Frederick Lucas, editor of The Tablet, then wrote some articles on the same subject and in January, 1844, the English branch was formed, with Wigley, who was by then living in London, becoming one of the original thirteen members.
He designed the Redeemer and Saint Alphonsus Liguori titular church, Esquiline, Rome, which was built in 1955-1959. In or about 1860 Wigley took a leading part in forming both in England and in France the Peterspence Association for assisting the Pope.
Shortly after, Pius IX bestowed on him the Cross of Saint Gregory the Great. Then falling ill himself, he went to the hospital of the Brothers of Saint John of God, where he died on 20 January 1866.
